The Estonian Insurance Association has made a proposal to the government. They want to raise the tax-free limit for employees' health expenses. Currently, it is 400 euros per year. They want it to be 1200 euros. This limit has not changed since 2018. At the same time, the prices of healthcare services have risen.
Tuuli Pärenson is the chairman of the board of the Estonian Insurance Association. She said that the reason for the proposal is changes in the economic environment. According to the Development Monitoring Center, private healthcare costs have tripled since 2010. Pärenson said: "The most important thing is that prices have risen. In some areas, prices have risen even more than twice."
According to the association's data, Estonian families' share of healthcare costs is 20-25 percent. This is higher than the World Health Organization's recommended 15 percent. The tax-free limit has not grown over time, but the number of reimbursable services has increased. This means that employers and employees have to choose between sports and healthcare services.
Pärenson said: "Sports and health should both be covered by reimbursement. Ideally, the tax-free limit should cover both." Why should the government agree to this proposal? According to Pärenson, this increase in expenses is voluntary for the employer. But its absence is more costly for the state.
Estonia has one of the highest unmet healthcare needs in the European Union. Approximately 13 percent of people did not use necessary medical care in 2023. Pärenson said: "If the share of out-of-pocket payments is smaller, the employee can get to the doctor faster. They can get a diagnosis and treatment faster. This is beneficial for public health."
If the tax-free limit does not change, the government is sending a message to employers. It is a message that the government does not consider employees' health interests to be important. Pärenson said: "A big concern is that the government is sending a signal that employees' health is not important. That health is not as important as it was in 2018. This signal is saddening. I believe we should send a signal that this is a good way to take care of our employees."