The slightly higher premiums in the motor vehicle field were reinforced by the positive development of other non-life fields so that premium income in comparison with the previous year was 6.0% or ATS 636.0 million (EUR 46.2 million) higher. Here it should also be noted that the results for Assicurazioni La Carnica are included for the first time.

The entry of Raiffeisen Versicherung into the non-life sector in April last year brought a new impetus to the Group in this area.  With about 18,500 contracts, Raiffeisen Versicherung achieved within a few months net annual premium of around ATS 65.1 million (EUR 4.7 million) as a contribution to the group result in this field.

THE market share of the UNIQA Group in the Austrian damage and accident insurance market remained almost the same as in the previous year – according to preliminary figures - with 13.15% (1999 13.20%)

Claims with retentionin the fields of damage and accidents cost the UNIQA Group ATS 7,016.4 million (EUR 509.9 million) in the previous business year. This corresponds to an increase of about, 10.6% compared with 1999. The reason for this is the extremely high number of claims resulting from an unusual number of natural disasters. In the motor vehicle sector – especially comprehensive cover – an increase of the average premium was accompanied by a much higher accident quota and rapidly increasing repair costs.

At the year end some 3,594,503 non-life policies were in force.

Life insurance
In the business year 2000 the life insurance sector, with a plus of 17.4% was again the main pillar of premium growth in the UNIQA Group, Its share of the Group’s total premium volume grew from 39.1 % (1999) to 41.9 % last year Life insurance. with billed premiums of ATS 14,551.6 million (EUR 1,057.5 million), is also the biggest sector within the UNIQA Group.

Contributing strongly to this strong growth are the single premium policies, issued over a limited period. This particularly attractive form of investment was very well receive and produced a plus last year of 115.3% , ATS 4,123.1 million (EUR 299.6 million) in premiums, This represents a share of 28.3% of the  premium volume in  life insurance within the Group,

Raiffeisen Versicherung Austria’s biggest life insurer within the group contributed strongly to the good overall result for life insurance in the UNIQA Group. With premium growth of 18.9% to ATS 9,601.4 million (EUR 697.8 million) it accounts for 66.0% consolidated of the total life insurance premiums within the group.

The UNIQA Group in 2000 increased its share of the Austrian life insurance market – according to preliminary figures - from 18.42% to 19.29%.

Increased premiums were offset by claims of ATS 18,706.2 million (EUR 1,359.4 million /+12.1%).

Altogether, at year-end the Group had 1,945,541 life insurance policies were in force.

Health insurance
Health premiums billed in 2000 amounted to ATS 8,874.6 million (EUR 644.9 million), corresponding to an increase of 2.5% and a Group share of 25.6%,

One of the reasons for this positive development in 2000 is the new possibility which opened up this year for the first time for people in certain professions to “opt out” of the state scheme and take out a private health insurance policy,

Premium income from health insurance in 2000 was offset by claims retained benefits amounting to ATS 8,041.9 million (EUR 584.4 million) . In comparison with the previous year this represents a plus of 8.3%,

The high figure for health insurance claims is partly due to the strongly increasing costs of health care in Austria. Despite some braking of the increasing rates charged, costs increased because of the increasing number of stays in hospital. In addition, there were arrears of claim payments in the previous year.,

The market share of UNIQA in the field of health care in Austria – according to preliminary figures -  remained almost constant at 49.56% compared with 49.86% in the previous year, UNIQA  thus remains the unchallenged authority and market leader in this sector.  The companies of the UNIQA Group at the end of 2000 had 620,426 health care contracts,

UNIQA Group: premium income and claims by sectors

Life
14,551.6
17.4
18,706.2
+ 12.1

Damage and Accident
11,271.7
6.0
7,016.4
+ 10.6

Health
8,874.6
2.5
8,041.9
+ 8.3