The price of the health plans in Brazil has grown by 327% in 18 years, almost double the general inflation

According to the Institute, the increase in prices can exclude part of the additional health population and further pressure of the public system

Imagine that he went to the supermarket in 2006 with $ 100. Today, to buy the same items, he would need $ 270. inflation: The general increase in prices over time. Now imagine that yours health planIn the same year, it costs $ 100. In 2024, it would be about R $ 427. In a percentage, it means that the price of medical agreements increased by 327% in 18 years, almost double the overall inflation of the country, which was 170% in the same period.

This is what they show recent data from a technical note from the Institute for Health Policies (IEP). The survey has analyzed, over the years, the variations of the price in the “health and personal care sector”, one of the categories described in National Consumer Price Index (IPCA).

Calculated by IbgeThe IPCA follows the variation of the costs of the goods and services most consumed by Brazilian families, such as health, accommodation and food. It is considered the main inflation thermometer in the country.

Therefore, the study observed the growth of the cost of the plans in the pockets of the Brazilians. The IPCA data indicate that in December 2006 they represented 3.25% of the budget of families with a performance between 1 and 40 minimum wages. In December 2024, the plans began to occupy 4.06% of the wallet.

Ieps estimates that access to additional health is becoming more and more expensive for the population budget – in particular for the elderly – and companies, which often offer the medical agreement as a benefit for their employees.

Why did the plans increase so much?

According to IEP, the increase can be attributed to a sum of factors, such as the incorporation of more expensive technologies, the adjustments authorized by regulatory bodies and regulatory inefficiencies.

The study also mentions that the population is aging and lives more, which means more consultationsMore exams and more long -term treatments.

In a note a EstadãoThe National Federation of additional health (Fenasúde) confirms the hypothesis. The Association states that one of the main factors to press the regery of health insurance lessons is the variation of medical costs, which defines it “historically higher than general inflation”.

The institution also stresses that structural factors explain the acceleration of prices all over the world, such as new increasingly expensive technologies, as well as the aging and predominance of chronic diseases in the population.

Furthermore, according to Fenasúde, there are particular and joint issues in Brazil, such as “the continuous increase in the compulsory coverage list and excessive judicialization, often focused on obtaining the unpaid coverage? Contracts”.

Brazil is among the countries with the highest increase

THE Additional National Agency (ANS) He stressed that “it is of great awareness that in many countries the health costs increase at rates higher than the average variation of other economic prices”. In this scenario, according to the agency, there is the trend that a greater part of income will be engaged in health costs.

The IEPS study confirms this inclination, showing that the health plans have become more expensive than inflation in various parts of the world. However, Brazil stands out between countries with the greatest increases, overcoming general inflation to an greater extent than countries such as Germany, France and the United States.

Furthermore, according to the ANS, the prices of the health plans should not be compared directly with general inflation. This is because the commissions and annual monthly adjustments consider not only the increase in the prices of inputs and products, but also of how many beneficiaries they used health services. If more people were looking for service, operators’ costs increase.

The IEPS justifies that the study tries to compare the variation of the prices of the plans with other groups of products and services of the Brazilian consumption basket.

“Within the members of the IPCA, we try to document that the subgroup of” health plans “has grown more than the price index and more than other groups, such as food, clothing and accommodation,” says Vinicius Peçanha, researcher of the Institute and one of the authors of the technical note.

In the end, the study concluded that the expenditure for operators was the main pressure factor on the health and personal care of the Brazilians. Other health services have also increased, but at a less fast pace. For example, medical and dental services have accumulated 200%high.

Impacts on additional health and Sus

For Peçanha, the significant increase in the prices of medical agreements can have an impact not only on additional health, but also the public health system. According to the economist, more and higher values can ensure that a part of the population no longer pays the additional health service.

“From the point of view of the public system, this can also further press a system that is already under -childhood and, on the side of additional health, this can affect the sustainability of some health plans,” he says.

ANS says that it is looking for mechanisms that can bring security and sustainability to the market “, with the correct maintenance of services and the quality of what is offered to consumers”.

Among the measures, he mentions that in October last year he raised a consultation public on Reformulation of prices on prices and incoming. However, a decision of the court suspended the progress of the case.

In response, ANS states that “he is adopting the appropriate judicial measures to preserve the competence of his agencies legally responsible for regulating the additional health sector and will continue to maintain the sustainability of the market and the supply of this service to the Brazilian population”.

Source: Terra

Ben

Ben Stock is a lifestyle journalist and author at Gossipify. He writes about topics such as health, wellness, travel, food and home decor. He provides practical advice and inspiration to improve well-being, keeps readers up to date with latest lifestyle news and trends, known for his engaging writing style, in-depth analysis and unique perspectives.