Health Insurance Premiums 2025: Significant Increase

19 november 2024

Health insurance premiums are reviewed annually. Usually, premiums for the following year are announced in November and December.

Rising healthcare costs lead to higher premiums in 2025

Medical inflation and its impact on health insurance premiums in 2025. The costs of medical care have increased dramatically in recent years. This has led to significant premium increases for health insurance policies. Depending on your age, country of residence, and coverage, you should expect a premium increase of at least 8% to possibly 25% for 2025. In some cases, the increase may even be higher, for example, if you fall into a higher and therefore more expensive age category in 2025.

Below is an overview of the premiums rise for the coming year from a number of international health insurers:

  • Goudse Expat Package: +5% to +14%
  • Goudse NGO/Zendelingen: +10% to 15%
  • OOM Living Abroad: +10% to +25%
  • OOM Temporarily Abroad: +10% to +25%
  • OOM International: +30%
  • International Expat Insurance: +10% to +25%
  • April: +16%
  • You Genio Globality Health: n/a
  • Cigna Global: very diverse
  • Allianz Worldwide Care: very diverse
  • n/a = not yet available. As soon as we know, we will update the above overview.

Causes of health insurance premium increases?

Various factors influence the premium increase, including:

  • Medical inflation: Rising costs of care and medications.
  • Number of claims: The more healthcare costs are claimed, the higher the premiums.
  • Age: Older people generally need more care.
  • Region/country of residence: The costs of healthcare vary by region and country.
  • Other costs: For example, administrative costs of the insurer.
  • Policy adjustments: Changes in the policy terms can affect the premium.

Key Factors affecting premiums in 2025 [April]

Insurer April [April MyHealth insurance] has written a interesting document [Document]about explaining the Key Factors affecting premiums in 2025:

  • "A fragile global context: The world is currently experiencing economic difficulties, driven by ongoing geopolitical conflicts that significantly impact the global economy and contribute to increased volatility and uncertainty in the financial sector. Rising interest rates, higher energy and raw material costs, and labour shortages are contributing to economic inflation, which, while stabilising around 4%, is still higher than previously observed levels. We now face a new economic reality where high inflation is expected to persist."
  • "Ongoing medical inflation: After a record increase in healthcare costs in 2023, medical inflation remains high and is expected to continue at double-digit levels
    according to the 2024 Medical Trends Survey, which surveyed 257 insurers across 55 countries and is published annually by WTW. The data indicates a continued rise in global medical costs: +11.6% in Latin America, +12.1% in Africa and the Middle East, +9.3% in Europe, and +9.9% in Asia. Additionally, the APRIL International medical teams have observed a significant increase in healthcare costs in many cities worldwide over the past year. In Montreal, the price of medication has doubled (+100%), while hospitalisation costs in Mexico City have surged by 40%. In Hong Kong and Singapore, medication prices have increased by 50%, with hospitalisation costs rising by 50% and 30%, respectively. In Dubai, medication costs have risen by 30%, and a similar 20% increase has been observed in Geneva."
  • "Practices affecting healthcare costs: In some countries, private clinics and hospitals, often frequented by expatriates, impose unregulated and sometimes exorbitant healthcare fees, up to 10 times those of the public sector. Several factors contribute to this increase in costs: the deterioration of public healthcare systems, profit-driven private providers, and the overuse of healthcare services, often encouraged by excessive recommendations from practitioners. Patients are frequently directed towards expensive and unnecessary treatments, rather than preventive care. The increasing use of costly medical technologies also adds to rising healthcare costs."

What to do?

With "good" health insurance policies (e.g., policies based on EU legislation), the premium increases for all insured persons at the same time, regardless of claims history. This prevents people with a chronic illness or after an accident from receiving an unaffordable premium. Everyone therefore contributes to the risks of the "unlucky ones." This means that your premium may increase, even if you do not incur any healthcare costs yourself.

  • Consider a higher excess if you expect to incur no healthcare costs and have a financial buffer. 
  • Check alternative options - contact us for more information about the possibilities.
  • Consider changing your level of medical cover.

Note: These are just a few suggestions. The best approach depends on your specific situation and wishes.

Switching health insurance? Read this first.

Switching to another insurer may sometimes seem attractive. Are you considering switching to another international health insurance policy?

Then please note the following:

  • Another insurer will ask medical questions and conduct a new medical assessment.
  • Based on this, they may exclude pre-existing conditions. In some cases, they even reject your application.
  • Premiums can also increase with other insurers. Feel free to ask us about our experiences.
  • It is always wise to explore the options. Orientation can sometimes save you money.

Request quotes free of charge via our online advice form, and we will help you compare premiums and coverage of different insurers. We are happy to help you make the best choice.