OBJECTIVES : The basic financing problems of social security have been clearly observed since the beginning of the 2000s years. Although there have been and there are reform paths, because of the specialities of the social security system new approaches should be searched in order to supply all the strata of society on the basis of the principle of solidarity. The aim of our study is to reveal the way on which supplementary health insurances and welfare funds relieve the burdens of health care system, furthermore, whether the effects of operation of them can be detected in the budget of health care system.

METHODS : We obtained data through an online questionnaire survey applying total 189 assessable questionnaires in November and December 2018 in Hungary. Furthermore, we analysed national and international data registered by OECD, Eurostat, the Central Bank of Hungary and the Hungarian Central Statistical Office.

RESULTS : Supplementary health insurances keep gaining new segments in the fields of prevention and health care. It can be seen that the person who has a supplementary health insurance and makes use of preventive services will take medical examinations and hospital treatments financed by the health insurance funds less times (p=0.001). The fact of having a welfare fund membership offers several opportunities, which can be applied in the fields of either prevention or health care or healthy way of lifestyle. By contrast, it is absolutely not sure that the opportunities are known and taken advantage of as well; no direct relationship was detected on the basis of our samples (p=0.85).

CONCLUSIONS : Health care expenditures are continually growing, which will not be able to be financed by the government, thus the role of the supplementary health insurance is greatly appreciated not only in Hungary but in the European Union also.