Press Release 29/12/2016
More than 407,000 people in the Basque Country had health insurance in 2015
70% of policyholders were in Bizkaia, 19% in Gipuzkoa and 11% in Álava
The Private Health Insurance Companies operating in the Basque Country had 407,171 people covered by private health insurance in 2015, an increase of 6.4% compared with 2011 - the most recent data available - according to Eustat data. The number of premiums rose to 312.7 million euros, i.e. by 12.6%.
By province, 70% of policyholders were in Bizkaia, 19% in Gipuzkoa and 11% in Álava. Of those, 53% were women and 47% were men, and most were in the 45-64 and 25-44 age brackets (32% and 30% respectively).
59.3% of policyholders had group insurance, 32.5% had individual insurance or family insurance and 8.2% belonged to public mutual societies for civil servants. Compared with 2011, the rise in group insurance schemes is particularly noteworthy at 18%, whereas the number of individual or family insurance schemes fell by 6.7%, and public mutual societies fell by 10.2%.
Additionally, Insurance Companies took in 312.7 million euros' worth of premiums, which is an increase of 12.6% compared with 2011, ultimately accounting for 0.45% of GDP in 2015. The average premium per policyholder was 768 euros, compared to 726 euros in 2011. By province, 74.1% of premiums were in Bizkaia, 16.3% in Gipuzkoa and 9.6% in Álava.
The health insurance sector is characterised by a high concentration of premiums given that the four companies with the greatest volume of premiums reached a market quota in excess of 85%.
Methodological note: These statistics contain information from health insurance organisations that have at least one establishment in the Basque Country.
For further information:
Eustat - Euskal Estatistika Erakundea / Instituto Vasco de Estadística
C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz
Press Service: servicioprensa@eustat.eus Tel: 945 01 75 62
Further press releases on the Statistics on private healthcare
Databank on the Statistics on private healthcare