VOA标准英语2009年-Germans Pleased with Universal Health Care

By Sonja Pace
Berlin
28 September 2009

With Congress back in session, debate over reforming the American health care system is once again in full swing. Supporters of universal health care want the U.S. system to be more like those in Europe, with the government taking an active role to guarantee coverage¹ for everyone while those opposed warn that this would push the U.S. toward socialism. Germans have the oldest universal health care system in Europe and are generally pleased with the care they receive. Is there a lesson there for America?

Everyone needs a doctor 

It seems no matter where - everyone at some point needs a doctor. Sometimes it is an emergency, but not always.

 
Ulf Geyersbach with daughters Emma and Milla
With a growing family, Ulf Geyersbach is more concerned about everyday care for his two daughters, Emma and Milla.

Health care is important and the girls are covered under a family plan. And, says Geyersbach, the health care system works quite well.

"You present your insurance card, that is all - and the children get free medical care," he said. "There is no extra charge whether for regular checkups, for treatments or for prescription² medicines."

Like over 85 percent of the population, the Geyersbach family is insured under Germany's public health system.

How it works

Most people use one of a variety of insurance companies. Everyone pays a percentage of their salary for health insurance, and that amount is generally matched by the employer. Premiums³ and services are regulated by the government.
 
The basics are covered - visits to the doctor, medicines, treatments - although adults are required to pay a nominal⁴ co-pay fee for some items and services.

Private insurance also available

Also covered are hospital stays. And there is another option available as well - private insurance.

At Berlin's Westend Red Cross Hospital, Daniella Krug was covered by private insurance when she had her baby. And, it is the head of the obstetrics department who comes by for a final consultation⁵ to tell her she and baby Frieda will be going home.

Private insurance costs more, and fees depend on the level of service one opts⁶ to receive. Basic care is the same for all, but private insurance pays for some extras - including a more comfortable hospital room - even one where the father stays with mother and baby. Private insurance also pays the higher fees for patients' treatment by senior medical staff.

Public officials, the self-employed and those who earn more than about $70,000 a year can choose private insurance.

Insurance for everyone

In general, everyone in Germany is entitled to and covered by health insurance, whether unemployed⁷ or switching jobs or retired⁸.

 
Doctor Thomas Kersting
Dr. Thomas Kersting, chief administrator⁹ of Berlin's Red Cross Hospitals Group, explains.

"The German mentality¹⁰ is, 'I am insured and I have the right to get access to all the medical treatment at any time, for any disease, pain, burden that I suffer from - immediately," the doctor explained.
 
Germany's state-regulated, public universal health care system dates back to the late 1800s. It is a complex system of public and private insurance plans, regulated by the government but still giving individuals a good deal of choice. In general, the system gets high marks.

Some complaints

But it is not without problems. There are complaints about the two-tier system of coverage, and some believe that people with private insurance get quicker and better care, and are therefore healthier.

Rising costs and an aging population also put extra demand on the system, and this worries health providers, says Kersting.

"If your right to get certain services out of the system [is] unlimited¹¹, then of course the system cannot be financed in the future," Kersting said.

Many say cutbacks in services are inevitable¹², and there is constant debate about how to balance health services with rising costs, rising demand and less revenue.

Cutting back on services is not what Ulf Geyersbach wants. He sees a different solution.

"I would like to see the private insurance scheme eliminated, because I do not see why a small percentage of the population under private insurance gets privileged treatment and access to better health care than the rest of us," he said.

But Geyersbach thinks that option is not likely to be realized. He believes there is little political will for that. 

Germans often talk of solidarity¹³ within society - roughly meaning, everyone is in it together - that everyone has responsibilities and no one should get left out. It is a strong feeling, but the harsh realities of costs and benefits are likely to be around for future generations.

1 coverage   

n.报导，保险范围，保险额，范围，覆盖

参考例句：

• There's little coverage of foreign news in the newspaper.报纸上几乎没有国外新闻报道。
• This is an insurance policy with extensive coverage.这是一项承保范围广泛的保险。

2 prescription   

n.处方，开药；指示，规定

参考例句：

• The physician made a prescription against sea- sickness for him.医生给他开了个治晕船的药方。
• The drug is available on prescription only.这种药只能凭处方购买。

3 premiums   

n.费用( premium的名词复数 )；保险费；额外费用；（商品定价、贷款利息等以外的）加价

参考例句：

• He paid premiums on his life insurance last year. 他去年付了人寿保险费。 来自《现代英汉综合大词典》
• Moves are afoot to increase car insurance premiums. 现正在酝酿提高汽车的保险费。 来自《简明英汉词典》

4 nominal   

adj.名义上的；(金额、租金)微不足道的

参考例句：

• The king was only the nominal head of the state. 国王只是这个国家名义上的元首。
• The charge of the box lunch was nominal.午餐盒饭收费很少。

5 consultation   

n.咨询；商量；商议；会议

参考例句：

• The company has promised wide consultation on its expansion plans.该公司允诺就其扩展计划广泛征求意见。
• The scheme was developed in close consultation with the local community.该计划是在同当地社区密切磋商中逐渐形成的。

6 opts   

v.选择，挑选( opt的第三人称单数 )

参考例句：

• One player hoping to get another chance to shine if Mourinho opts to rest Cole backBridge. 假如穆里尼奥安排阿。科尔轮休，那么同一位置上的将会得到一个上场的机会来证实自己。 来自互联网
• If he opts out this summer, he d sign a five year deal. 如果今夏跳出，他估计会签五年。 来自互联网

7 unemployed   

adj.失业的，没有工作的；未动用的，闲置的

参考例句：

• There are now over four million unemployed workers in this country.这个国家现有四百万失业人员。
• The unemployed hunger for jobs.失业者渴望得到工作。

8 retired   

adj.隐退的，退休的，退役的

参考例句：

• The old man retired to the country for rest.这位老人下乡休息去了。
• Many retired people take up gardening as a hobby.许多退休的人都以从事园艺为嗜好。

9 administrator   

n.经营管理者，行政官员

参考例句：

• The role of administrator absorbed much of Ben's energy.行政职务耗掉本很多精力。
• He has proved himself capable as administrator.他表现出管理才能。

10 mentality   

n.心理，思想，脑力

参考例句：

• He has many years'experience of the criminal mentality.他研究犯罪心理有多年经验。
• Running a business requires a very different mentality from being a salaried employee.经营企业所要求具备的心态和上班族的心态截然不同。

11 unlimited   

adj.无限的，不受控制的，无条件的

参考例句：

• They flew over the unlimited reaches of the Arctic.他们飞过了茫茫无边的北极上空。
• There is no safety in unlimited technological hubris.在技术方面自以为是会很危险。

12 inevitable   

adj.不可避免的，必然发生的

参考例句：

• Mary was wearing her inevitable large hat.玛丽戴着她总是戴的那顶大帽子。
• The defeat had inevitable consequences for British policy.战败对英国政策不可避免地产生了影响。

13 solidarity   

n.团结；休戚相关

参考例句：

• They must preserve their solidarity.他们必须维护他们的团结。
• The solidarity among China's various nationalities is as firm as a rock.中国各族人民之间的团结坚如磐石。