The crisis in primary health care in Finland is leading to an increase in the use of private health insurance, particularly in the last year. A recent report shows that the use of private health insurance in the country has reached pre-pandemic levels, with a growth rate of over 90% in the first quarter of 2023 compared to the same period in 2022, especially in relation to flu-related health expenses.
This increase is due to people seeking medical attention more readily in the post-COVID-19 era, and the weak immune systems of many individuals. Additionally, the country's primary health care crisis has led to an increase in the use of personal health insurance policies.
As a result of the long wait times for treatment in the public health system, there has been a rise in the number of patients using private health care services, leading to an increase in the percentage of private health care costs covered by insurance. In Finland, nearly 1.3 million people have private health insurance policies. Interestingly, the interest in private health insurance is continuing to grow, despite the uncertain economic situation. This is because people are increasingly realizing the need to secure their health with insurance policies.
Furthermore, private health insurance allows individuals to anticipate their health costs. As a result, families with children have typically been more proactive about protecting their health by taking out health insurance policies. In the current year, more senior citizens have taken out health insurance policies than in the previous year. According to Jarkko Pärssinen, the Head of Personal Insurance, people should take out health insurance policies as early as possible, because as people age, they are more likely to develop various illnesses and injuries, which may increase the number of restrictions on their policies.
Not only are people more interested in securing their health with insurance, but they are also showing a growing interest in life insurance policies. As the number of individuals seeking to protect themselves against various risks increases, so does the demand for voluntary insurance policies. In March 2020, when the pandemic began, there was a spike in the number of people taking out life insurance policies due to uncertainty and anxiety. This year, the number of life insurance policies taken out increased by 20% compared to the same period last year.
According to the CEO of OP-Henkivakuutus, Sari Heinonen, the growing interest in risk life insurance is a positive development, given that only 8% of Finnish residents currently have life insurance. Therefore, the increase in voluntary insurance policies is a welcome trend that will help protect more people against unforeseen risks.
In conclusion, the crisis in primary health care in Finland has led to a rise in the use of private health insurance policies, and this trend is likely to continue. This increase in the use of insurance policies is a proactive measure aimed at protecting individuals' health and financial well-being, and it is also an indication that people are becoming more aware of the need to secure their futures against unforeseen risks.
HT
