EUROPE


HOW DOES HEALTHCARE WORK IN EUROPE?

     Health systems in Europe mostly work based on national healthcare, where medical expenses are state-covered, and residents are required to only pay small service fees. Some other countries provide private health insurance, which the government heavily regulates.

However, most countries in Europe have a healthcare system based on the following health models:

  • The Beveridge model: This is a healthcare model proposed by William Beveridge in the United Kingdom. According to this system, healthcare centres are public (government-owned and operated), and healthcare is funded largely by income tax; in turn, it offers free services to its citizens. Countries that mostly follow this model include Italy, Spain, Denmark, Sweden, Norway, Portugal, etc.
  • The Bismarck model: Named after Otto von Bismarck, its founder, under this system, citizens pay a small fee to a fund (either a private or a national fund) which in turn provides healthcare services for them. Countries that mostly follow this model include Germany, Austria, Switzerland, and the Czech Republic.
  • A mixture of both models: After many years of reforms and improvements, not one European country follows the same specific mode. Both systems usually present features, with healthcare being offered on the principle of solidarity and equality.

IS HEALTH INSURANCE MANDATORY IN EUROPE?

     Health insurance is mandatory in most European countries. However, there are differences between healthcare administration depending on the country, and not all have mandatory health insurance laws. Some EU countries with mandatory health insurance include Germany, Switzerland, and Luxembourg.



IS HEALTHCARE FREE IN EUROPE?

  Healthcare is mostly free in many European countries. This means that primary and secondary care services are usually free— funded by taxes and regulated by national healthcare— but patients must either pay co-payments or small service fees (for hospitalisation, emergency visit, ambulance, etc.). However, this largely depends on which country in Europe you are living in. 

   Some countries have “free-for-service” systems, where you pay your medical fees out of pocket and then are reimbursed by insurance (most likely a national health insurance fund).