Funding for private healthcare by the Health Insurance Fund has increased over the years, significantly boosting the number and proportion of outpatient visits to private clinics. The increased use of private healthcare is also attributed to the growth in purchasing power among Estonians – which, admittedly, has suffered greatly in recent years due to rapid inflation – but mainly due to the urgent need for faster medical care than the current public healthcare system can provide.

In recent years, employer-provided private health insurance has also grown rapidly. According to the Estonian Insurance Association, at the end of last year, over 55,000 employees, or nearly 8% of those employed in Estonia, were insured with private health insurance through their employers. However, this is countered by the small size of Estonian companies, which makes this business less attractive to insurers – nearly 40% of people work in companies with fewer than 20 employees. Although gradually more and more employers have shown interest in private health insurance, the actual number of payers is lower. Estonia is simply too small for two health insurance systems. As long as people can see a doctor at minimal cost, many are reluctant to incur additional expenses for treatment. The larger the market, the more affordable private health insurance would be for the customer. In conclusion, there are many challenges to funding the Estonian healthcare system and improving access to healthcare services for people.