Despite the government’s initiative to lower the price of medication, insurance policy holders will end up paying even more for medication, even if they are turning to cheaper, generic drugs, according a report in Ta Nea.
The newspaper report explains that the “hidden levy” came from the revised reference prices, the amount which the insurance fund will cover; policy holders are called upon to cover a higher portion of the cost. In mid March, the insurance funds covered 5.32 euros for valsatran, which it has now reduced to 4.85 euros, meaning that patients will have to spend more.
Pharmacists also reveal that while in the retail price of medication, the concentration of the active ingredients determines the price, this does not apply for the prices paid by the insurance funds; the retail price of 20mg of generic statine is 13.92 euros and for 40mg it increases to 24.73 euros. The insurance price however remained the same (8.5 euros).
