Tuesday, April 24, 2012

The end of free prescriptions

The cost cutting on health has already started. For the first time, those of us with red prescriptions will have to contribute to the cost of our drugs.

People who earn over 100,000 Euros per year will have to pay 60% of the cost of their prescriptions, those who earn between 18,000 and 100,000 Euros will pay 50% and those earning less than 18,000 Euros will pay 40%.

As for pensioners, I have read two versions of this. In the one, we will be asked to pay 10% of the cost of our prescriptions unless of course we have a pension in excess of 100,000 Euros (I wish) in which case we’d pay 60%. In the other version, the new 'copago' system means that pensioners earning €22,000 or less per year will have to pay up to a maximum of eight Euros extra per month for medicines while those earning more than €22,000 will have to pay an extra €18. I’ve read the second version several times so that is presumably the one which is most accurate.

However, whichever version is correct, it seems that we will no longer get free prescriptions. I guess that means that some will decide to no longer take the pills they are prescribed.

1 comment:

Petrus said...

Anyone of average income could not afford to pay for some of the very expensive cancer treatments which cost hundreds of euros - expect a lot of complaints about this new system.