Contrary to common belief, conditions like cardiovascular disease, cancer, diabetes, chronic respiratory diseases, obesity and mental health disorders are not confined to adults or wealthy societies. They disproportionately impact children and young people, particularly in the world’s poorest communities. Even more concerning, the root causes of these conditions often take hold early in life.
From unhealthy food environments and high levels of air pollution to insufficient physical activity and limited mental health support, children today are growing up in settings that undermine their right to health. If left unaddressed, this will fuel a growing global health crisis that spans generations.
UNICEF’s open letter, “Building Blocks for Lifelong Health: Why We Must Prioritize Children”, makes a compelling case: early intervention is key. Prevention must begin in childhood, supported by environments, systems and policies that enable children to grow up physically and mentally healthy.
The Potential Role for Health Insurers
Health insurers and private healthcare providers are uniquely positioned to drive this shift. Preventing the long-term impacts of NCDs is not just a public health imperative, it is also essential to the financial sustainability of insurance systems.
The rising burden of NCDs and mental health conditions threatens to increase healthcare costs, strain health systems and put insurance products out of reach for many families. Insurers have both an opportunity and a strategic interest to support prevention. This includes offering services and incentives that promote healthier behaviours, such as:
- Health monitoring tools for families
- Rewards or discounted premiums for participation in preventive services
- Coverage for primary care visits, mental health support, and wellness programmes
- Subsidized premiums or microinsurance programmes for low-income families
UNICEF recognises and applauds efforts already underway, from wellness programmes to expanded access to care. These initiatives demonstrate the power of insurers to influence healthier lives.
Opportunities for Collaboration
UNICEF welcomes further engagement with insurers and proposes several key areas for joint action:
- Expanding Preventive Services: Increasing access to child and family-centered preventive health services including nutrition support, physical activity programmes, maternal and infant health resources, and school-based initiatives.
- Strengthening Health System Delivery: Supporting local health systems through investments in training, digital tools and community-based models of care to reach more families and improve integration with public services.
- Contributing to Policy and Practice: Sharing evidence and best practices, supporting staff wellbeing and collaborating on the development of healthy environments for children and families.
- Building Multi-Stakeholder Partnerships: Designing innovative models for joint investment, health literacy campaigns and service delivery.
An Invitation to Endorse and Engage
As members of the International Federation of Health Plans (iFHP), your reach, expertise, and commitment to long-term outcomes position you as powerful allies in this effort.
UNICEF invites iFHP members to endorse its Open Letter on NCDs, Obesity and Mental Health, which outlines six pillars for private sector action: Comply, Care, Champion, Contribute, Communicate, and Change. These principles offer a clear framework for action, whether by reimagining benefit designs, investing in prevention, or leveraging brand influence to shape healthier behaviours and reduce stigma.
We encourage all members to review the open letter and consider how your organisation can support these advocacy goals in the lead-up to the High-Level Meeting at the UN General Assembly in September. By working together across sectors, we can change the trajectory of millions of young lives, ease the burden on health systems and foster a healthier, more resilient society.
For more information, please contact UNICEF.