Survey Satisfied with the health system

Germans justify the solidarity-based health system

09/10/2014

Most Germans are satisfied with the health system. This resulted in a population-representative survey conducted by Forsa on behalf of Techniker Krankenkasse (TK), the results of which were presented on Thursday in Berlin. For example, a large proportion of respondents rated the solidarity-based system of statutory health insurance companies as positive.

The healthier the Germans are, the happier they are with the medical care in this country
About two-thirds of Germans regard the health system as so resilient that it will be able to cope with its tasks in the future. Only in 2006, only half as many shared this assessment. „People are the most pessimistic in the 'rush hour of life' between the mid-20s and mid-50s. Moreover, the higher the level of education and the poorer the state of health, the more doubts increase, "explains Forsa CEO Prof. Manfred Güllner.

Health care is especially good for those in Germany who are healthy. Three in four respondents said that they are satisfied or even very satisfied with the healthcare system in Germany. This result also speaks for the health of the Germans. Ten years ago not even one in ten came to this review.

Nearly 85 percent of respondents expect that the contributions for statutory health insurance will be increased in the future. „Moreover, more than half (54 percent) assume that the scope of benefits will have to be reduced in the future, and almost one in two fear a decline in medical care quality (47 percent). Here people in the countryside are much more pessimistic than people in the big city“, informed the TC in a message.

Germans rate solidarity thoughts in the statutory health insurance positively
With the solidarity idea of ​​the statutory health insurance - financially better off insured persons advocate for poorer ones - over 80 percent agree. However, only every second would be willing to pay higher contributions.

In order to continue to benefit from medical progress in the future, two-thirds would be prepared to accept an increase in contributions. „As health insurances, we need a strong negotiating position with service providers, such as pharmaceutical companies, whose job is to increase their profits, of course. Only in this way can we succeed in providing our insured with access to progress at a reasonable price in the future. And this goal is out of the question for us, "explains TK CEO Dr. Jens Baas.

In the countryside, medical care is much worse than in the city
Almost one in two Germans is satisfied with the range of home and specialist care in their area, with a clear urban-rural divide: While 60 percent of city dwellers are adequate for medical care in their environment, this only applies to 40 percent of the rural population. „In the TK Opinion, every fifth respondent who lives in the countryside already finds a holey supply network. In the big cities, only one out of every ten people sees deficits, "says Baas.

Three in four respondents argue that medical staff, such as nurses or caregivers, should be assigned more tasks to relieve the burden on the country doctors. For example, they could carry out routine checks on chronically ill patients or assist with treatment requests. Telemedicine could also be a good alternative for at least part of the rural population. „Almost every third German (37 percent) can imagine communicating with a doctor via video call, if he can avoid longer ways and get access to a specialist faster“, informs the TC.

Doctors are rated positively by most Germans
The doctors have received a good certificate from the insured overall. Seven out of ten respondents were satisfied with their last visit to the doctor. Most participants stated that they wanted to communicate with their doctor at eye level. „The bottom line is the communication between physicians and their patients. With around seven out of ten respondents, a clear majority are satisfied with the empathy of their doctor and the information. Most of the criticism was expressed by the patients in the education about risks and side effects of drugs“, explains Güllner.

More than every second respondent has been offered at least once an IGeL performance at the doctor's visit. IGeL services are medical services that are not covered by the statutory health insurance and therefore must be borne by the patient. According to the survey, about three in four Germans use such private services.

With regard to a private insurance in case of nursing supplementary to the statutory long-term care insurance, the younger Germans are much less concerned than the elderly. „Although the Germans quite realistically assume that the statutory long-term care insurance only covers part of the costs of old-age care. Nevertheless, four out of ten Germans claim that they have not done anything to protect themselves. "(Ag)