Premium development
In 2012, the premium volume written in the health insurance segment increased by 3.3 per cent year-on-year to € 909.2 million (2011: € 880.1 million). In Austria, where UNIQA is the clear market leader in the health insurance segment, premiums of € 835.4 million were generated, up 2.6 per cent on the previous year (2011: € 813.8 million).
In Western Europe, premiums written increased by 2.0 per cent to € 41.9 million (2011: € 41.1 million). In the growth markets of CEE, premiums in the health insurance segment increased to a significantly larger extent, rising by 26.6 per cent to € 31.9 million (2011: € 25.2 million). All in all, this meant that the international share of health insurance premiums written in 2012 was 8.1 per cent (2011: 7.5 per cent).
Premium volume written in health insurance
Figures in € million

In 2012, retained premiums earned in the health insurance segment (in accordance with IFRS) rose by 3.3 per cent to € 903.0 million at the end of the year (2011: € 873.9 million).
| 
 Health insurance  | 
 2012  | 
 2011  | 
 2010  | 
| 
 Figures in € million  | 
 
  | 
 
  | 
 
  | 
| 
 Premiums written  | 
 909.1  | 
 880.1  | 
 846.6  | 
| 
 Share Central and Eastern Europe  | 
 3.5 %  | 
 2.9 %  | 
 2.0 %  | 
| 
 Share Western Europe  | 
 4.6 %  | 
 4.7 %  | 
 4.6 %  | 
| 
 International share  | 
 8.1 %  | 
 7.5 %  | 
 6.5 %  | 
| 
 Premiums earned (net)  | 
 903.0  | 
 873.9  | 
 843.0  | 
| 
 Net investment income  | 
 92.6  | 
 –9.4  | 
 108.1  | 
| 
 Insurance benefits (net)  | 
 –756.5  | 
 –738.1  | 
 –714.8  | 
| 
 Benefit and loss ratio (after reinsurance)  | 
 83.8 %  | 
 84.5 %  | 
 84.8 %  | 
| 
 Operating expenses less reinsurance commission  | 
 –138.6  | 
 –143.4  | 
 –124.1  | 
| 
 Cost ratio (after reinsurance)  | 
 15.3 %  | 
 16.4 %  | 
 14.7 %  | 
| 
 Profit/loss on ordinary activities  | 
 103.1  | 
 –18.0  | 
 112.2  | 
| 
 Net profit/loss  | 
 81.7  | 
 –13.5  | 
 82.6  | 
| 
 Consolidated profit/loss  | 
 57.3  | 
 –18.3  | 
 37.6  | 
Development of insurance benefits
In 2012, retained insurance benefits increased marginally by 2.5 per cent to € 756.5 million (2011: € 738.1 million). As premiums earned rose to a greater extent, the benefit and loss ratio after reinsurance fell by 0.7 percentage points year-on-year to 83.8 per cent (2011: 84.5 per cent).
In Austria, insurance benefits rose by 2.0 per cent to € 711.8 million (2011: € 697.7 million). The figure for the Western European markets increased by 6.8 per cent to € 27.3 million (2011: € 25.5 million). In the Central and Eastern European countries, insurance benefits also increased by 17.4 per cent to € 17.4 million as a result of the sharp rise in premium revenues (2011: € 14.8 million).
Operating expenses
Total operating expenses in the health insurance segment less reinsurance commission and profit shares from reinsurance business ceded decreased by 3.3 per cent to € 138.6 million (2011: € 143.4 million). Acquisition costs increased by 11.6 per cent to € 88.4 million (2011: € 79.2 million), while other operating expenses fell by 21.7 per cent to € 50.2 million (2011: € 64.1 million). As a result of this development, the cost ratio in the health insurance segment declined to 15.3 per cent (2011: 16.4 per cent).
In Austria, operating expenses decreased by 5.3 per cent to € 115.4 million (2011: € 121.8 million), while the figure for the Western European markets rose by 2.6 per cent to € 15.4 million (2011: € 15.0 million). Operating expenses in the CEE region increased by 19.1 per cent to € 7.7 million (2011: € 6.5 million).
Investment result
In 2012, net investment income in the health insurance segment increased to € 92.6 million (2011: minus € 9.4 million). The investment volume in the health insurance sector declined by 14.9 per cent to € 2,492.2 million in 2012 (31 December 2011: € 2,927.6 million).
Profit/loss on ordinary activities, net profit/loss, consolidated net profit/loss
The profit/loss on ordinary activities in the health insurance segment amounted to € 103.1 million in the year under review (2011: minus € 18.0 million). The net profit/loss for the period amounted to € 81.7 million (2011: minus € 13.5 million), while the consolidated net profit/loss after taxes and minority interests amounted to € 57.3 million (2011: consolidated net loss of € 18.3 million).
