Socioeconomic status is the main predictor of the demand for voluntary health insurance in Croatia

Abstract

Aim: To explore economic, demographic and personal fac-tors influencing the demand for voluntary health insurance in the Republic of Croatia.Methods: A cross-sectional survey was conducted using a 19-item online questionnaire. The questionnaire was dis-tributed to participants using convenience and snowballing sampling strategies. A logistic regression model was used to estimate the association of selected determinants with the demand for voluntary health insurance.Results: A total of 203 participants completed the question-naire (age range 24-42) A statistically significant associa-tion was found between higher insurance policy sales price (odds ratio (OR)=1.016, 95% confidence interval (CI)=1.002-1.031), increased awareness of healthy diet (eating habits) (OR=1.768, 95% CI=1.100-2.841) and buying a voluntary health insurance policy. People in a higher income class (OR=0.594, 95% CI=0.364-0.970) and with a good subjec-tive perception of personal health status (OR=0.454, 95% CI=0.232-0.889) were less likely to buy a voluntary health insurance policy. Also, the demand for voluntary health in-surance decreased with age (OR=0.924, 95% CI=0.873-0.978), with older participants being less likely to buy voluntary health insurance than younger ones.Conclusion: The choice to buy a voluntary health insurance policy largely correlates with an individual’s socioeconom-ic status in today’s society. Older participants with a higher income and good eating habits are less likely to buy a vol-untary health insurance policy. At the same time, younger adults with lower incomes and poorer health are more like-ly to decide to acquire a voluntary health insurance policy.