Due to the crisis that the private health system and Isapre are currently going through regarding the judgments of the Supreme Court, the Institute of Public Health of the U. Andrés Bello together with the research company IPSOS, published a new chapter on National Health Survey 2023.
The survey focuses on answering the opinion and knowledge of the population about the proposals that came from the Executive regarding the crisis in the private health system and the Isapres Short Law.
In the words of the director of ISP UNAB, Héctor Sánchez, the survey “has become an important tool to understand the magnitude of the current challenges in the health system and provides a solid foundation to create knowledge decisions, especially after almost 45 days.” so that the deadline to comply with the Supreme Court’s judgments can be met and thus avoid a systemic crisis that has already begun to appear.”
Moreover, 76% of Isapres members indicated that they do not agree that they will disappear from the map, despite the dissatisfaction due to high costs. Even 80% stated that they do not agree that Fonasa will replace them as just one insurance company.
In general terms, the study shows that it is internalized by the people that a possible loss of Isapres has serious consequences in the health service, with the immediate effects being the increase in the lists to wait and the deterioration of the quality of service.
At this point, 62% recognize and are aware of its negative consequences, although 53% consider that it is unlikely to happen, because it increases the wait, lowers the quality of care and because they considered that Fonasa is not able to accept all the population.
When talking about possible solutions to the crisis faced by private insurers, 64% of their members agree with those that mean not returning all resources and in terms that are feasible, while only 34% agree. all even at the risk of being lost.
“This is counterintuitive in relation to what people think and this survey shows that until now the government intends to offer Fonasa complements as a solution to the crisis when what the people want is to continue the their system and distrust of the State as provider” said Sánchez.
For the academic from the same institute, Manuel Inostroza, explained the above “because 22% of Isapres affiliates declared that they have a member of their family group who is sick and covered by their plan of health, that is, about 630,000 sick “They could be left without coverage if Isapres falls.”
On the other hand, compared to previous surveys, here the position of the population is radicalized by preferring a health system with free choice, financing or insurance with 83%, as well as the choice of the public or private providers with 94%.
Affiliate migration
During 2023, the highest migration was recorded from Isapre to Fonasa. In July of this year, the number of beneficiaries of the private insurance system decreased by 12%, reaching 2,818,105 people, the lowest level since March 2012.
However, according to the figures provided by the UNAB-IPSOS survey, the reasons behind these changes are mainly due to economic and work factors, as indicated by 67% of those surveyed. Results in contrast to only 6% of those who indicated that they changed health systems to add complementary insurance to FONASA coverage.
“With this data, we can say that it is not correct that people will change because FONASA has improved. People will return to Isapres as soon as the economic and work conditions change, this is the historical behavior of the partners in the system,” the director of ISP UNAB emphasized.
Complementary Coverage Modality
Within the framework of the Isapres Short Law, the director of the National Health Fund, Camilo Cid, proposed the creation of a complementary insurance for the Free Choice Modality (MLE) of FONASA, called Complementary Coverage Modality (MCC).
In the event of a possible bankruptcy of the private health insurance system, the main purpose of this proposal is to offer contributors and their fees migrated from Isapres insurance to complete the low coverage available in the MLE of FONASA , against paying an additional bonus .
In the measurement made by IPSOS AND UNAB, only 25% of those surveyed believe that this modality is an easy proposition. 58% of Isapres policy holders believe that the Government’s proposal is not convenient for them, numbers that are not significantly different in the case of FONASA beneficiaries (52%). In addition to this, 63% of Isapres beneficiaries will not move despite this new coverage modality.
