The market for so-called “top-up” health insurance policies in Georgia will eventually open, and it is only a matter of time, according to Nina Kobakhidze, CEO of Global Benefits Georgia.
Speaking to BMG, Kobakhidze said allowing insurers to offer supplementary policies alongside the state-funded universal healthcare program would significantly expand Georgia’s individual health insurance market.
Under the proposed model, citizens would be able to purchase private insurance covering services not fully financed by the state, such as medications, outpatient diagnostics and preventive care.
She said the reform would require clear rules to avoid overlaps in coverage and prevent patients from being shifted between the public and private systems.
“The top-up insurance market will definitely open - it is only a matter of time. The insurance industry is ready and waiting,” Kobakhidze said.
Georgia’s insurance sector and the Georgian Insurance Association have long advocated for the introduction of top-up insurance, arguing it would allow citizens to combine universal healthcare with private coverage instead of having to choose between the two.
