Social Health Insurance: A Guidebook for Planning
This guidebook is designed to be used by countries that are considering the introduction of social health insurance for health care, as a replacement for or to supplement existing funding. The first social health insurance system was established in Germany over 100 years ago. Since then, other approaches to financing universal health care have developed, such as tax-financed national health care systems. Over time, systems have changed and developed in their attempts to:
- Improve the health status of the population (by guaranteeing access to health care)
- Provide high-quality and appropriate care
- Maintain the sustainability and affordability of care through cost containment
The focus of this guidebook is on one particular health financing approach --social health insurance.
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This guidebook is designed to be used by countries that are considering the introduction of social health insurance for health care, as a replacement for or to supplement existing funding. The first social health insurance system was established in Germany over 100 years ago. Since then, other approaches to financing universal health care have developed, such as tax-financed national health care systems. Over time, systems have changed and developed in their attempts to:
- Improve the health status of the population (by guaranteeing access to health care)
- Provide high-quality and appropriate care
- Maintain the sustainability and affordability of care through cost containment
The focus of this guidebook is on one particular health financing approach --social health insurance. It aims to lead policy makers and program planners through the process of evaluating the usefulness and feasibility of social health insurance, in the context of existing political, sociocultural, and economic circumstances. It also provides detailed planning advice for the design of a social health insurance system, and it offers insight into the process of improving the chances for a successful implementation. As a planning tool, this guidebook will be useful in all countries where alternative health care financing mechanisms are contemplated.