New medication cover: noticeable relief for patients in Austria!

New medication cover: noticeable relief for patients in Austria!

On May 22, 2025, a significant change in the law was decided in the National Council, which brings with it noticeable relief for numerous patients in Austria. The SPÖ prosecution spokesman Bernhard Höfler and the SPÖ health spokesman Rudolf Silvan welcome the new regulation of the medication cost cover, which aims to significantly reduce the financial burden of many people. This measure should not only promote justice in the healthcare system, but also prevent doctors from prescribing more expensive medication in order to be able to count them on the upper limit, such as [OTS] (https://www.ots.at/presseausendung/ots_20250522_ots0102/spoe-hoeflersilvan-neuer-medikaments-cost-cover-coverable-relief-relieving-fuer many-patient-and-patient) reports

The new medication cost cover stipulates that the prescription fee for 2026 is frozen at the level of the previous year. This means that the prescription fees continue to be 7.55 euros. A significant innovation is the introduction of a "remedy cost account", which takes into account all prescribed and reimbursable medication from 2026. Patients who have to acquire many medication under a prescription fee can save several hundred euros a year. From 2027, a gradual reduction in the upper limit of two percent of the net annual income is also planned, which should enable an earlier exemption from additional payments for more people.

regulations for the prescription fee

The previous regulations often led to unjust situations, since the costs for medication that are below the prescription fee were not counted. According to the new provisions, people who have already issued two percent of their annual net income for recipe fees will automatically be freed from further fees for the rest of the year without an application being required. This is facilitated by a central recipe account account, on which all amounts paid are booked, so that an exemption can be displayed directly on the next visit to the doctor, such as Austria.gv.at explained.

These new measures are part of a comprehensive strategy that also aims at poverty in Austria. With numerous exemptions from the prescription fee for certain groups and taking into account co -insured relatives, the financial burden on vulnerable population groups is further minimized. In addition, the necessary calculations on the annual net income are automatically carried out by social insurance to ensure uncomplicated handling.

changes in the health system

The health system in Austria is subject to constant changes and adjustments to meet the needs of the population. A comprehensive analysis of the system by the European observatory for health systems and health policy emphasizes the importance of such reforms. The report describes developments in the Austrian health system and emphasizes that a new control system has been introduced since the large reform in 2013, which is intended to optimize the coordination and cooperation between the different levels of government [Social Ministry.gv.at] (https://www.socialministerium.gv.at/themen/gesundheit/gesundheitssystem/Gesundheitungen/das-oesterreich-gesundheitssystem-%80%93-Akteurs ,-daten.-analysen.html).

These current measures, including the reform of the medication cost lid, show the political will to create a solidarity health system that ensures access to necessary medication for all patients. This is an important step in combating poverty and injustice that affect many people in Austria.