The private health insurance market in Poland maintained steady upward momentum in 2025. Gross written premium reached PLN 2.65 billion, having increased 14.8% y/y, from PLN 2.3 billion PLN in 2024. At the same time, the number of insured people exceeded 5.8 million, which is 8.6% more than a year before.
This is a testament to the growing popularity of private health insurance and its increasing importance on the healthcare landscape.
– Health insurance is gaining traction because it addresses the real needs of individuals and employers – says Dorota Fal, adviser to the Management Board of the Polish Chamber of Insurance (PIU).
We are seeing a gradual stabilisation in the market’s operating costs following a wave of increases in the wake of int. al. the sharp rise in medical staff wages and the operating costs of healthcare facilities. A spike in the costs of treatment, which has created a nearly 30 billion gap in the National Health Fund’s budget, also poses a challenge for the private healthcare and health insurance sectors.
– The market may have already passed the period of the most dramatic cost increases. Despite this, we can see that the sector continues to develop steadily and maintains strong growth momentum – adds Dorota Fal. This is understandable, as the costs of private healthcare fee for service are also rising, so transferring health risks to an insurer is becoming an attractive option for many clients.
The growth potential of private health insurance remains very high. Instead of being treated as a mere employee benefit, this type of insurance is increasingly being perceived as a genuine component of the healthcare system, supporting access to healthcare services and preventive measures. Health prevention is pivotal in this shift of perception, as it forms an integral part of most group health insurance policies. The preventive health programmes offered under these policies are highly regarded by employers, and the participation in preventive health checks among the cohorts enjoying such cover is significantly higher than among the rest of the population.
– Health insurance can be a valuable tool for promoting preventative care and taking some of the burden off the healthcare system. Of particular importance is the fact that people covered under such insurance statistically make use of preventive measures far more often than an average citizen – emphasises Dorota Fal. The development of the private health insurance sector could be further boosted through the introduction of dedicated fiscal solutions – she adds. One such stimulus for the market could be the inclusion of health insurance in the tax incentive scheme. This would benefit employees and employers alike, as well as the healthcare system as a whole.
