Population-Based Disease Management in the German Statutory Health Insurance

Abstract

Social healthcare systems in Europe must cope with aging populations and rising costs. For the German social healthcare system, which dates back to the 19th century, this problem is especially apparent, as soaring structural unemployment and the demographic transition of the population threaten the financial basis of the Statutory Health Insurance (SHI) [Gesetzliche Krankenversicherung]. In order to preserve free access to high-quality care and mandatory insurance for most of the population with affordable contributions, the traditional methods of healthcare delivery are challenged. As a result of its historic development, the system is tailored to acute care. Infectious diseases and accidents, however, have lost their relevance as main sources of mortality and morbidity of the population.