Study title

Description: The data compilation in hand, based on selected official data, gives an overview over the development of public health expenditures in the Federal Republic of Germany. The German health care system is organized in a confusing way. It consists of different coverage areas, institutions and services. A number of service providers and cost bearers are involved. To be nevertheless able to measure and structure the entire dimension of the expenditures, the Federal Statistical office publishes a health expenditure calculation report on a regular basis. The primary data are compiled from a high number of individual statistics and individual documents. The development of the expenditure for health (from 1970 on in the form of the old health expenditure calculation and from 1992 on in the form of the new calculations) is from primary economic importance and the information on the structure of the cost bearers is an important decision making factor for the construction of health care policies in Germany. The health expenditure calculations of the Federal Statistical office also provides detailed data on different cost bearers, on the use of the funds by services and on the service providing institutions. This not only includes the expenditures of statutory and private health insurance but also expenditures on health care of private households, employers and the state. The subdivision of health expenditure according to the old health expenditure calculation (those results are presented until 1998) was structured by bearer of costs, types of services and types of expenditures. According to the old health expenditure calculation, income benefits (such as benefits for subsistence for sick people or for those unable to work in form of transitional payments, pre-retirement for those unable to work and income replacement in case of sickness or due to maternity) are part of the types of expenditure. The new healthcare expenditure calculations are an advancement of the...