The annual maximum limit on out-of-pocket medicine costs will be increased in 2024
In 2022 and 2023, the annual maximum limit on out-of-pocket medicine costs has been EUR 592.16. In 2024, the limit will be increased to EUR 626.94.
Parliament has approved a legislative proposal whereby index adjustments for the previous two years to the annual maximum limit on out-of-pocket medicine costs can be avoided. Despite this, the annual maximum limit on out-of-pocket medicine costs will be increased from EUR 592.16 to EUR 626.94 in 2024.
The annual maximum limit on out-of-pocket medicine costs is the annual upper limit for the reimbursed medicine expenses that customers pay themselves, and once they reach this limit they are entitled to additional reimbursement. In such cases, the customer only has to pay a deductible of EUR 2.50 per purchase for each reimbursable product. The purpose of the additional reimbursement is to keep the medicine expenses reasonable.
For the last two years, the amount of the annual maximum limit on out-of-pocket medicine costs has been the same because at the beginning of this year the amount of the limit was fixed at the level of 2022, which means that no index adjustment was made for 2023. The change was temporary.
Through the approved change in legislation, index adjustments for the previous two years to the annual maximum limit on out-of-pocket medicine costs for 2024 can be avoided. In the index adjustment, only the change in the National Pension Index from 2023 to 2024 is taken into account. Through these measures, the annual maximum limit on out-of-pocket medicine costs will be increased by about EUR 35 in 2024. Without the legislative change, the increase would be almost double.
According to Kela’s calculations, the legislative change increases the number of persons who will exceed the annual maximum limit on out-of-pocket medicine costs. In 2024, the number will increase by an estimated 12%, i.e. 28,800 persons. The change benefits especially elderly persons because high medicine costs are more common among elderly persons than in younger age groups.
Total expenditure on reimbursements for medicine costs paid out by Kela in 2022 came to EUR 1.8 billion. The reimbursements increased by 3%, i.e. EUR 51 million from the previous year. Reimbursements for medicine costs were paid to 3 million people, that is about 55% of the population. More than 282,000 people received additional reimbursements for medicine costs, well over 7% of all customers who purchased reimbursable medicines.