A joint study conducted by the Scandinavian Health Center and the financial data firm Compare reveals that three percent of Russians are prepared to spend more than 200 thousand rubles each year on treatment, prevention, and laboratory tests. Meanwhile, forty-three percent rely entirely on free healthcare services. The findings were examined by socialbites.ca as part of a broader look at healthcare finances in the country.
According to the survey, a large portion of Russians engage with medical services infrequently. Forty percent report having medical tests or examinations less than once a year, while another thirty-four percent take precautions for their health on a yearly basis. Only about one in ten respondents sticks to a habit of checking their bodies every quarter, indicating a relatively low cadence of routine health monitoring among most people.
When it comes to payments for care that falls outside the scope of compulsory health insurance, almost half of those surveyed indicated they would cover such costs if the situation allowed it. Around twenty percent stated they are willing to pay when they have spare money, and thirteen percent would opt for paid care in cases where a diagnosis is especially worrisome, with eleven percent willing to pay for urgent care. These responses paint a picture of a population that sometimes weighs the trade offs between free services and the perceived value of paid options in time of need.
In terms of how money is spent within the health sector, nearly half of all respondents allocate the largest share of their health spending to prescription medications. About one in five people report that they incur the highest charges for medical research using specialized equipment. A tenth of the population spends most on visits to doctors, and roughly one in ten focus their spending on diagnostic tests. These patterns highlight a frequent prioritization of medication costs and the specialized services that often accompany serious or chronic conditions.
When it comes to annual budgeting for medical services and testing, thirty-seven percent describe their total outlay as up to fifty thousand rubles. Eleven percent fall in the fifty to one hundred thousand ruble range, and nine percent exceed one hundred thousand rubles each year. On the flip side, forty-three percent say they receive all medical services free through public or social healthcare programs. A notable forty-four percent express willingness to take out a loan to fund medical care, with thirty-five percent willing to borrow in the event of a severe diagnosis and the remaining portion ready to borrow if the debt is manageable or easily repaid.
To control costs, many Russians rely on insurance coverage by choosing care that falls under compulsory or voluntary health insurance where possible. About thirty percent emphasize using these insurance frameworks, while others limit testing to only the essential items or actively search for discounts and promotions. In pursuit of savings, a substantial portion of the population delays seeking care and turns to doctors only for serious concerns, a strategy aimed at reducing medicine expenses. There are also individuals who decline to cut back on spending for treatment, choosing to pursue needed care regardless of cost considerations.
There is evidence that a significant segment of the population does not alter sleep patterns for better health, with a sizable share maintaining a typical range of hours nightly. These nightly routines can play a role in managing overall well-being, sleep quality, and daily energy, and they stand as a reminder that health costs intersect with lifestyle habits that do not appear in every budget discussion but matter for long-term outcomes.