Private health insurance is still popular among Poles
At the end of the first quarter of this year, the number of people with private health insurance amounted to nearly 4.3 million, i.e. 12.5% more than a year earlier. In the first three months of 2023, Poles spent PLN 454.4 million on these insurance policies.
Private health insurance in the first quarter of 2023:
- 4.3 million – the number of people using private health insurance in Poland at the end of the first quarter of 2023.
- PLN 454.4 million – gross written premium in health insurance at the end of the first quarter of 2023.
Let us recall that at the end of 2022, as reported by the Polish Chamber of Insurance (PIU), the number of people with private health insurance policies was nearly 4.23 million, i.e. 9.2% more than a year earlier. Poles spent PLN 1.3 billion on private insurance policies, i.e. 17% more year on year.
Despite inflation, interest in insurance is not decreasing
According to the PIU data, there is still a double-digit increase in the number of insured people on an annual basis compared to the previous year. Inflation, the increase in the cost of living, as well as the growing propensity of Poles to save do not translate into a decline in the popularity of private health insurance. The results even prove that many people see that managing their own health through insurance is effective and also brings savings, as opposed to purchasing individual medical services on the market. Insurers negotiate prices with medical service providers, so they can offer more favourable conditions to both individual and group clients, e.g. employers. Therefore, private health insurance is appreciated by individuals and employers. For the latter, keeping employees in good health is a key issue on which work efficiency depends. Additional protection for employees, which includes preventive medical check-ups, promotion of a healthy lifestyle and quick access to doctors, diagnostics or hospital treatment, ensures a faster recovery and return to work.
Investing in employee health pays off
“Polish society is ageing, it is not healthy and public healthcare is struggling with more and more problems. Employers know about this, which is why they do everything to have effective, and thus also healthy, employees. Recently, the number of sick leaves has increased, mainly due to respiratory and musculoskeletal diseases. Mental health problems are getting worse. Some of these diseases can be prevented through prophylaxis, cured quickly or stabilised. Access to treatment offered by insurers is invaluable here”, says Dorota M. Fal, Advisor to the Management Board of the Polish Chamber of Insurance (PIU).
