The number of clients in insurance companies increased from 1995 1997. At that time, providing medical insurance to employees became a sign of prestige for companies. According to statistics, insurance policies for voluntary insurance programs almost doubled from 1995 to 1996. Voluntary medical insurance's share of Russia's total insurance market increased from 7.3 percent in the beginning of 1996 to 15.5 percent by the end of 1997. After the August crisis the situation changed.
Experts state that a new stage in the development of the voluntary medical insurance market started.
It became clear that market development depended highly on the clients' financial situations and living standards. It became impossible for insurance companies to count only on very prosperous clients and big corporations. However, working with small and medium-sized clients demands a good technical base, and only insurance companies that have the necessary resources and potential will stay in the market. Big companies will also survive thanks to the losses of their competitors. After the crisis, the demand structure for voluntary medical insurance changed.