Four million Poles use private health insurance

Date: 4 October 2022

POLES SPENT NEARLY PLN 550 MILLION ON PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE AT THE END OF THE SECOND QUARTER OF 2022. THE NUMBER OF POLICYHOLDERS INCREASED BY 11.6 PER CENT TO NEARLY 4 MILLION POLICYHOLDERS YEAR-ON-YEAR. THESE RESULTS INDICATE THAT POLES, DUE TO THE DIFFICULT SITUATION IN PUBLIC HEALTH CARE, ARE LOOKING FOR MORE EFFECTIVE WAYS TO OBTAIN MEDICAL ASSISTANCE.
  • 548.8 million – gross premiums written in health insurance at the end of Q2 2022.
  • 3.95 million – the number of users of private health insurance in Poland.
PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE AND RISING HEALTH DEBT

The Covid-19 pandemic, which lasted almost three years, significantly affected the health of Poles. The so-called health debt has increased. Through the reorganisation and focus of hospitals and clinics on patients infected with the coronavirus, the closure of other wards, the postponement of planned treatments and operations, and patients’ fear of contact with healthcare facilities, the overall health of Poles has deteriorated. This is especially true for those with chronic illnesses, which is becoming an increasing problem in Poland. Almost one in three Poles declares to have been diagnosed with hypertension, one in eight with heart disease and one in eleven with diabetes. Cancer was diagnosed in five per cent of respondents, and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease in three per cent.

“We have seen an increase in health expenditure for several years, but this has been consumed by the cost of fighting coronavirus and the rising cost of medical services, driven by medical inflation driven by price increases and staff salary expectations. Because of this, the actual number of services and the availability of services is decreasing in real terms. This translates into a growing health debt,” comments Dorota M. Fal, advisor to the management board of the Polish Chamber of Insurance. “On the other hand, we see that despite the increase in the cost of living, according to PIU data, only 10 per cent of insurance agents have had to deal with a desire among clients to cancel or reduce health insurance. Moreover, according to our observations, this is the last of the insurances that Poles are moving away from as a means of saving money. We also see that an increasing number of new people are buying at least good and cheap health policies. This is a signal that they see the need to test such a solution,” adds Dorota M. Fal

PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE: WORKING TOGETHER FOR BETTER HEALTH

Current private spending on health care increased by PLN 5.4 billion (12.5 per cent) in 2021 compared to 2020 and amounted to. PLN 47.4 billion, representing 1.8 per cent of GDP. Their increase was influenced, among other things, by an increase in direct household spending, which amounted to PLN 33.8 billion, i.e. 4.1 billion (14 per cent) more than in the previous year. Meanwhile, current public expenditure also increased by 14 per cent and amounted to PLN 125.5 billion. The increase in public expenditure on health care in 2021 increased by PLN 25 billion, or 21.5 per cent. However, hospitals provided 22 per cent fewer services in 2021 than in 2020 and 15 per cent fewer than in 2019.

According PIU’s ‘Risk Map of Poles’ report, 81 per cent of Poles fear cancer, 80 per cent fear loss of function and 76 per cent fear brain damage. Seven out of ten respondents fear lack of availability of medical care. The same number of the respondents stated that they were eager to pay for additional health insurance if the amount could be deducted from tax.

“Private health insurance should not be seen as competition or as a substitute for the benefits provided by compulsory health insurance. The target model should combine both solutions, which will allow the entire diagnostic and treatment process to be managed more quickly and efficiently: from the planning of preventive measures, implementation of a healthy lifestyle through visits to the general practitioner, consultation with specialists to hospitalisation, treatments, convalescence and further management of the patient,” comments Dorota M. Fal, advisor to the management board of the Polish Chamber of Insurance. However, in such a model, there should be a clear signal from decision-makers and a system of incentives for citizens to invest in their health. This is particularly important in a situation where the cost of medical services will increase. This is a significant barrier for many patients, which will increase with inflation,” adds Dorota M. Fal.