Households in Europe bear 15% of health-care costs, with stark national gaps
Out-of-pocket health payments make up roughly 15% of total health spending in the European Union, EU statistics show.
Across 34 European countries, the share varies widely. In Luxembourg, households paid just 8.5% of health-care costs, while in Bulgaria that figure reached 35.5%.
Higher costs tend to hit Eastern and Southern Europe hardest. Countries like Latvia, Greece and Bosnia & Herzegovina saw shares above 30%.
By contrast, Western and Northern states with broader public health coverage reported lower burdens. France (8.9%) and Germany (10.7%) were among the lowest.
In terms of average yearly spending per person, EU households paid around €542 out-of-pocket. The range spanned from about €116 in Moldova to €2,396 in Switzerland.
Experts say differences stem from how national systems cover health care, including what services and medicines are included. In countries with small public packages, more costs fall directly on households.
For many Europeans, the risk of financial strain from health care remains real. Even in well-insured systems, ageing populations and rising treatment costs push governments and patients alike to their limits.
Independent analysts say reform of power-sharing between the public and private sectors may be needed to ensure access remains affordable and sustainable.
