Social Health Insurance in the Six Countries of the European Economic Community

Abstract

The possibility of harmonizing health insurance, the most important and most controversial sector of social security, is analyzed in this article. Harmonization of economic and social systems is a major objective of the European Economic Community. Social security is an important aspect of this policy, and extensive developments in social welfare have been made in these countries. Tracing a common pattern of social health insurance in the six countries by a comprehensive comparison of the systems was an original objective of this study. It proved, however, that no common pattern existed. The “European model” of health insurance did not appear. On all points remarkable differences in the various national systems can be found. A different approach in the second part of the study produced better results. A historical comparison of the various systems showed the existence of very important convergent trends, tending toward a common model of health insurance for the future.