Tag: health insurance companies

Representatives of Slovak Medical Chamber want to meet with Prime Minister Robert Fico as soon as possible. They want to discuss with him the planned intention of the Government to create one health insurance company. As stated in the letter of the Chamber addressed to Prime Minister, on the joint meeting the representatives of doctors would like to open the question considering the change of the insurance system. They also want to open the issue of direction of healthcare system and participation of the Chamber in this process.

Last year state paid for its policyholders more than € 1.21 billion. This sum represented 84.13% out of total revised budget of the Ministry of Health. Originally the state approved for 2011 for its policyholders the sum in amount of € 1.97 billion. As stated by the spokeswoman of the Ministry of Health, Zuzana Čižmáriková, during the year the insurance settlement of the state for 2010 was increased by the amount of € 9.7 million.

Until September 30, 2012 it is possible to apply for the change of health insurance company. Until this date Minister of Health Zuzana Zvolenská should submit the proceeding and flowchart of creation of one insurance company. Insurance companies Dôvera and Union claim that intention of Government to buy or expropriate them will not affect their campaigns. Shareholders of both private insurance companies say that they do not want to leave Slovakia. Government have not negotiated with them yet.

Shareholders of Dôvera and Union know the current value of their insurance companies, but refuse to divulge this information. Prime Minister, Robert Fico, admits that to agree on the price will be probably the most demanding task in the process of creation of one health insurance company. Penta, shareholder of Dôvera, insists on its remaining on the health insurance market. It, however, admits that Parliament might not allow it. Penta is therefore ready for the negotiations on the further proceeding. Shareholder of Union health insurance company, company Achmea, expressed the regret over the decision of Government.

Government has approved the intention to create one health insurance company managed by the state. The change should occur with or without the approval of the shareholders of private health insurance companies. Detailed proposal of the process is about to be developed by the Ministry of Health by the end of September. According to the Prime Minister, Robert Fico, the new system could become operational from January 2014. Ministry of Health for now considers three various ways how to implement its plan.

Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (General Health Insurance Company) has submitted another initiative to the Healthcare Surveillance Authority for the unfair recruitment of policyholders. Policyholder of Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa was requested by alleged employees of insurance company Union, who have falsely informed her about the end of other insurance companies and defined Union as health insurance company, where she should be insured. According to its spokeswoman Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa in these days experienced also several further cases of unfair recruitment of policyholders. 

Minister of Health Zuzana Zvolenská plans to introduce the intention of implementation of unific health insurance system on today's meeting of Government. There are several legislation possibilities for the creation of one health insurance company in Slovakia. Members of Government should today also nominate new President of Healthcare Surveillance Authority. Current President Ján Gajdoš gave up this function.

Ministry of Health has already submitted to Government its intention to create one health insurance company. This material outlines various ways how this change could take place. It does not, however, indicate how much might this transaction cost. It talks only about “reasonable compensation”, which the shareholders of private health insurance companies should get. According to the spokeswoman of the Minister, Zuzana Čižmáriková, the deeper analysis will follow after approving of initial material by the Government.

Healthcare Surveillance Authority on the base of data from health insurance companies pre-registered by the end of June totally 111 803 applications for the change of insurance company from next year. Health insurance company can be changed only once a year. If the policyholder wants to change the insurance company from January 1, 2013, an application must be submitted by the September 30, 2012. Last year totally 162 399 applications were submitted, of which 5 068 was not accepted by the Authority due to various errors. 

Ministry of Health has prepared an analysis of how the Government could create one insurance company. Material talks about three ways how the state could create one insurance company. First one is the leasing of insurance stock. Shareholders would thus still own the insurance companies, but state would make the decisions. Second is purchasing of shares or specific assets. If the negotiation on purchasing failed, ministry admits also the expropriation.