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Cited by 28Healthcare Systems and ReformsHealthcare Policy and ManagementInsurance and Financial Risk Management

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Health insurance for the healthy? Voluntary health insurance in Sweden

Kullberg, Linn, Blomqvist, Paula, Winblad, Ulrika·2019·Health Policy
DOI 10.1016/j.healthpol.2019.06.004
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Abstract

Background In Sweden, voluntary health insurance is held only by a very small part of the population, but uptake has grown rapidly since 2000. So far, little is known about who purchases this insurance and what the insurance plans contain. Aim To provide a comprehensive description of the coverage and content of voluntary health insurance in Sweden. Methods Data from a national survey (Riks-SOM 2016) were used to estimate insurance coverage in different population groups. Additionally, a qualitative content analysis of the voluntary health insurance plans from seven of the largest insurance companies in Sweden was conducted. Results Voluntary health insurance was found to be more common among high income-earners, individuals employed in the private sector, business owners, and white-collar workers. Insurance benefits varied from visiting a general practitioner to more specialised treatments like knee or hip surgery. Pre-existing medical conditions, emergency medicine, highly specialised care and ongoing chronic care was excluded from the insurance plans. Conclusion Work-related factors such as employment sector, occupation and income appeared to be key determinants for VHI uptake in Sweden. Since the insurance plans included several restrictions, individuals with high care needs are excluded. Taken together, the results indicate that voluntary health insurance in Sweden provide benefits foremost for the healthy and wealthy.

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  • Several studies indicate that waiting times for specialist care in the Swedish public system, in particular, have been a contributing factor behind the growth in voluntary health insurance markets.

    “Several studies indicate that waiting times for specialist care in the public system, in particular, have been a contributing factor behind the growth in voluntary health insurance markets (Kullberg et al., 2019; Palme, 2017).”

    From Universalism in Welfare Policy: The Swedish Case beyond 1990 (2020) · cites this paper as Kullberg et al., 2019

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Research works printed but not linked: 20

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Metadata

Authors
Kullberg, L., Blomqvist, P., & Winblad, U.
Affiliations
Uppsala University (SE)
Corresponding author
Kullberg, Linn
ORCID
Venue
Health Policy
Publisher
Elsevier BV
Published
2019-08
Volume
123
Issue
8
Pages
737-746
ISSN
0168-8510 (ISSN-L)
DOI
10.1016/j.healthpol.2019.06.004
OpenAlex
W2951500305
Cited by
28
References
0
Citations by year
2026: 4 · 2025: 5 · 2024: 6 · 2023: 4 · 2022: 4 · 2021: 3 · 2020: 1 · 2019: 1
FWCI
2.73
Type
journal article
Language
en
Open access
closed
Licence
Locations
  • Health Policy (publishedVersion)
  • PubMed (publishedVersion)
  • RePEc: Research Papers in Economics (submittedVersion)
Funders
Uppsala Universitet
Topics
  • Health Sciences › Medicine › Public Health, Environmental and Occupational Health › Healthcare Systems and Reforms
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Healthcare Policy and Management
  • Social Sciences › Economics, Econometrics and Finance › Economics and Econometrics › Insurance and Financial Risk Management
Keywords
voluntary health insurance, health insurance coverage, pre-existing conditions, employment sector, occupation, health disparities, Sweden
MeSH terms
Adolescent, Adult, Aged, Aged, 80 and over, Employment, Female, Health Status, Humans, Income, Insurance, Health, Male, Middle Aged, Surveys and Questionnaires, Sweden, Private Sector, Insurance Coverage

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