Spain private health insurance usage rises 81 percent since 2014

The number of people opting for private health insurance in Spain has grown by 81 percent since 2014, now covering 21 percent of the population, according to the 12th Report on Privatization in Autonomous Communities presented by the Federation of Associations for the Defense of Public Health (FADSP).

José Manuel Aranda, coordinator of the report, noted that family out-of-pocket spending has increased by 52.8 percent, averaging 576 euros per family. Aranda warned that this trend is “unsustainable” for many households and leads to a “loss of accessibility and equity in the system.”

The report identifies varying levels of privatization across Spain's autonomous communities using a 34-point scale. Madrid ranks highest with 34 points, followed by Catalonia and the Balearic Islands with 28 points, and the Canary Islands with 26. Regions with lower scores include La Rioja (14), Murcia (15.5), Extremadura (17.5), and Castilla y León (18.5). However, the report highlights rapid increases in privatization in Extremadura and Castilla-La Mancha over the last 12 years.

Privatization is described as a transfer of public funds to companies through service purchases, management transfers, or direct citizen spending on services that should be provided by the public system.