Economic Results of Health Insurance Companies
Commentary | Contents |
The number of active units operating in the area of health insurance was the same in the first quarter of 2004 as in the corresponding quarter of 2003 - there were a total of nine health insurance companies operating in the CR.
Accrual-based insurance premiums written amounted to CZK 113.6 billion in the first quarter of 2004, rising by 7,9% on the corresponding period of the previous year 2003. However, these measured premiums written do not show actual revenues of health insurance companies, as these are lower by the premiums unpaid. The actual incomes of health insurance companies, i.e. the collection of premiums, including the payment for the insured for whom the state is the premium payer, totalled CZK 40.8 billion in the first quarter of 2004. This translates into an increase of 9.8% on the corresponding period of the 2003 when the incomes reached CZK 37.2 billion (source: Ministry of Health of the CR, from the results of the first to third redistribution of general health insurance premiums in the years 2004 and 2003). The incomes of the health insurance companies for the two periods cannot be compared year-on-year because the first quarter of 2004 saw a change in the frequency of payments by the state for its insurants (which involves a once-only returnable financial assistance – “advanced payment” – from the state budget within the meaning of Article 12(2) of Act No. 592/1992 Coll.) amounting to CZK 2.7 billion. The first quarter of 2004 also saw a change in the frequency of payment by the state, this time amounting to CZK 2.8 billion. These resources will by redeemed in the fourth quarter of 2004. Furthermore, the system started to receive in the first quarter of 2004 incomes from outstanding premiums obtained by the health insurance companies from the resources of Česká konsolidační agentura amounting to CZK 0.7 billion. Without these advanced payments in the first quarters of the two years compared and the incomes from the due premiums in the first quarter of 2004, the incomes from the collection of premiums including the payment by the state would have risen by 8.3% year-on-year.
Total costs (including contractual health insurance) spent by health insurance companies on health care over in the first quarter of 2004 accounted for 95,4 %, their volume rising by 1,2 % year-on-year.
In the first quarter of 2004, the health insurance companies employed a total of 7 717 persons (f/t equivalent) – an increase of 1.2% year-on-year (7 035 persons in the 1st quarter of 2003). The average monthly wage (calculated for the employment figures above and exclusive of other personnel costs) increased from CZK 16 683 in the first quarter of 2003 to CZK 17 992 in the first quarter of 2004, thus growing by 8% year-on-year.
In the first quarter of 2004, the health insurance companies acquired intangible and tangible (incl. land) fixed assets worth 33,4 million CZK and 30 million CZK, respectively.
The balance sum of health insurance companies (the sum of assets or liabilities) reached CZK 49.9 billion at the close of the first quarter of 2004 rising by CZK 0.2 billion on the end of 2003. The acquisition value of (depreciated) gross tangible and intangible assets of the health insurance companies was CZK 304 million down on the end of 2003.