Exploring Possibilities for Consumer Choice in the German Health Care System

This article reports on the results of a project conducted to explore feasible reform options in the German Health care system. More specifically, the project examined policy instruments to address the inherent problems of the Statutory Health Insurance system (Krankenkassen), where more than 90% of the population is currently insured. These instruments include demand-and supply-side measures such as the extension of patients' cost sharing, a modification of the benefits catalogue and organizational changes such as gatekeeper systems and selective contracting.