Voluntary private health insurance and cancer screening utilisation in Europe

Cancer is a leading cause of death in Europe and prevention measures, like screening, are therefore becoming increasingly important. Although European countries provide universal health coverage, including cancer screenings, many people also have private health insurance. The aim of this study is to analyse the relationship between Voluntary private health insurance (VPHI) and cancer screening, specifically breast and colorectal cancer screening. Using data from SHARE, the Survey of Health, Ageing and Retirement in Europe, different logistic and multilevel regressions were estimated. The major finding shows a positive correlation between people being screened for cancer and having VPHI. Three conclusions can be drawn: advantageous selection may exist in private health insurance; spillover effects may exist from the public sector into the private sector, which in turn may result in a lower insurance premium; and there may be a perpetuation of inequalities in health service utilisation. Several policy implications can be drawn from this result, but the most relevant concerns narrowing the inequities that could potentially arise between those who have private health insurance and those who do not.