DETERMINANTS OF INDIVIDUAL AND FAMILY PRIVATE HEALTH INSURANCE OWNERSHIP IN GREECE: EVIDENCE FROM A NATIONAL SURVEY
Author(s)
Nikos Nomikos, MSc1, Kostas Athanasakis, PhD1, Elpida Pavi, PhD1, Kyriakos Souliotis, PhD2.
1Laboratory for Health Technology Assessment – LabHTA, Dept. of Public Health Policy, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece, 2University of Peloponnese, Corinth, Greece.
1Laboratory for Health Technology Assessment – LabHTA, Dept. of Public Health Policy, University of West Attica, Athens, Greece, 2University of Peloponnese, Corinth, Greece.
OBJECTIVES: To investigate the socioeconomic, demographic, occupational, insurance-related, health-related, and geographic factors associated with individual or family private health insurance (PHI) ownership in Greece.
METHODS: Primary data were extracted from the 2025 wave of the national “Health and Welfare” survey, a cross-sectional telephone interview survey of adults aged 18 years or older in Greece. The final sample consisted of 2,001 adults. Quota sampling was applied by region of residence, age, and sex, and age-adjusted sampling weights were applied to align the sample with the population age distribution. To assess the factors associated with individual/family PHI ownership, binary logistic regression analysis was conducted. The dependent variable was ownership of individual/family PHI, while independent variables were region of residence, sex, age group, occupational status, marital status, household income, statutory social health insurance (SHI) coverage, educational level, chronic disease, and group/employer-sponsored PHI.
RESULTS: The weighted prevalence of individual/family PHI ownership was 16.0%. Higher odds of individual/family PHI ownership were observed for monthly household income of €2,001-€3,000 (OR=2.31; 95% CI: 1.36-3.91) and €3,001 or more (OR=2.93; 95% CI: 1.71-5.02) versus income up to €1,000; tertiary education versus primary education or less (OR=4.28; 95% CI: 1.14-16.11); self-employed individuals/employers versus inactive respondents (OR=2.80; 95% CI: 1.49-5.27); and adults aged 18-24 versus those aged 65 or older (OR=2.51; 95% CI: 1.13-5.60). Lower odds were observed for SHI coverage (OR=0.42; 95% CI: 0.23-0.76), group PHI (OR=0.61; 95% CI: 0.39-0.97), and residence in Northern Greece (OR=0.40; 95% CI: 0.28-0.58), Central Greece (OR=0.41; 95% CI: 0.28-0.61), and Aegean Islands and Crete (OR=0.47; 95% CI: 0.29-0.76), versus Attica. Sex, chronic disease, and marital status showed no statistically significant overall association.
CONCLUSIONS: Individual/family PHI ownership in Greece is associated with socioeconomic, occupational, insurance-related, age-related, and geographic factors, indicating uneven distribution of private coverage within the Greek health system.
METHODS: Primary data were extracted from the 2025 wave of the national “Health and Welfare” survey, a cross-sectional telephone interview survey of adults aged 18 years or older in Greece. The final sample consisted of 2,001 adults. Quota sampling was applied by region of residence, age, and sex, and age-adjusted sampling weights were applied to align the sample with the population age distribution. To assess the factors associated with individual/family PHI ownership, binary logistic regression analysis was conducted. The dependent variable was ownership of individual/family PHI, while independent variables were region of residence, sex, age group, occupational status, marital status, household income, statutory social health insurance (SHI) coverage, educational level, chronic disease, and group/employer-sponsored PHI.
RESULTS: The weighted prevalence of individual/family PHI ownership was 16.0%. Higher odds of individual/family PHI ownership were observed for monthly household income of €2,001-€3,000 (OR=2.31; 95% CI: 1.36-3.91) and €3,001 or more (OR=2.93; 95% CI: 1.71-5.02) versus income up to €1,000; tertiary education versus primary education or less (OR=4.28; 95% CI: 1.14-16.11); self-employed individuals/employers versus inactive respondents (OR=2.80; 95% CI: 1.49-5.27); and adults aged 18-24 versus those aged 65 or older (OR=2.51; 95% CI: 1.13-5.60). Lower odds were observed for SHI coverage (OR=0.42; 95% CI: 0.23-0.76), group PHI (OR=0.61; 95% CI: 0.39-0.97), and residence in Northern Greece (OR=0.40; 95% CI: 0.28-0.58), Central Greece (OR=0.41; 95% CI: 0.28-0.61), and Aegean Islands and Crete (OR=0.47; 95% CI: 0.29-0.76), versus Attica. Sex, chronic disease, and marital status showed no statistically significant overall association.
CONCLUSIONS: Individual/family PHI ownership in Greece is associated with socioeconomic, occupational, insurance-related, age-related, and geographic factors, indicating uneven distribution of private coverage within the Greek health system.
Conference/Value in Health Info
2026-11, ISPOR Europe 2026, Vienna, Austria
Value in Health, Volume 29, Issue 12S
Code
HPR39
Topic
Health Policy & Regulatory
Topic Subcategory
Insurance Systems & National Health Care
Disease
No Additional Disease & Conditions/Specialized Treatment Areas