Nearly 57 percent of Romanians believe that living uninsured in Romania is risky, and 90 percent feel vulnerable to unforeseen situations such as an accident, a health issue, loss of income, or a death in the family. Moreover, 4 in 5 acknowledge that, if faced with such a situation, they would be significantly affected financially, even though some say they have some savings set aside (45 percent), according to an online survey conducted by Allianz-Țiriac on a nationally representative sample of 1,036 respondents. Despite being aware of the risks, few have insurance that would provide protection and cover unexpected expenses.
The protection gap is therefore significant and continues to widen year by year. In the event of an accident, a medical issue, or a death in the family, nearly two-thirds of respondents estimate they would need at least 5,000 lei to cover unforeseen expenses, while 25 percent estimate the need at between 50,000 and over 150,000 lei, according to Allianz-Țiriac survey data. At market level, data shows that, on average, a family would need over 165,000 lei in addition to its available financial resources to navigate such a situation without financial difficulty while maintaining their standard of living, about 7 percent more than last year, according to an UNSAR analysis.
However, only 17.5 percent of respondents say they have or could easily access the full amount they would need in an emergency, while another 12.7 percent would have at least half of the amount they consider necessary. Most admit they would only be able to find solutions for a smaller part of the required sum, while nearly one in five respondents state they have no resources at all for such emergencies, the Allianz-Țiriac survey also shows.
“An uninsured Romania is a vulnerable Romania, and the protection gap against risks that can affect anyone reflects, in fact, people’s financial health. Aware of the risks but lacking adequate protection, many experience significant financial strain in situations they cannot anticipate or prevent, such as an accident, a medical emergency, or a more serious condition that leads to loss of income. The role of insurance is precisely to bear the financial burden in such situations by covering unexpected expenses, and our role as an industry is to increase the level of protection through simple and accessible products with extended coverage for the real risks Romanians face, even beyond borders. Because protection through insurance is not only a financial decision, but also an act of responsibility for the future”, says Virgil Șoncutean, CEO at Allianz-Țiriac Asigurări.
Only one in two respondents consider themselves 100 percent responsible for their future and personal financial resilience against the unexpected. Another 37 percent believe responsibility is shared, relying on external support from the state, the social protection system, or family in an emergency situation, according to the Allianz-Țiriac survey.
When thinking about risks, Romanians’ greatest fear is losing their health (29.8 percent), followed by the possibility of becoming a burden to their family (18.9 percent) or lacking the financial resources needed in an emergency (18 percent). Concerning, however, is the fact that over the past two years, more than 38 percent of Romanians say they have avoided going to the doctor due to costs, and if they were to become seriously ill tomorrow, more than 53 percent would seek help from a public hospital – although only 17 percent feel genuinely protected through the social insurance contributions they pay -, while only 20.1 percent say they could access treatment in the private system based on a medical subscription or private health insurance.
As a result, more than two-thirds of Romanians (67.6 percent) consider health insurance to be the most important element of protection against unforeseen events, the Allianz-Țiriac survey shows. And if they could “insure” only one aspect of their lives for the next 10 years, more than 50 percent would choose their health, followed by financial stability (23.7 percent) and the safety of their loved ones (17.2 percent).
The Allianz-Țiriac survey was conducted nationwide in 2025 on a sample of 1,036 internet users in Romania. Approximately 53 percent of respondents are men, predominantly aged between 18 and 44, and more than 56 percent have monthly incomes exceeding RON 4,000.