Health insurance boost in Türkiye
Supplementary health insurance premium income has risen by 137 per cent for the first six months of 2022, compared to 2021, according to the Insurance Association of Türkiye (TSB)
Member data shows that supplementary health insurance (SHI) premiums reached TRY2.79 billion (US$151.72 million) in the first half of this year. SHI was introduced as a law in 2012, with subscribers paying lower premiums for healthcare services not covered, or partially covered, by the government’s basic benefits package.
Atilla Benli, TSB President, noted that ‘demand has increased significantly during the Covid-19 pandemic’. “For example, in the seven months to 31 July, private health insurance premiums increased by 72 per cent compared to the corresponding period in 2021, but SHI premiums surged by 143 per cent. These rates are before taking into account annual inflation that rose for the 14th consecutive month to 79.6 per cent in July 2022.”
Healthcare expenses continue to ramp up
Benli added: “Data collected from the sector shows that up to end-July 2022, the amount of claims paid for healthcare expenses related to Covid-19 was TRY492 million. The number of those insured with SHI exceeded 2.9m, while those with private health insurance (PHI) totalled 2.5m as of the end of July 2022.”
More customers are also asking for information about the coverage offered by health insurers related to infectious diseases.
Additionally, Benli highlighted that as borders open to outbound tourists, premiums are also growing for the travel insurance sector.