Countering the potential of services abuse in Polish health care system – analysis and implications of moral hazard

Health insurance is connected with occurrence of moral hazard, where insured individuals may overuse healthcare services due to reduced personal cost concerns. Although the Polish Constitution guarantees equal access to publicly funded healthcare services, overuse of medical services – driven either by patient or provider – is prevalent. Unnecessary visits, tests, and treatments cause financial burdens and depletion of healthcare resources. Limited access to medical services results in longer wait times, creating a risk to the health of the patients. Forcing proper allocation of resources on the basis of strict medical indications may have a positive impact on the healthcare efficiency in the context of rising demand. Encouraging development of strategies, like wide application of threshold scales, in order to counter overuse of medical services, promotes a proper use of resources. Coordinating efforts between public and private healthcare sectors can improve overall service delivery. Reducing the issue of moral hazard can improve the effectiveness of health insurance and promote better healthcare utilization.