Press Release 16/04/2019

PRIVATE HEALTHCARE STATISTICS. 2017

More than 435,000 people in the Basque Country had health insurance in 2017, 6.9% more than in 2015

The number of premiums collected was up 5.1%

The Private Health Insurance Companies operating in the Basque Country had 435,219 people covered by private health insurance in 2017, an increase of 6.9% compared to 2015 according to Eustat data. The number of premiums rose to 328.5 million euros, i.e. by 5.1%.

By province, 69.6% of people who had health insurance were in Bizkaia, 19% in Gipuzkoa and 11.4% in Álava. With regards to the gender of the insured population, 53% were women and 47% were men. In addition, the majority of insured individuals were concentrated in the 45-64 and 25-44 year-old age groups, 33.8% and 29%, respectively, with a female majority in all age groups over 25 years.

Additionally, Insurance Companies took in 328.5 million euros' worth of premiums, which was an increase of 5.1% compared to 2015. By province, 73.3% of premiums were in Bizkaia, 17% in Gipuzkoa and 9.7% in Álava.

Taking into account the type of insurance, 48.3% of premiums were group insurance schemes, 43.8% were individual insurance or family insurance schemes and 8% belonged to public mutual societies for civil servants. Compared to 2015, group insurance schemes saw the highest increase (7.1%), followed by individual or family insurance schemes (4.7%), whereas those corresponding to public mutual societies for civil servants fell by 3.8%.

Health insurance in the Basque Country was characterised by the significant weight of commercial entities, which covered 99% of the insured population, and also by a high concentration of premiums, given that the four entities with the greatest volume of premiums and insured individuals reached a market share of 90%.

Methodological note: These statistics contain information from health insurance organisations that have at least one establishment in the Basque Country. They do not include Voluntary Social Welfare Entities since they are not insurance-related.

For further information:

Eustat - Euskal Estatistika Erakundea / Basque Statistics Institute C/ Donostia-San Sebastián, 1 01010 Vitoria-Gasteiz Press Service: servicioprensa@eustat.es Tel: 945 01 75 62