Market share of the for-profit and not-for-profit sector from health insurance expenditures

AIM: The aim of the study is to analyze the market share of for-profit private and not-for-profit sector from the expenditures on medical services of the Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), to show its changes in the last years and to show on which field they can be found. DATA AND METHODS: The data derives from the financial database of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) covering the period 1995-2002. The analysis includes the medical provisions (primary care, health visitors, dental care, out- and inpatient care, home care, kidney dialysis, CT-MRI). RESULTS: In 1995 only 6.91% (12.5 billions Ft) of total expenditure for medical services went to for-profit private providers. By 2002 the market share of private providers increased to 15.95% (78.5 billions Ft). During the same period we realized a dynamic increase in the market share of non-profit sector: from 1.04% in 1995 to 2.58% in 2002. The role of private providers is dominant in the case of general practitioners, dental care, transportation, kidney dialysis, CT/MRI and home care (home nursing). CONCLUSIONS: The financial data of the NHIF showed the dynamic increase of market share of for-profit private providers and non-profit sector in many field of health care, although they role in the two most important fields (out- and inpatient care) is still negligible.