Staff

Publication details for Dr Lutz D.H. Sauerteig

Sauerteig, Lutz (2003). Solidarität und die Finanzierung der Gesetzlichen Krankenversicherung in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland in den 1960er und 1970er Jahren. Zeitschrift für ärztliche Fortbildung und Qualitätssicherung 97(10): 667-673.

• Publication type: Journal papers: academic
• ISSN/ISBN: 1431-7621
• DOI: 10.1078/1431-7621-00135
• Keywords: Federal Republic of Germany, health care policy, statutory health
• View online: Online version
• Durham research online: DRO record

Author(s) from Durham

• Dr Lutz D.H. Sauerteig

Abstract

Until the early seventies escalating costs in the health care
sector were accepted as being a necessary consequence of social
progress. However, this view has since begun to shift. Due to the
recession in the mid-seventies, mounting health expenditures now loomed
as a threat to the economy. Rather than social progress, the issue now
was to take measures to curb the rising costs and increase insurance
revenue. Rising health care contributions initiated by the government
coalition of Social Democrats and the Liberal Party marked this change
of perspective in health policy that led to restraints in the principle
of solidarity within the statutory health insurance system and, as a
result, to a renewed privatisation of health expenditures. Since then
patients who had health insurance were obliged to pay a larger share of
their health expenses.