Introduction of the first Health insurance in Germany in 1883
The first extensive health insurance law for workers was introduced in 1883. In that law the free treatment for everybody was formulated.[i] As most physician were still more in the city the rural people had to pay the lay healer themselves (especially after the Kurierzwang was gone and with the introduction of the Kurierfreiheit 1872)[ii]!
[i] One third was paid by the employer and two third by the employee (§17, II, 1 of Reichskrankenversicherungsrecht, 1883) (Häpe p. 84). The employee received a sick payment after the 3rd day and 50% of the pay up to 13 weeks. The physician treatment cost, the medicine and medical aids (including glasses), hospital treatment, were also covered. Furthermore, there was also a maternity benefit and a death benefit. (§10, II, 1 of Reichskrankenversicherungsrecht, 1883) (Häpe p. 49)
[ii] Initially, lay healers were not excluded in that law, however, only few were accepted by the insurances. In 1914, in an additional law (Reichsversicherungsordnung) the lay healers were excluded from injured benefits (Faltin p. 231)