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A Bit of History By Milena Radoman

Health financing dates back to Antiquity…

As early as ancient civilizations, there were generations and retirees and offers a wide but made it possible to insure 10% of the
rudimentary health care systems funded range of health services, including for the American population by extending the public
by religious rulers or temples. Some cities most deprived. However, it faces challenges insurance for disadvantaged people with
in the Roman Empire appointed and paid such as the aging population and the risk of children (Medicaid) and providing subsidies
doctors whose task was to care for the poor financial imbalances. for the payment of premiums for people who
and help them in the event of an epidemic. During the 20 century, many countries do not have access to insurance through their
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Care establishments, valetudinaria, were then developed their own health financing systems, employer.
created for the benefit of veterans and the ranging from universal health insurance
infirm, which could well be the first hospitals. (Monaco, France) to private health insurance The two main categories of retirement system
During the Middle Ages in Europe, some in the United States. There is also full public Pension financing systems distinguish two
religious orders and charitable institutions funding system (Beveridgian System). In main categories: pay-as-you-go (Monaco,
provided health care financed by donations northern and southern Europe, the United France, Germany for example) and funded
and contributions from the community. Care Kingdom, Ireland and Canada, the state pension plans (Chile, Australia). In the first
was often provided in hospices and hospitals. provides a national health service financed by case, active workers fund the pensions of
It was in the 16 century in England that taxation. Some countries, such as Switzerland current retirees, due to intergenerational
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King Henry VIII introduced the first form of and the Netherlands, have long established a solidarity, while in the second, individuals
health insurance with craftsmen's guilds. hybrid system of compulsory health insurance contribute to personal retirement accounts,
Members paid contributions to have access for all residents, but have entrusted its with the pension level varying depending on
to medical care. In the 19 century, German management to competitive private insurers. performance financial markets. Some plans are
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Chancellor Otto von Bismarck is credited with However, the state intervenes in the case of also hybrid (Sweden), offering the security of
creating the first system of compulsory health market failures. In the United States, private a minimum pension while allowing individual
insurance in 1883, by introducing compulsory insurance covers the majority of Americans, savings. Some states such as the United States
contributions for workers in Germany. This laid primarily through employment and secondarily have adopted a public pension plan. Workers
the foundations for the Bismarckian system, through the individual insurance market. The pay into a government-run retirement system.
which became a model for other countries Obamacare reform of 2010 lost part of its All of these plans face growing public health
such as France and Monaco. It is based on substance during its adoption by Congress, challenges, including an aging population,
the principle of solidarity between working then during Donald Trump’s presidency, medication costs and technological advances…

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