OBJECTIVES: Organised, nationwide screening for breast cancer with mammography in the age group 45-65 years with 2 years screening interval started in Hungary in January 2002. The aim of this study is to analyze the health insurance expenditures of breast cancer treatment. METHODS: The data derive from the financial database of the National Health Insurance Fund Administration (NHIFA) covering the 2010 year. The analysis of health insurance costs included outpatient costs of mammography screening, hospital costs of breast surgery, the cost of kemo- and radiotherapy. RESULTS: The total annual health insurance cost of the National Health Insurance Fund Administration is estimated 12.09 billion Hungarian Forint (HUF) or 58.09 million dollar (USD). Most of them (61.0 %) releted to the cost of chemotherapy (7.38 billion HUF or 35.46 million USD). The next largest cost item (20.9 %) is the cost of radiotherapy (2.53 billion HUF or 12.16 million USD). Surgical treatment (1.14 billion HUF or 5.47 million USD) of breast cancer and cost of mammography screening (1.04 billion HUF or 5.00 million USD) represents both similar volume (9.4 and 8.6 % respectively) CONCLUSIONS: The costs related to breast cancer screening and treatment showed an increasing trend in the past years. The most important cost item is the cost of chemotherapy.