What applies to non-prescription medications?
Non-prescription medicines, such as medicines for colds, headaches or motion sickness, are generally not reimbursed by health insurance companies. The prices are also not set by the state. Pharmacies can therefore decide for themselves at what price they offer these medicines. Since there are usually several manufacturers of a medication, it is always worth comparing.
However, there may be cases in which health insurance companies also cover the costs of non-prescription medications. This is the case, for example, if the medication is part of the standard therapy in the treatment of cancer or the consequences of a heart attack. In these cases, the same copayment rules apply as for prescription medications.
Load limit still counts
In order to prevent patients from being financially overwhelmed, the additional payments to be made should remain limited to two percent of the annual gross income for living expenses in the future.
The recognized income includes:
- Labor income
- Income from self-employment
- Unemployment benefits
- Sick pay
- Pension income, such as old-age pensions, disability pensions, company pensions, survivors’ pensions
- rental income
- Capital and interest income
However, child benefit, care allowance, housing benefit, parental benefit (up to 300 euros) and integration assistance for people with disabilities are not taken into account. At the same time, there are various allowances for families that can be deducted from their total income.
Important: Additional payments must also be made for other medical services, for example for hospital stays. The co-payments for all services are added together – so it is not necessary for the co-payment limit to be exceeded only by the co-payments for medication.
Special limit for chronically ill people
- Presence of a care level of at least 3
- Due to their illness, they have a degree of disability of at least 60 percent or a reduction in their ability to work of at least 60 percent.
- You need continuous medical care, without which the health condition will worsen.
