On 17 May 2013, the Polish Insurance Association organised a conference titled “Additional health insurance – effective system based on lessons from Europe” under a honorary patronage of the Minister of Health.
Speakers both from Poland and abroad took part in this event. The aim of the conference was to present benefits of health insurance for the society and the healthcare system in an expert manner using experiences of other countries. During the conference, a report prepared by PIU in cooperation with Ernst & Young under the title “Role and function of additional health insurance in contemporary healthcare systems – analysis and recommendations for Poland” was presented.
The conference was opened by the President of the Management Board of PIU, Jan Grzegorz Prądzyński, who emphasised that works on the Act on additional health insurance, which have currently commenced, constitute an issue of utmost importance. He pointed out to the need of developing new solutions and conducting well-thought-out reforms which will provide an additional cash inflow to the healthcare system. In the opinion of the President of PIU, additional health insurance constitutes a natural and effective solution which proved to be reliable all over the world. He also emphasised that for many years now, the healthcare system in Poland is in the state of a crisis. Budget deficit in the NFZ in 2012 and long queues to medical specialists prove that this situation is real. Thus, the need for developing new solutions. President Prądzyński also referred to the extent and dynamics of development of health insurance, pointing out that at present it does not play any significant role on the Polish market. In conclusion, he emphasised
The conference was opened by the President of the Management Board of PIU, Jan Grzegorz Prądzyński, who emphasised that works on the Act on additional health insurance, which have currently commenced, constitute an issue of utmost importance. He pointed out to the need of developing new solutions and conducting well-thought-out reforms which will provide an additional cash inflow to the healthcare system. In the opinion of the President of PIU, additional health insurance constitutes a natural and effective solution which proved to be reliable all over the world. He also emphasised that for many years now, the healthcare system in Poland is in the state of a crisis. Budget deficit in the NFZ in 2012 and long queues to medical specialists prove that this situation is real. Thus, the need for developing new solutions. President Prądzyński also referred to the extent and dynamics of development of health insurance, pointing out that at present it does not play any significant role on the Polish market. In conclusion, he emphasised that in order to determine the direction in which Poland should go, it is necessary to draw
The conference was opened by the President of the Management Board of PIU, Jan Grzegorz Prądzyński, who emphasised that works on the Act on additional health insurance, which have currently commenced, constitute an issue of utmost importance. He pointed out to the need of developing new solutions and conducting well-thought-out reforms which will provide an additional cash inflow to the healthcare system. In the opinion of the President of PIU, additional health insurance constitutes a natural and effective solution which proved to be reliable all over the world. He also emphasised that for many years now, the healthcare system in Poland is in the state of a crisis. Budget deficit in the NFZ in 2012 and long queues to medical specialists prove that this situation is real. Thus, the need for developing new solutions. President Prądzyński also referred to the extent and dynamics of development of health insurance, pointing out that at present it does not play any significant role on the Polish market. In conclusion, he emphasised that in order to determine the direction in which Poland should go, it is necessary to draw
The conference was opened by the President of the Management Board of PIU, Jan Grzegorz Prądzyński, who emphasised that works on the Act on additional health insurance, which have currently commenced, constitute an issue of utmost importance. He pointed out to the need of developing new solutions and conducting well-thought-out reforms which will provide an additional cash inflow to the healthcare system. In the opinion of the President of PIU, additional health insurance constitutes a natural and effective solution which proved to be reliable all over the world. He also emphasised that for many years now, the healthcare system in Poland is in the state of a crisis. Budget deficit in the NFZ in 2012 and long queues to medical specialists prove that this situation is real. Thus, the need for developing new solutions. President Prądzyński also referred to the extent and dynamics of development of health insurance, pointing out that at present it does not play any significant role on the Polish market. In conclusion, he emphasised that in order to determine the direction in which Poland should go, it is necessary to draw on
the experience of other European countries.
Next, Sławomir Neumann, Secretary of State in the Ministry of Health, said that additional health insurance should rather be of supportive than competitive nature towards
the public system. He stressed that it should cover between ten and twenty million of Poles; therefore, the main goal of the act should be to enable patients finding alternative forms of financing their health needs. At the same time, he expressed hope that the department will be able to present its idea for the form of additional health insurance in the nearest future. This project is supposed to be a result of cooperation with experts from the sectoral market, including the Polish Insurance Association.
During the next part of the meeting, invited speakers took the floor. Krzysztof Łanda, President of Watch Health Care, discussed the subject of queues to guaranteed benefits on the basis of Barometr WHC. He compared this queue to a “disease with proven harmfulness”.
During the next part of the meeting, invited speakers took the floor. Krzysztof Łanda, President of Watch Health Care, discussed the subject of queues to guaranteed benefits on the basis of Barometr WHC. He compared this queue to a “disease with proven harmfulness”. He also indicated the Barometr WHC enables insurers to check whether the benefits from the
During the next part of the meeting, invited speakers took the floor. Krzysztof Łanda, President of Watch Health Care, discussed the subject of queues to guaranteed benefits on the basis of Barometr WHC. He compared this queue to a “disease with proven harmfulness”. He also indicated the Barometr WHC enables insurers to check whether the benefits from the
During the next part of the meeting, invited speakers took the floor. Krzysztof Łanda, President of Watch Health Care, discussed the subject of queues to guaranteed benefits on the basis of Barometr WHC. He compared this queue to a “disease with proven harmfulness”. He also indicated the Barometr WHC enables insurers to check whether the benefits from the guaranteed basket could potentially be attractive for additionally insured people.
Then, Marek Rozkrut, Chief Economist at Ernst & Young, discussed factors influencing the increase in healthcare spending. He showed forecasts regarding development of additional health insurance market.
Dorota M. Fal, Adviser to the Management Board of PIU, tackled the subject of benefits for Poland which may be connected with development of additional health insurance. She indicated the tools which may influence ensuring universality of the system and added that it is necessary to reach a win-win-win situation, i.e. a situation in which patients, the healthcare system and the insurance sector are satisfied.
The conference included presentations of foreign speakers who shared their experiences in the area of additional health insurance. Johan Hjertqvist, President of Health Consumer Powerhouse, presented characteristics of systems existing in other European countries. He pointed out to solutions applied in the Netherlands which, in his opinion, are worth following and promoting. Tim McKeown, Product and Business Development Director at Vhi Healthcare, introduced the model existing in Ireland. He emphasised that 45% of society in Ireland has private health insurance, mainly hospitalisation insurance, and the annual premium equals to EUR 1.1 thousand. Next, Tom Sackville, Chair of NHS, former MP and United Kingdom’s Minister of Health, referred to one of the more interesting healthcare models which functions in Australia.
The conference was concluded with a discussion panel during which issues regarding myths connected with additional health insurance were tackled. Members of the panel included speakers from abroad as well as Artur Smolarek, Chairman of the Health and Accident Insurance Committee at PIU and Tomasz Pawlęga, Deputy Director of the Health Insurance Department in the Ministry of Health. Mariusz Gujski from Służba Zdrowia magazine moderated the discussion. It was jointly agreed that in order for additional health insurance to start functioning, it is necessary to introduce wise regulations. In addition, offering attractive prices and comprehensive products will cause that it is going to become a part of the mass market. As agreed during the debate, building social awareness with respect to its role in the healthcare system constitutes a significant condition for the development of additional health insurance market.
Analysis of possibilities to satisfy growing healthcare needs – Marek Rozkrut
Availability of guaranteed benefits – Krzysztof Łanda
Benefits from development of additional health insurance market in Poland – Dorota M. Fal
Private health insurance, healthcare systems and the citizen satisfaction – Johan Hjertqvist
Report – Role and function of additional health insurance
The leading global network of the health insurance industry – Tom Sackville
Voluntary Private Health Insurance Market in Ireland – Tim McKeown
