This “attack” on health insurance is the Trojan horse from the left to try to attack and harm private health care. In fact, this is not the only measure considered by the party led by Yolanda Díaz in this sense. We must not forget that he advocates that VAT is applied to private health services.
Regarding the possible increase in taxes on health insurance included in the tax reform, the president of the Association of Health Economists, Anna García-Altés, believes that it could lead to a reduction in the number of insured people.
“It’s very possible. If prices increase, some will give up insurance and stay with public health“, he said in an interview with EL ESPAÑOL-Invertia. A situation that could lead to a reduction in the activity of private hospital groups, according to García-Altés.
Currently, The private hospital sector carries out 42% of surgical interventions34% of emergencies and 30% of consultations recorded in our country.
Actually, The weight of the private sector has increased in recent years in these mentioned areas, according to the recent Analysis of Spanish private healthcare 2024 published by the employers’ association ASPE.
According to this data, surgical interventions and emergencies treated in the private sector increased by 2.7 percentage points between 2018 and 2022. For their part, consultations increased by 3.4 points during the aforementioned period.
Regarding the possible impact of the measure on public health, the president of the Association of Health Economists believes that the transfer of these policyholders the national health system would not collapse. The reason is “because the people who take out insurance are mostly young – and therefore healthy – people, who generally do not consume resources. Intensive users of the SNS are older people.”
The sector warns, however, that this would increase pressure on the public system. “Private health insurance fulfills an essential social function in our country. It helps to relieve the health pressure of the public health service,” detailed the Spanish Union of Insurance and Reinsurance Entities (Unespa).
“Taxing private health insurance with an IPS of 8% would result in a decline in the number of people subscribing to this type of insurance and therefore an increase in demand for public health assistance,” warn employers in the insurance sector.
Radiography of the insurance sector
According to data provided by the Spanish Union of Insurance and Reinsurance Entities to EL ESPAÑOL-Invertia, the number of health insurance holders increased from 8.7 million people in 2011 to 12.4 million in 2023. This represents an increase of 42.5% over the period mentioned.
End of 2023, 25.8% of the population Spain had contracted this type of product. This penetration of health insurance was 18.5% in 2011. The reason for this growth is that “these are products marketed at competitive and accessible prices, the available offer is wide and presents differential characteristics”, details Unespa.
Insurers emphasize that the care provided by private healthcare is care that the public health system is saved.
“Those who take out health insurance benefit from it and, although they can use public health care like any taxpayer, they turn to private health care and relieve which reduces the workload of public centers and saves costs for the Administration,” explain Unespa sources.
Furthermore, Unespa recalls that one of the phenomena which motivates the subscription to health insurance is its growing acceptance as in-kind payment mechanism. “Many companies have integrated health insurance for their employees as a concept of additional remuneration,” they explain.
A statement supported by the data: 83% of companies offer health insurance to their employeesaccording to the 5th Adeslas Health Insurance Barometer. In addition, this social benefit remains the first option in the future among companies that do not offer it.
The aforementioned barometer also highlights that health insurance is improving perception that workers have of the company and strengthens your commitment to it. 71% of employees believe they show that the company cares about its employees and their well-being.
Regarding insurer billing, the health insurance sector has reached 11,098 million euros in 2023which represents an increase of 7.4% compared to the end of the previous year, according to data provided by Unespa.
SegurCaixa Adeslas It is the company with the largest market share (28.6%) and the highest premium volume, with 3,244 million euros. Below is Sanitaswith 16.2% of the market and 1,831 million euros in premiums. Complete the podium Asisawhich retains 12.9% of the quota and reaches 1,459 million euros.
Other insurers, such as DKV, Mapfre, Axa or IMQ, are below four figures. The number of insured people already exceeds 12 million people in Spain.
