Health insurance that is taken up and paid for at the discretion of individuals or employers on behalf of individuals. VHI can be offered by public or quasi-public bodies and by for-profit (commercial) and non-profit private organisations.
In the European context, VHI can be classified in three different ways:
Substitutive Private Health Insurance provides cover that would otherwise be available provided by state. In a social health insurance system people who have no insurance obligation (in some countries e.g. self-employed) may opt for substitutive private health Insurance.
Complementary VHI provides cover for services excluded or not fully covered by the state (e.g. dental care), including cover for co-payments
imposed by the statutory health care system.
Supplementary VHI provides cover for faster access and increased consumer choice.
Last update: 30 June 2023
Source: PPRI