Gesundheitsausgaben und die Rolle des Alters

Eine detaillierte Analyse der Kosten von Überlebenden und Verstorbenen

authored by: Jona T. Stahmeyer, Sascha Hamp, Jan Zeidler, Sveja Eberhard
Abstract: Background: Germany faces various socio-political challenges due to its ongoing ageing population. Significant increases in social security contributions are widely expected. The impact of ageing on healthcare expenditure is a controversial issue. Experts agree that costs for end-of-life care account for a significant part of total healthcare expenditures. For a meaningful forecast, detailed information on healthcare costs differentiated by survivors and decedents is necessary. Extensive data are hardly available for Germany. The aim of the analysis was therefore to describe healthcare costs in the statutory health insurance. Methods: The basis for the calculation is billing data from the statutory health insurance “AOK Niedersachsen” (Lower Saxony). Persons who survived or died in 2017 were included in the analysis. Average costs were standardised. Results: The data of 2.46 million survivors and 34,307 decedents were analysed. The average annual healthcare costs were 2756 € for survivors and 21,830 € for decedents in the last year of life. The average healthcare costs for survivors increase with age whereas costs for decedents are highest in younger age groups and decline with increasing age. A detailed analysis of end-of-life costs shows an exponential increase of costs in the last three years of life with the highest costs in the quarter before death (10,577 €). Discussion: The analysis gives a detailed overview on the structure of healthcare expenditure in the statutory health insurance and can serve as a basis for future forecasts regarding healthcare expenditure.
Organisation(s): Institute of Health Economics
Center for Health Economics Research Hannover (CHERH)
External Organisation(s): AOK - Die Gesundheitskasse für Niedersachsen
Type: Article
Journal: Bundesgesundheitsblatt - Gesundheitsforschung - Gesundheitsschutz
Volume: 64
Pages: 1307-1314
No. of pages: 8
ISSN: 1436-9990
Publication date: 10.2021
Publication status: Published
Peer reviewed: Yes
ASJC Scopus subject areas: Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health
Sustainable Development Goals: SDG 3 - Good Health and Well-being
Electronic version(s): https://doi.org/10.1007/s00103-021-03385-y (Access: Closed)