OBJECTIVES: Malignant neoplasm of larynx is a significant burden for both the individual and society. Our aim was to determine the annual health insurance treatment cost of malignant neoplasm of larynx in Hungary.

METHODS: The data were derived from the financial database of the Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund Administration (NHIFA), for the year 2018. Data analysed included annual health insurance costs, patient numbers and cost distribution calculated for age groups and sex. The following cost categories were included into the study: general practice care, home care, in- and outpatient care, medical imaging, laboratory diagnostics, drugs and medical aids. Patients with malignant neoplasm of larynx were identified with the following code of the International Classification of Diseases 10^th revision: C32.

RESULTS: In 2018, the NHIFA spent 1.5 billion Hungarian Forints (HUF) for the treatment of patients with malignant neoplasm of larynx [5.55 million American Dollars (USD), or 4.7 million Euros (EUR)]. 86.3% of costs was spent on the treatment of male, while 13.7% on female patients. The highest patient numbers were in outpatient care: 3,408 men (82.8%), and 708 women (17.2%) in total 4,116 patients. Acute inpatient care (53.6% of total health insurance costs in men and 48.3% in women), medical aids (16.7% in men and 17.9% in women) and pharmaceuticals (8.4% in men and 11.1% in women) were the main cost drivers, while all other forms of medical care amounted to 21.3% in men and 22.7% in women. Annual health care treatment cost per patient was 1.14 million HUF (4,227 USD/3,582 EUR) in men and 1.11 million HUF (4,119 USD/3,491 EUR) in women.

CONCLUSIONS: Acute inpatient care proved to be the major cost driver. The average annual health insurance costs per patient were significantly higher in men, over 50 years old.