2009 revenues of Slovak health insurance funds fall short of expectations by €350m

2010-01-20

The insurance premium receipts of Slovak health insurance companies in 2009 were worth €350m less than originally expected, the Slovak Health Policy Institute (HPI) has announced. In the first half of 2009 the increase in insurance premium receipts was around 5% year on year. However, the HPI estimates that H2 2009 was much more difficult for health insurance companies in Slovakia because of growing unemployment and lower salaries. It is estimated, therefore, that the total increase in health insurance premium receipts in 2009 was 2.2-2.6% at most, in contrast to 12% in 2008. The 2009 figure falls short of the earlier HPI estimates of a 10% increase, and the actual value is considered modest.
The less substantial financial resources at the funds’ disposal were reflected in their spending policies. The total increase in treatment spending in 2009 was a mere 2.8% - in contrast to a sizeable 14.8% in 2008. The HPI praised the Health Ministry for the introduction of a drug price referencing system, as a result of which the expenditures of the health insurance funds in this area were reduced by 1.2%.

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