Aging threatens traditional insurance plans and opens the way for low-cost clinics to rise

Care

Low cost clinics emerge as an alternative to revolutionize access to medical services

The growing crisis in medical insurance in Brazil, combined with the accelerated aging of the population, has put health care in the spotlight. With projections that indicate a challenging future, low-cost clinics emerge as a promising solution to meet the population’s medical needs in an accessible way, representing an important complement to the role played by the Unified Health System (SUS).

In recent years, Brazil has experienced a rapid aging of its population. According to IBGE, the country will have around 41.5 million people aged 65 or over in 2033, which will represent 18.6% of the total population. This phenomenon leads to a serious increase in demands for health services, such as medical consultations, treatments, exams and surgical procedures, which in turn put pressure on traditional medical insurance plans. In the end, it is the customer who suffers, who needs to bear factors such as the transfer of annual increases in monthly fees, waiting periods, bureaucracy and limited coverage.

The SUS is also already feeling this pressure, with increasingly long queues for medical appointments with specialists, exams and small and large surgeries. The plans led the 2022 complaints ranking released by the Brazilian Institute for Consumer Protection (Idec), with 27.9% of complaints. Among the reasons for the problem are the limited hours and reduced consultation times of its linked doctors due to the cost structure. Furthermore, getting an appointment can take months, with long queues.

According to data from the National Supplementary Health Agency (ANS), the health sector lost 3.4 million users in five years, from 50.5 million in 2014 to 47 million in 2019. The drop was more pronounced in individual plans , which have stricter rules to protect beneficiaries. The economic crisis caused by the Covid-19 pandemic also contributed to many people stopping paying for their health plans or opting for cheaper options.

“A major disruption is underway in the healthcare market and health plans are not prepared for this change. Factors such as inefficient management, aging of the population, high costs, lack of outcome indicators, and very high claims after the pandemic explain the chaotic situation in which the plans find themselves”,

explains Rafael Grizzo, CEO of Atend Já, a franchise network of low-cost medical clinics.

In this context, low-cost medical clinics have been gaining prominence as a promising alternative to face so many challenges. They offer the convenience of a single call center to respond to all customer healthcare needs at affordable prices.

“In low-cost clinics, the patient experience is improved, as management is in the hands of professionals dedicated to the details that make the difference, such as ease and speed of service, convenient hours, accessible parking, absence of queues and a service humanized”,

continues Grizzo.

These clinics offer all-in-one services, that is, consultations, exams, treatments and surgeries can all be done in the same location, being an alternative to freeing up traditional hospitals and clinics and providing a wider public with immediate access to care. of health.

What we see now is that these clinics have the potential to revolutionize the way people use medical services, just as Uber changed urban mobility and Airbnb changed the form of accommodation.

With the continued aging of the population and the crisis in medical insurance, it is essential that the healthcare sector seeks innovative solutions. Low cost clinics can play a vital role in improving access to healthcare. Furthermore, it is important that regulatory authorities and the Brazilian healthcare system work together to create a favorable environment for these initiatives.

As the country faces complex challenges related to healthcare, low-cost clinics are emerging as a viable and necessary response to meet the growing demands of an ever-changing population.

*With information from consultancy

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