Cost sharing in the health systems of western European countries

Austria Does not affect 80% of the population. A percentage rate of co-payment for health care is applied to the rest, unless exempted for reasons of low income Combination of co-payment and percentage rate (with exemptions). The scheme of direct payments by the patient is limited to the first 28 days of hospitalization Co-payment for prescription drugs. Drugs not prescribed by health professionals are excluded 

Denmark None None Variable percentage rate of cost sharing (0-50%) applied on the basis of drug reference prices (RP). Drugs outside the MOH formulary are excluded from the coverage of die system 

Finland None. A choice is made between a prior annual payment, a co-payment, and a co-payment with a maximum in the user-shared bill for the annual cost. Varies according to the municipality Maximum payment levels for (daily) hospital stays and for specialist visits Percentage rates of user sharing in pharmaceutical costs 

Germany None. Elat rate of co-payment for the first 14 days per year of hospitalization, after which there is no cost sharing of any sort Variable co-payment. RP system. No coverage is applied to those pharmaceuticals on public financing negative lists 

Co-payments, with higher rates for visits outside normal working hours. Larger co-payments for house calls. A maximum is set for the financial participation of the user 

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Table 1.2 Cost sharing in the health systems of western European countries... 

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