Health Insurance in Germany and Canada Compared

Health insurance is one of the most important needs in any country. Each country has its own health insurance policy and norms. They are planned according the lifestyle and the living conditions of the countrymen. It is important to understand that insurance norms and regulations of each country are different for its citizens as well as foreign nationals. If you are travelling to any other country, then it is good to take a travel insurance in your own country. In Germany and Canada, both the countries have their independent regulations and guidelines for general insurance.

Health Insurance in Germany

According to Medicine in Germany, nearly 87% citizens have insurance. Most are under the statutory health insurance ("gesetzliche Krankenversicherung"), but some like civil servants and the self-employed opt for private insurance. At these days there are over 250 different health insurance companies (see german comparison: "Gesetzliche und private Krankenversicherungen". Other people who are employed as service class rely on non-profit sickness funds. These people have different negotiated terms for premium payments as well. About .3% people are not insured who are mostly poor people and receive insurance in Germany via social assistance.

Private Insurance

In most of the cases, the insurance cover offered by private and public carriers remains same. Nevertheless, about 40% of the private health insurance is covered by for-profit carriers. These are opted by civil servants ho secure their medicals that remain uncovered by the government.

There are other people who are member of sickness funds but opt for private insurance cover for additional costs such as private rooms or choice of physician if they fall ill ("Krankenzusatzversicherung"). Moreover, self employed people having income above the specified ceiling also need to have private insurance. However, it is to be noted that those who leave the sickness fund and opt for private insurance are not allowed to re-opt for sickness fund.
Premium payable in case of private insurance depends upon the age, sex, occupation, health, etc. of the person insured. However, the premium payable by the younger policyholders without any dependents is pretty less. Moreover, those who are members of sickness fund and also opt for a private insurance have half their premium paid by their employers.

Sickness Fund

In case of member sickness fund, they are different from private health insurance. There are mainly three categories of primary funds, substitute fund and special funds. The category levied for primary sickness fund on any worker depends upon his income level. Moreover, some people automatically become members of relevant sickness fund due to their residence at any place or the employer they work for. The substitute sickness funds are available for all types of workers whether they are white collared or blue collared.
In this case the premium is fixed on the basis of the income level rather than the health, family size or any other personal detail of the member insured. Premium for all members is same within any particular fund.

Travelling to Germany

When you are travelling to Germany, check with your insurance company if the policy applies in Germany or not. It would be good idea to have a travelling insurance covered before you travel. If you are a member of European Union, you are entitled to same medical benefits as the citizen of that country provided you are covered under a health insurance policy in your homeland. If you are a citizen of Croatia, Switzerland, Turkey or Tunisia, you are also entitled to similar benefits as any German citizen as Germany has a treaty with these countries.
In case if you are a US citizen, then most of the policies are not valid in Germany as US Medicare and Medicaid do not provide insurance benefits outside United States. You would need to buy travel insurance if you are travelling to Germany. Then you should make sure you compare all the insurance plans using a "Krankenversicherungsvergleich" as they call the plan comparison in german.

Health Insurance in Canada

Insurance Canada provides information to consumers and insurance industry professionals. It acts as a complete online guide to everyone about insurance policies in Canada. Insurance Institute of Canada is the professional education arm for Canadian insurance. Canada also has private or extended health insurances for its citizen. There are different health insurances for dental health, disability, travel health or even if you are visitor to Canada.

Private insurance in Canada covers day to day surgeries and treatments that can amount to huge bills. If you are travelling to Canada, you may need to opt for emergency insurance or travel insurance. These are required even by the US nationals whose Medicare policies do not cover emergency expenses outside United States.

So whenever you are travelling to these countries check out their travel insurance policies in each country and do check out what is exempted while you are travelling. Have a safe travel!