Professional paper
IMPACT OF VOLUNTARY SUPPLEMENTAL HEALTH INSURANCE ON THE RATE OF SICK LEAVES AND COST CUTS
Ana Šijaković
orcid.org/0000-0001-9629-2113
; Ergonomika d.o.o., Zagreb
Josip Kereta
; Croatia zdravstveno osiguranje, Zagreb
Donald Kiš
; Visoka škola za sigurnost, Zagreb
Abstract
Enormous loss of working hours due to sick leaves and significant costs of the sick leaves posed a challenge to develop measures which would reduce the length of sick leaves for each worker and the costs for the employers.
Analyses into the causes of sick leaves and the reasons for long sick leaves, in particular those leaves caused by occupational injuries and more strenuous working conditions, have shown that in medical institutions workers cannot have more complicated and expensive tests done promptly but need to wait from two weeks to several months, as a rule.
Croatian Institute for Health Insurance has been offering, for several years now, the mandatory and the supplemental health insurance covering the participation costs of health services and medications, but it has not provided faster and better services. To help rectify this, insurance companies have offered voluntary supplemental insurance intended to provide faster and better services.
Employers are aware that caring for their workers’ health is beneficial to the workers and to themselves, as workers can get faster and better medical service, recover faster and thus reduce the length of the sick leaves.
Keywords
sick leave; occupational safety; health insurance; public interest
Hrčak ID:
30591
URI
Publication date:
18.12.2008.
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