The role of insurance companies in the health care market

Zdravstvena zaštita jedan je od ključnih čimbenika života svakog pojedinca. U svijetu postoje različiti načini organiziranja zdravstvene zaštite i zdravstvenog osiguranja. Ovaj rad usmjeren je na analizu hrvatskog sustava zdravstvenog osiguranja, problema tog sustava, no temelj ovog rada jest analiza uloge društava za osiguranje na području zdravstvene zaštite Republike Hrvatske. U svrhu pisanja rada provedeno je anketno istraživanje kojem je cilj ukazati na stupanj informiranosti mlađe populacije o zdravstvenom sustavu Republike Hrvatske. Također, jedan od ciljeva jest potaknuti svijest o važnosti informiranja o mogućnostima koje pruža zdravstvo te ukazati na probleme zdravstvenog sustava Republike Hrvatske. Zbog navedenih problema stalno se traže nova rješenja, odnosno provode reforme kojima je cilj nadvladavanje neravnoteže između troškova zdravstvene zaštite i njihovih izvora. Ovaj rad ukazuje na mogućnosti koje pružaju društva za osiguranje, analizira se razvoj dobrovoljnog i privatnog zdravstvenog osiguranja, predstavlja karakteristike institucija privatnog zdravstvenog osiguranja i pokazuje potencijal tržišta za privatno i dobrovoljno zdravstveno osiguranje. Naime, neophodno je pronaći rješenje koje će, uz kvalitetnu zdravstvenu zaštitu za stanovništvo, osigurati financijsku stabilnost zdravstvenog sustava.Health care is one of the key factors in life of every individual. There are different ways of organizing health care and health insurance in the world. This paper focuses on the analysis of Croatian health insurance system and the problems of that system, but the basis of this paper is to analyze the role of insurance companies in the health care field of Croatia. For the purpose of this paper a survey was conducted, which indicates the level of awareness amongst young people about the health care system of Croatia. Also, one of the goals of this paper is to encourage awareness of the importance of informing about the possibilities offered by the health care and to point out the problems of the health system of the Republic of Croatia. Due to these problems new solutions are constantly being sought, i.e., new reforms are being conducted, which are aimed at overcoming a disbalance between health care costs and their sources. This paper indicates the possibilities offered by the insurance companies, analyzes the development of the voluntary and private health insurance, represents the characteristics of the institutions of private health insurance and shows the potential of private and voluntary health insurance market. Namely, it is necessary to find a solution that will, along with the quality health care provided to the population, secure the financial stability of the health care system