Statutory health insurance in Germany

The 92nd sitting

During its 92nd sitting, on 31 May 1883, the German Reichstag held the final roll-call vote on the bill concerning workers' health insurance and adopted it by 216 votes to 99.

The measure imposed compulsory sickness insurance on specified wage earners in mines, factories, ironworks, railways, inland steamship operations, shipyards, construction, crafts and other established trades. It expressly excluded officials employed at a fixed salary by imperial, state or municipal administrations.

Half a wage, for thirteen weeks

The minimum benefits were medical treatment and medicines from the onset of illness and, for incapacity, half the customary local daily wage beginning after the third day, for no more than thirteen weeks.

This was contributory social insurance rather than tax-funded medical care: workers ordinarily paid two-thirds of the contributions and employers one-third. The German Federal Ministry of Health puts the population initially subject to compulsory coverage at about 10 percent.

Passage is not enactment

31 May was the parliamentary vote, not the start of benefits. The enacted law was dated 15 June and carried the signatures of Kaiser Wilhelm I and Bismarck.

Preparatory provisions began on 1 December 1883 and the remainder on 1 December 1884.

Calling it a law Bismarck personally pushed through also passes over the Reichstag, its committee negotiations, and the changes made to the government's bill along the way.