Over the last few decades, the elderly population has increasingly become a significant global health concern. This population is vulnerable in the health care system because of their susceptibility to disease infections, reduced health care insurance access, and limited quality of life. This paper explores care services for elderly in Germany and Mexico.
In Germany, there is a statutory long-term care insurance program funded by a public healthcare insurance system that was designed to provide the elderly with financial resources for caregivers. This insurance allows for the provision of either care services or financial schemes to pay for private caregivers such as a family member (Grunow & Nuscheler, 2013). The insurance is controlled by the Germany welfare state, which is mandated to act as the lawmaker and regulator for public nursing care. This system ensures that the families are accorded more support from the state institution, which has been tasked with the responsibility for financing care for the elderly (Tao Liu, 2013). Compared to the Germany system, Mexico has a simple nursing care typified with a hybrid model where both conservative family care and a person’s private insurance can be utilized. Ideally, the older population are given the same health insurance that is the same as the other groups of the population under the Mexican Health System. However, this system is extensively segmented, with health services and users being split according to the health institution that offers the desired services. The main providers include social security institutions, public services under the health ministry, and the private sector. These institutions provide distinct services that are independent, and parallel to one another. They are also funded by various mechanisms (Antman, 2010). Recently, the Mexican ministry of health introduced the Seguro Popular, a health care insurance for the working group who cannot afford social security due to lack of an employer.
In conclusion, the number of older adults in the two countries who need health care will continue to grow, and that rise represents a severe challenge. It appears, therefore that the citizens will have to invest more in health care system than they do currently.
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- Grunow, M., & Nuscheler, R. (2013). Public and Private Health Insurance in Germany: The Ignored Risk Selection Problem. Health Economics, 23(6), 670-687.
- Tao Liu. (2013). Nursing Care for Elderly People in Germany and China: A Bilateral Comparison and Exploration of Policy Transfer. (2013). Journal Of Nursing & Care, 03(06).