Health insurance premiums in Greece are forecast to rise sharply in 2025, driven by a notable surge in insurer payouts to private hospitals, which saw an increase of over 16% in 2023. While companies have not yet disclosed their new rates, industry experts predict significant hikes across all contract categories, marking the second consecutive year of premium increases.
The upcoming hikes will not be uniform, with the most substantial impact expected to be felt by policyholders with older lifelong coverage. These contracts are subject to adjustments based on the annual health index, compiled by the Foundation for Economic & Industrial Research (IOBE), which tracks inflation in health-related compensation.
In 2023, the health index rose to 14.6%, up from 14% the previous year. In earlier years, the index has fluctuated significantly, standing at 5.7% in 2021, 1.4% in 2020, 10.9% in 2019, and 6.6% in 2018. This ongoing inflationary trend has led to substantial premium increases for policyholders with older contracts, many of whom are elderly individuals who took out their policies decades ago. These long-term contracts represent the most vulnerable group of insured individuals, who are now facing substantial financial burdens due to rising healthcare costs.
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