Medicinal products

Additional benefit for pharmaceuticals

From the beginning of 2018, supplementary benefits for people with high expenses on medicinal products will start. Supplementary benefits for medicinal products are provided to insured persons who pay at least EUR 100 per the calendar year for discount prescriptions (so far they received benefits from the expenses of EUR 300 per year). The benefit is meant to help those who spend more money than average for the purchase of discount medicines. For example, people who need to use expensive medicines or people with chronic illnesses who have to take medication over an extended period of time or more than one medicine at a time.

From the beginning of 2018, the supplementary benefit for medicinal products is automatic, the insured person will receive additional benefits, along with the usual medical benefit, at the time of purchase of the drug at the pharmacy, and submission of an application to the Health Insurance fund is not required.

How is the supplementary benefit for medicinal product calculated?

The supplementary benefit for medicinal products applies to expenses on discount medicinal products. This means that the costs of over-the-counter medicines (non-prescription drugs) and prescription drugs that do not qualify for a health insurance fund benefits, or medical devices are not taken into account.

Supplementary benefits for medicinal products is calculated on the basis of expenses accrued per the calendar year.

The following principles apply to the benefits of medicines purchased with discount prescriptions:

• If the amount remains below EUR 100 per year, no supplementary benefit for medicinal products
• If the amount is EUR 100-300 per year, 50% of the amount exceeding EUR 100 will be compensated for
• If the amount exceeds EUR 300 per year, 90% of the amount exceeding EUR 300 will be compensated for

The Health Insurance Fund will start compensating for costs starting from EUR 100 euros.  In the range between EUR 100-300, a 50% discount will apply. For example, if a person has spent EUR 250 on medicinal products, he or she will receive a discount of 75 euros from the Health Insurance Fund. In cases of expenses exceeding EUR 300 euros, the Health Insurance Fund will pay 90% of the cost. For example, if a person has spent EUR 500, he or she will receive a discount of EUR 280.

Calculation of the supplementary benefit for medicinal products

1. First, the initial amount of the supplementary  benefit for medicinal products for the calendar year is calculated:

Base amount of the supplementary benefit for medicinal product

NB! This amount is always lower than the amount spent on discount prescriptions.

The amount spent on discount medicines

The costs of over-the-counter medicines, medical devices, and non-discount medicines will not be taken into account.

The part of the price of medicines that exceeds the price of a reference price or the  price agreement price

1. If the base amount of the supplementary benefit of the medicinal product is known, the supplementary benefit for the medicinal product will be calculated as follows:

Base amount of the supplementary benefit for medicinal product

NB! This amount is always lower than the amount spent on discount prescriptions.

The amount spent on discount medicines

The costs of over-the-counter medicines, medical devices, and non-discount medicines will not be taken into account.

The part of the price of medicines that exceeds the price of a reference price or the  price agreement price

2. If the base amount of the supplementary benefit of the medicinal product is known, the supplementary benefit for the medicinal product will be calculated as follows:

NB!  The amount exceeding the reference price or the agreed price or the avoidable cost-sharing will be deducted from the amount spent on medicinal products before calculation of the supplementary benefit for the medicinal products.  If there are many medicinal products with the same active substance in the market from different manufacturers, a reference price for the whole group of medicines with the same active substance will be established, from which the EHIF discount will be calculated.  For example, if a pharmacy has a selection of medicines with the same active substance at a price of EUR 5, EUR 7 and EUR 9, then the reference price will generally be the price of the second most affordable medicine (for this example, EUR 7) and a the benefit percentage of the Health Insurance Fund will be calculated from this amount.  In case the purchaser of a medicinal product prefers more expensive medicine, the part exceeding the reference price must be paid in the pharmacy in addition to the established cost sharing.

Very rarely, it may occur that even though a person has the right to receive supplementary benefits, it is not possible to make an additional discount for this (as may happen, for example, at the end of the year), then a person will receive a higher benefit in the following calendar year.

From January 1, 2018, all prescriptions will have a regular prescription fee of EUR 2.5. For example, if a person with diabetes previously was able to obtain a prescription with a 100% discount (equal to the reference price) for EUR 1.27, then from the beginning of 2018 they will be charged EUR 2.5 for the prescription. The same change applies to medicines for children under the age of 4 years. On the other hand, if previously EUR 3.19 had to be paid for an antibiotic with an (equal to the reference price) 50% discount for the treatment of inflammation/infection, it will now become more favorable, and the prescription will cost 2.5 euros + 50% of the price of the medicinal product.

Reimbursement of pharmaceuticals related to artificial insemination

From 2018, in vitro fertilization (IVF) and embryo transfer services and pharmaceuticals are fully financed by EHIF. Previously, the Ministry of Social Affairs paid for these pharmaceuticals and services. In addition, from 2018, you do not have to apply for reimbursement for IVF pharmaceuticals after you have purchased them.

Women up to the age of 40 (incl.) are entitled to a 100% discount on the pharmaceuticals necessary for in vitro fertilization immediately at a pharmacy when buying them. At the pharmacy, they only have to pay the prescription fee, which is 2.5 euros, and the part exceeding the maximum price of the reimbursable pharmaceutical, provided that the pharmaceutical is more expensive than the reference price listed by EHIF. Ask your doctor for more information about different pharmaceuticals and in vitro fertilization.