Portuguese people with health insurance will face a significant increase in premiums in 2026, which could reach 10 percent, well above the inflation predicted by the Bank of Portugal. The trend reflects a growing phenomenon: more and more citizens turn to the private sector when health problems arise, even in serious situations, according to the website specializing in economics, Ekonomista.
In 2024, Portugal registered more than 4 million people with health policies, including individual and group contracts. The total number of policies reached 1,377,111, an increase of 8.1 percent compared to 2023.
The majority of these new policies, 80.7 percent, correspond to individual contracts, demonstrating that families and individuals continue to drive the sector’s expansion, more than companies.
Why premiums will go up
The increase in costs is linked to several factors. One of them is the perception that the National Health Service does not respond adequately in certain situations, leading the Portuguese to immediately turn to the private sector.
According to the same source, the aging of the insured population in companies, combined with the extension of working age until retirement, adds pressure on premiums.
Another factor is the transfer of high-cost treatments from the NHS to the private sector, an increasingly frequent practice.
Inflation in prices charged by private providers, aggravated by the shortage of professionals and consequent salary increases, also contributes to this scenario.
Impact on individual insurance
Although Aon’s study focuses mainly on corporate insurance, individual insurance should follow the same trend.
In addition to annual increases related to the insured’s age, these contracts will now face adjustments resulting from higher medical costs and greater use of private services.
Companies try to contain costs
To reduce the financial impact, some companies have adopted measures such as increasing copayments, adjusting deductibles or making small contributions from employees.
Investing in prevention programs, screenings, regular check-ups and telemedicine solutions also appears as a way of optimizing plans and reducing pressure on insurance.
The expected increase in Portugal is slightly above the European average, with premiums growing by around 10 percent. At a global level, expected growth is 9.8 percent, while the European average is estimated at 8.2 percent.
Oncological and cardiovascular diseases continue to weigh heavily on costs, followed by musculoskeletal, respiratory and mental health conditions. Among the main risk factors are aging, hypertension, sedentary lifestyle, lack of screening and genetic predisposition, as mentioned in the
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