OBJECTIVES: Female infertility is a global health problem affecting approximately 120 million women worldwide. Female infertility constitutes a significant and growing burden on patients, health care systems and the society. Our aim was to determine the annual costs of the health insurance system related to the female infertility in Hungary between 2010 and 2019.

METHODS: Data were derived from the financial database of the National Health Insurance Fund Administration of Hungary, of the year 2010 and 2019. Data analyzed included annual health insurance costs, numbers of patient and cost distribution calculated for age groups. The following cost categories were included into the study: general practice care, home care, in- and outpatient care, laboratory diagnostics and pharmaceuticals. Patients with female infertility of another origin were identified with the following code of the International Classification of Diseases 10th revision: N97.8.

RESULTS: In 2019, the Hungarian National Health Insurance Fund Administration spent 2.6 million USD on the health care treatment of patients with female infertility, which is higher than in 2010 (829,3 thousand USD). The costs of inpatient care (2010: 37.2%; 2019: 52.4%) and pharmaceuticals (2010: 38.9%; 2019: 43.4%) were the main cost drivers from the annual health care expenditure in the analyzed years. Annual health care treatment cost per a patient was 1,496 USD in 2010 and 3.340 USD in 2019 in inpatient care. The highest annual health insurance costs were found in ‘30-39’ and ‘40-49’ age groups in 2010, while in 2019 costs of ’30-39’ and ’40-49’ age groups increased almost to same level.

CONCLUSIONS: In 2019 the utilization of treatment with female infertility of other origin was 3.4 times higher than in 2010. The largest increase of health insurance costs were found in the treatment of ’40-49’ age group (2.9 times), especially in inpatient, pharmaceuticals and outpatient care.