Health Care for Asylum Seekers in Germany according to Asylum Seekers' Benefits Act: Public Perceptions and Preferences

Objective This study analyses public perceptions and preferences regarding scope, access and funding of health care for asylum seekers (AS). Methods Standardized survey addressing the population > 18 years, combined quota plan, descriptive and inferential statistics. Results The sample (n = 419) was rather badly informed about this topic. We found heterogeneous preferences. 47.0 % preferred to maintain current regulations of the scope of health care, 22.7 % wanted an expansion. 56.1 % favored a health card. The EU, tax payers, countries of origin and AS were preferred as funders. Conclusion A consideration of preferences might strengthen the acceptance and legitimation of decisions. Our results indicate that this would lead to moderate changes in health care for AS. Since participants were not well informed subjectively, we suggest qualitative research.