Private Health Care Gains Ground in Spain
Waiting lists in the public health public health continue to grow, prompting an increasing number of Spaniards to opt for quality healthcare. quality healthcare in the private sector. According to the Insurance Social Report 2023prepared by the Spanish Union of Insurance and Reinsurance Companies (UNESPA), one in four people in Spain has an insurance policy.one out of every four people in Spain has a private health insurance policy. private health insurance. In total, 12.4 million people opted for this option, representing 25.8% of the population and an increase of more than 400,000 people over the previous year.
Growth of Private Health Insurance in Spain
The increase in private health insurance private health insurance is notable, especially among adults between 41 and 50 years of age, with 30.6% of them insured. Other age groups also show significant figures: 29.7% of people aged 51 to 60 and 31 to 40 years old have private health insurance. Even among young people between the ages of 21 and 30, 27.2% have taken out some type of health insurance.
By autonomous communities, Madrid leads with 40.5% of the insured population, followed by the Balearic Islands (32.5%) and Catalonia (34.2%). The autonomous cities also show high figures, with Ceuta at 36.8% and Melilla at 31.9%. In contrast, Navarre (11.9%), Cantabria (12.6%) and Murcia (14%) are at the bottom in terms of the penetration of private health insurance.
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Public-Private Collaboration in the Health Sector
The private health insurance is considered an example of public-private partnership. UNESPA emphasizes that the concerts with mutual insurance companies have enabled 81% of the public employees choose a medical insurance without co-paymentsimultaneously enjoying the public coverage. This model not only caters to those in need of acute care, but is based on a principle of solidarity in which healthy people contribute to financing the care of those in poorer health.
If you are considering private health insuranceyou can explore our health insurance comparison, which will help you choose the best option according to your needs.
Private Health Insurance Benefits
In 2023, most of the care received by the insured were for minor health problems, representing 94.3% of the total. Only 5.7% corresponded to significant problems and 1.3% to serious cases. In terms of benefits, 48.3% were for minor problems, 23.5% for significant issues and 28.2% for serious cases.
Among the main advantages advantages of private health insuranceinclude:
- Fast access to specialists without long waiting lists, unlike in the public health public health.
- Hospitalization and emergency with shorter waiting time.
- Flexibility in the choice of physicians and health centers..
- International coverage in some plans.
For more information on the different types of insurance and coverage, see our article on the best health insurance in Spain.
Conclusion
The growth in private health insurance private health insurance in Spain in Spain reflects a clear trend: the need for faster and more efficient care in the face of growing waiting lists in the public health system. public healthcare. This phenomenon underscores the importance of continuing to improve both the public and private systems in order to ensure a quality health care for all citizens. for all citizens.
If you are considering taking out a private health insuranceWe recommend you to analyze the different options available and choose the one that best suits your needs. You can request free advice from PIB Group Iberia to find the best health insurance solution for you and your family.
