Global Challenge for Companies
The rising costs of healthcare pose a significant challenge for employers around the world, according to current research, even with double-digit increase rates for employers providing health insurance. This trend is driven by several factors, including the increasing prevalence of non-communicable diseases, less attractive options for public health insurance, and the transformative impact of health innovations.
Medical Inflation
Medical inflation is outpacing general inflation and continues to pose a significant challenge for companies that contract private health insurance for their employees. The 2016 Law on Private Health Insurance in Serbia has somewhat influenced this area. It introduced standards for health plans and ensured greater transparency in the industry. However, challenges still exist in terms of cost control and access to quality healthcare.
In this context, employers and insurance companies are faced with the challenge of establishing a delicate balance: how to control costs without compromising quality or inclusiveness. The importance of insurance companies’ practices, flexibility, and readiness for innovation in shaping future employee benefits is emphasized.
Factors contributing to the growth of medical inflation include:
Labor Cost Growth
By increasing the salaries of medical workers, healthcare institutions are forced to raise the prices of their services.
Drug Cost Growth
Pharmaceutical companies are continuously raising the prices of drugs and therapies, which significantly contributes to the growth of medical inflation.
Increase in Demand for Medical Services
An aging population and greater health awareness generate higher demand for medical services, which affects price increases.
Impact of Medical Inflation on Companies
The most direct impact of rising costs of contracting private healthcare insurance is the financial pressure on companies. Companies which offer health insurance to their employees face rising insurance premiums, as a cause-and-effect process. Higher health insurance costs affect profitability and can limit available resources for other employee benefits, research and development, or for further business expansion.
Companies that struggle to provide competitive healthcare benefits may have difficulties in retaining top talent and attracting new employees. Employees often highly value comprehensive health coverage when considering job offers, and those who are dissatisfied with their healthcare benefits are more likely to be unhappy with their jobs overall, which can lead to reduced productivity and increased absenteeism.
Managing Private Health Insurance Costs
To manage their healthcare costs, some companies reduce the level of benefits they offer to employees. This can include reducing coverage for services, increasing deductibles and copayments, or even eliminating private health insurance altogether. This can lead to a decrease in employee satisfaction, negatively affecting the overall work environment.
In countries where there is an emphasis on employer-sponsored healthcare, rising costs can undermine the global economic competitiveness of companies. For many companies, healthcare costs represent a significant portion of their operating expenses. As these costs continue to rise, there can be a reduction in profits and competitiveness; in such cases, companies may seek alternative solutions, such as outsourcing or offshoring, to remain financially viable.
The sustainability of the model of contracting private health insurance is jeopardized due to medical inflation. Companies must develop innovative solutions, such as value-based healthcare packages, to control costs while maintaining quality.
Choosing the most effective strategy to address the challenges of medical inflation depends on the individual circumstances of each company. The most effective thing that employers in the process of reducing costs for private health insurance can do is to examine all options and develop a plan that suits the needs of the employees and the company's budget. Additionally, a significant impact could be achieved if employees were offered packages with primary and preventive medical services at no cost to them, to encourage them to take care of their health and proactively address health issues. As healthcare costs continue to rise, they have become one of the most significant expenses for businesses, just behind salaries. The challenge of managing healthcare costs requires careful planning, adaptability, and prioritizing the well-being of employees.