Abstract
The paper traces the development of the concept of the social state, from the works of Lorenz von Stein and German social legislation to the Beveridge model and the Soviet healthcare system. It substantiates the conclusion that the social character of a state is a substantive rather than a merely formal legal attribute and is determined by the actual orientation of public policy towards securing citizens' social rights. The paper explores healthcare financing as an indicator of the social policy pursued by the state. It provides a comparative analysis of the Bismarck, Beveridge, and Semashko models, identifying their funding sources, distinctive features, advantages, and limitations. The study establishes that the Russian system is of a mixed nature, combining budgetary funding, compulsory health insurance, and state planning. It concludes that the model for financing medical activities is a product of law, the content of which is determined by the rules of budgetary law, legislation on compulsory social insurance, and financial control.