Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1954-02-07

fists care, nurses, laboratory tests.
x-rays. drugs. appliances, physical
therapy and disqualification, INCLUDE
ing mental and convaleScent homes.
There are also considerable cash
benefits. From so to rs per cent Of
an employees wages depending on
the number Of dependents) are paid
up to six months and sometimes
longer. After that, government re-
lief takes over automatically and
indefinitely.
While at the hospital, the family
of the insured receives q third or
more of the employees wage (again
depending on the size of the family.
If there are no dependents. the
injured gets 10 per cent of the wage
as pocket money. Maternity bene-
fits include cash sums for 10 weeks
and a small allowance while the
baby is breast fed. These maternity
benefits are available also for daugh-
tiers, step daughters and even FOSTER
daughters with or without bene.
fit of husband. In case of death, in
Guiding suicide, at least 20 times the
0CI4J WoSC 10 pau w OONCA VIC OO0U
of the funeral.
One is free to choose his doctor,
dentist and hospital from a list
furnished by his fund. Since 80 per
cent of doctors, dentists and hospi-
pitfalls cooperate voluntarily, his
choice is wide. But transportation is
paid only to a doctor who lives
reasonably near the home.
Neither doctors nor dentists are
employed by the funds. All are priv
ate practitioners.
A doctor is free to reject patients
or accept as many as he feels he can
handle. His fee is fixed by contract
between his medical society and the
funds. and he is not allowed to &C
cept more. He is paid very little for
each patient, but he is sure of get
ting his fee.
In Germany, everyone sees the
doctor. This has been responsible
for remarkably high health stand
ard. This compulsory insurance sys-
tenn was held to be responsible for
the surprising lack of epidemics de-
spite appalling living conditions in
destroyed cities after the war.
OF course, the German insurance
patient receives no luxuries and no
expensive drugs, if less expensive
one will do. But he gets adequate
care. All doctors must belong to the
German Medical Association, with
its strict code of medical ethics.
Hospitals, too. maintain a very
hi0h ctof16orI Eic1ot1, -
hospital beds are in municipal hos
pitfalls where doctors are paid .
monthly salary. This means no I'M
necessary surgery. Patients who
want extra service can have it at
only the additional cost.
The Problem of Abuse
AS with all insurance. there In
the problem of abuse. The expert.
ence of 10 years has made it pos
sible to keep it at a minimum. A
large bureaucratic machine-about
one employe to 700 patients-helpS
to check on both sides. If the in
come of doctor surpaSses by far
that Of his colleagues, the matter is
investigated by his medical society.
On the other hand. special inspec-
tors make surprise visits to homes
where cash sickness benefits are
claimed.
Thus large group of people. who
would not otherwise be able to get
adequate medical care, are granted
right to the indispensable mini
mum. This right is guaranteed by
law and enforceable in the courts.
This curious mixture of freedom
and compulsion is a characteristic
aspect of the German system.