Systems With Complete Healthcare
Some European countries have healthcare that is completely free and covers virtually all medical procedures. One example of this is England, which has free health care at the point of use for all individuals except for certain services, such as prescriptions and dental care. However, prescriptions, dentistry and other services that are not covered by the general healthcare system are free for children, the unemployed, the elderly and low-income families.
Mixes of Public and Private Healthcare
Germany has one of the oldest universal healthcare systems. Its Statutory Health Insurance was initially available only to people with low incomes and government employees, but over time expanded to include all German citizens. While all citizens are eligible to be covered by Statutory Health Insurance, which is funded by the government, many people opt for private health insurance. Private insurance often has additional benefits and greater flexibility. In addition, doctors are limited as to how many patients they can take using the government's plan.
Compulsory Insurance
The Netherlands has its own unique system. All citizens of the Netherlands are required to carry some form of health insurance. All insurance companies in the Netherlands are required to offer a basic plan that covers most primary care features. The premiums on all of these plans must be the same for all patients, regardless of their health status. Thus, the price of the basic compulsory insurance plan is fixed for all citizens, although other, more expensive plans are also available. Long-term care, necessary for the dying, the chronically ill and the elderly, however, is covered by a social insurance plan that is fully funded by the government.
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