OBJECTIVES : The high number of patients with senile cataract means a significant burden for the society as well. Our aim was to determine the annual health insurance treatment cost of senile cataract in Hungary.

METHODS : Data were derived from the financial database of the 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, pharmaceuticals and medical aids. Patients with senile cataract were identified with the following code of the International Classification of Diseases 10^th revision: H25.

RESULTS : In 2018, the Hungarian NHIFA spent more than 15.00 billion Hungarian Forints (HUF) on treatment of patients with senile cataract [55.53 million American Dollars (USD), or 47.06 million Euros (EUR)]. 36.59% of costs was spent on the treatment of male, while 63.41% on female patients. The highest patient numbers were in use of outpatient care: 86,499 men (36.55%), and 150,160 women (63.45%) in total 236,659 patients. Inpatient care (89.15% of total health insurance costs in men, 88.80% in women), outpatient care (9.46% in men, 9.56% in women) and patient transportation (0.46% in men, 0.67% in women) were the main cost drivers, while all other forms of medical care amounted to 0.84% in men and 0.96% in women. Annual health care treatment cost per patient was 63,487 HUF (235 USD/199 EUR) in men and 63.379 HUF (235 USD/199 EUR) in women.

CONCLUSIONS : Inpatient care was the major cost driver in the treatment of senile cataract primarily. Major cost drivers showed a significant difference between men and women. The average annual health insurance costs per patient was approximately equal in both sexes.