[The history of insurance medicine in Germany]

Necessity for insurance was recognized even in ancient and medieval times. In modern times, mathematical and statistical research into mortality ratios, led to the start up of insurance companies. Medical advice was needed. Family doctors, medical advisers and chief physicians of the insurance companies became essential for insurance medicine. The "numerical method" and improved tarif systems were used to investigate the survival rates of people in poor health. In Germany, extensive statistical analysis of medical records was performed in a central data management office (Mitteilungsstelle für Sonderwagnisse). The Dr. Karl-Wilder-Foundation of the German insurance companies subsidized research into causality of diseases, course and prognosis affecting life expectancy. In health insurance publications on historical insurance medical work are rare. In accident insurance medicine, concrete conception of terms started especially after the second world war. Insurance medical knowledge was promoted in the department for insurance medicine of the German Association for Insurance Science (Deutscher Verein für Versicherungswissenschaft). Scientific publication started in 1886. Collaboration with related disciplines such as traumatology, forensic medicine and biostatistic was beneficial and should be extended in the future.