Indonesia's universal health insurance program braces for default

Soaring claims and hospital frauds lead to ballooning deficits

20250116 Indonesia hospital

Patients wait in a hallway at Persahabatan Hospital, a national respiratory referral hospital, in Jakarta. © AP

JOSEPH RACHMAN, Contributing writer

JAKARTA -- Indonesia's universal public health insurance scheme is facing risks of default in 2026 after a projected 20 trillion rupiah ($1.2 billion) deficit last year, with soaring claims outstripping contributions and the government unlikely to hike premiums.

The situation is threatening services for millions of patients across Southeast Asia's largest economy, who have become increasingly reliant on the program to access affordable health care.

Sponsored Content

About Sponsored ContentThis content was commissioned by Nikkei's Global Business Bureau.