Social consequences of competition in health insurance

Different versions of market economy entail stratification of the insured population corresponding to differences in the socio-economic status. Despite the different economic and welfare systems in the U.S. and Germany, common features were found with regard to the segregation of insured and uninsured respondents in both countries. Firstly, economic inequality causes an unequal access to certain insurance standards. Consequently, however, it is an unequal access to medical care that bringe about health handicaps for those unable to obtain better services. The existence of a social group of less healthy, poor and inadequately insured is going to be a challenge for the social policy also in our country. A specific problem is the distribution of health risks of an insurance company's clients among various subjects. A more general problem is the state' role in defining the balance between the subsidiarity principle and the welfare obligations in a market economy.Digitalizacja i deponowanie archiwalnych zeszytów RPEiS sfinansowane przez MNiSW w ramach realizacji umowy nr 541/P-DUN/201