Rising Operating Costs: Key Considerations When Choosing Health Insurance
JAKARTA – The rising cost of healthcare services is making the need for financial protection an increasing concern for the public. The experience of Monica Yunitasari (33) illustrates how health insurance is being considered as a vital part of preparing for health risks.
In conjunction with National Customer Day, celebrated on 4 September, Monica’s experience shows that maintaining health is not only about lifestyle but also about financial readiness when unexpected health risks arise. For Monica, maintaining health has become part of her daily routine; she regularly attends the gym and pilates, maintains a healthy diet, and ensures she sleeps before 10:00 pm. In her view, a healthy lifestyle is a long-term investment.
However, personal experiences changed her perspective, teaching her that a healthy lifestyle alone is insufficient without accompanying health protection. Three years ago marked the starting point when Monica began considering health insurance. At that time, Monica lost several friends at a relatively young age, even though some of them already had health insurance. She noted that the protection held by her friends was not fully sufficient to meet their needs should they face critical conditions.
“To be honest, I was very shocked to learn that several friends passed away at a young age. It made me realise that besides maintaining health, we also need to have protection that is truly comprehensive and reliable when needed,” Monica stated on Saturday (5/9/2026).
This experience ultimately prompted Monica to obtain health insurance that could serve as a safety net when health risks appear unexpectedly. This decision, according to Monica, is increasingly relevant amidst the year-on-year rise in healthcare service costs.
According to the Mercer Marsh Benefits Health Report 2026, published in November 2025, medical inflation in Indonesia is projected to reach 17.8 per cent in 2026. This figure is significantly higher than the average for Asian countries, which ranges between 11–12 per cent, and is even seven times higher than Indonesia’s general inflation rate.
This increase is influenced by rising medicine prices, the utilisation of medical technology, and Indonesia’s high dependency on imported medicinal raw materials and medical equipment, which are also affected by fluctuating exchange rates. For example, within the PRUPriority Hospitals partner network, the average cost of appendectomy surgery increased from approximately Rp 55 million in 2023 to Rp 69 million in 2025. This condition illustrates the rising cost of medical treatment year by year.
Commemorating National Customer Day, Chief Health Officer of Prudential Indonesia, Yosie William Iroth, stated that companies need to continue understanding customer needs and providing protection relevant to their life journeys. According to him, a customer’s experience is not only determined when they require services or file a claim, but also how a company helps customers prepare before a risk occurs through preventive efforts.
“The rise in healthcare costs, which continues to exceed general inflation, serves as a reminder that health and financial resilience are now inseparable. Therefore, the public requires sustainable health protection that is not only present when a risk occurs but also encourages healthy daily living behaviours. We believe that the future of health protection is not just about paying claims, but about helping the community live healthier, more protected, and better prepared to face various uncertainties in the future,” said Yosie.