Further rationalize the regulatory framework for the operation of private clinics, beware of applying the new indicator on which the premiums will be based health and improve consumer transparency / information, proposes, among other things, Competition committee.
The proposals are included in the final report of the survey conducted by the Competition Committee in the provision of private health services and related insurance services.
The main conclusions/sentences include:
- In the last five years there has been an increase in demand for health services, and the public health system has been under pressure with the percentage of public spending and health investment being lower than a European average, by reducing the number of public hospitals, while a large proportion of total health expenditure (35% in 2019) The form of participation for medicines and direct payments for services, and with private insurance covering a small percentage of total health costs (4.3%).
- The legislative framework does not create obstacles to rising beds, but the conditions for rising beds can make it difficult or prevent a clinic from increasing beds. The further rationalization of the regulatory framework for the operation of private clinics (a venture already launched by Law 4600/2019) in order to make their potential to respond to increasing demand in private health services is deliberate.
- There is a steady upward trend of demand for insurance policies in the three years 2021-2023 and growth in the health insurance market at an increasing rate (about 10%) in the two years 2023-2024, as well as a large reduction in long-term health insurance contracts during the period 2021-2023 in combination with significant reinforcement.
- There is a tendency to verticalization of insurance companies with their activity in the health sector. The phenomenon of verticalization is also observed in Greece, initially with the acquisition of National Insurance by the HHG Group of CVC capital, and more recently with the announcement of the Euroclinic acquisition by Generali.
- In recent years, there has been a steady increase in the cost of private health services, while it has been deeply employed by the ever -increasing cost of health insurance programs, without the ability of insured persons to predict its future development. Increasing health costs is attributed to increasing the volume of services per incident, the incidence of damage due to increased morbidity, aging and hospital care costs in private hospitals, as well as increasing the costs of compensation per hospital.
- The issue of customer pricing and opacity in pricing of health services has emerged, making it extremely difficult to compare services and verification of charges based on published pricing lists of private clinics and secondary health care.
Accordingly, there is also an increase in the cost of private health insurance services, which is partly attributed to increasing the cost and volume of health services provided. However, the reported sharp increase in the period 2024 – 2025 also appears to be attributed to the implementation of the Single Health Index (EDA).
It is noted that the NSA is abolished and will be replaced by 2026 by the annual long -term health insurance index (ECN) prepared by ELSTAT.
The Competition Committee is of particular attention to the design and implementation of the new ECHR Index that will replace the NSA by noting:
- “In addition to the reflections on the transparency of conventional terms, and to the objectivity, suitability, verification and accessibility of the factors that will be taken into account for the formulation of the index -ensembles that are respected by consumer protection and which are doubtful that the new arrangement is concerned. Distortments in competition in the wider health insurance industry, from linking the change of prices to an index, especially if it is formed on the basis of a particular number of small number of insurance programs with particular characteristics (aging insured, increased number of cases, etc.). The use of indicators may alleviate competitive pressures on insurance companies and encourage implicit collusion by acting as a focal point for price determination.
- The specific issue of opacity in Health and Health Services charges has emerged. Although asymmetric information between the knowledge holder about the good of health compared to the patient’s knowledge is an inherent feature of healthcare markets, the lack of transparency, predictability and comparison in both health services and health insurance services, Cost, and ultimately has control over his spending on such an important good. In this context, it is certainly beneficial for the consumer that private clinics are required to publish on their website priced services and products provided by them. It is proposed to codify/standardize the services/products of the price lists in order to further facilitate the consumer in comparing prices, to enhance transparency and ultimately consumer consciousness, indirectly enhancing competition in the industry.