According to a new Allianz-Țiriac study, seven out of ten Romanians (70%) list protecting their own health and that of their family as a key priority for the year ahead. Yet, only a small fraction currently holds any form of health insurance.

In a country facing persistent inflation, rising costs — including for medical services — and increasing pressure on household budgets, 78% of respondents acknowledge that private insurance is necessary to guard against unexpected events that could affect their family’s financial stability. These findings come from an online survey conducted by Allianz-Țiriac among 1,036 respondents nationwide.

“Despite this awareness, only a small share of people actually owns a life or health insurance policy they can rely on,” the insurer noted in a press release. “This gap highlights how far behind Romania still is when it comes to converting awareness into real protection.”

Health tops Romanians’ priorities, but coverage remains low

Health is the number-one concern for 73% of respondents, followed by protecting their own life and that of their loved ones (62.4%) and ensuring their children’s financial future (35.6%).
However, just over 31% of respondents said they currently hold a life or health insurance policy, while only 11.5% have a savings-oriented insurance plan for their children.

According to the latest official data from the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF), there are around 2.1 million life insurance contracts and 255,000 health insurance contracts active on the Romanian market — figures that remain modest compared to population needs.

Financial constraints limit protection

Affordability remains the main barrier to purchasing insurance, the study shows. Nearly 44% of respondents said they could allocate no more than 100 lei (about EUR 20) per month for a life or health policy, while 29% could spend less than 50 lei. Only 21% would be willing to spend between 100 and 300 lei monthly, and just 5.9% would go beyond that.

Overall, Romanians dedicate very small portions of their income to financial protection:

• 31% allocate less than 5% of their monthly income for insurance, savings or emergency funds,
• 30% spend 5–10%,
• and just 5.4% devote more than 25%.

Still, many would make lifestyle sacrifices to gain peace of mind. Nearly 47% said they would give up dining out to afford a health or life policy, 41% would cut back on clothing and personal shopping, and 28% would even cancel subscriptions to streaming platforms such as Netflix or YouTube.

“The underestimation of personal protection explains why so many Romanians remain vulnerable to financial shocks. This is the paradox of the Romanian insurance market — people are aware of the risks, but that awareness rarely translates into action,”
said Codruța Furtună, Sales and Distribution Director at Allianz-Țiriac Asigurări.
“A life or health policy is no longer a luxury — it’s a stability tool that provides support when you and your family need it most. Romania is maturing slowly: we still care more about protecting our possessions than our lives.”

Looking ahead: focus on mandatory insurance

When asked about their plans for the next 12 months, most respondents said they intend to purchase mandatory insurance, such as motor third-party liability (RCA) or home insurance.
Voluntary health insurance ranked second (30.1%), followed by life insurance (29%). Meanwhile, 25% plan to buy optional home insurance, and 14% intend to purchase a CASCO motor policy.

The Allianz-Țiriac survey was conducted between July and August 2025, among 1,036 internet users across Romania. About 53% of respondents were men, predominantly aged 18–44, and more than half (56%) reported monthly incomes exceeding 4,000 lei.

Market background

The private health insurance market in Romania has seen steady growth in recent years and, in 2024, it crossed the RON 1 billion threshold, advancing by more than 25% compared to 2023. However, data from the Financial Supervisory Authority (ASF) show that only around 255,000 private health insurance contracts were active in mid-2025, covering an estimated 200,000–230,000 people — less than 1.5% of Romania’s population.

By contrast, more than 2.5 million Romanians currently benefit from medical subscriptions concluded with private healthcare clinics, most of them provided by employers as an extra-salary benefit. While these subscriptions give access to basic preventive and outpatient care, they do not include hospitalization or surgical coverage, which are available only through a proper private health insurance policy. As a result, although awareness of health protection is growing, the protection gap between what people want and what they actually have remains significant.