Medicines for seniors cheaper from July. Huge differences in prices

At the beginning of July, changes came into effect that could significantly reduce the budgets of patients struggling with chronic diseases. The new reimbursement list includes dozens of products with reduced co-payments. Many of them are used to treat typical diseases among seniors.

The Ministry of Health has announced a new list of reimbursed drugs , effective from 1 July 2025. The changes introduced concern both price adjustments and the extension of reimbursement indications and the introduction of new drugs (including oncological and neurological therapies).

Although the list also includes price increases, it is the reductions that attract patients' attention. For many seniors, they mean real savings.

According to the announcement published by the Ministry of Health No. 79, 41 new therapies were covered by the refund . They included:

• 12 Rare Disease Indications
• 18 oncological therapies
• 23 non-oncological therapies

The Ministry of Health announced the addition of 208 new products or indications to the list, as well as significant price corrections. In the case of 242 drugs, sales prices were reduced (from a few groszy to over PLN 6,000), and for 37 drugs, prices increased (from PLN 0.03 to PLN 70.00).

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Patient co-payments for 473 items of preparations also fell (by as much as PLN 24.04), while in 578 cases the co-payment amount increased. Retail prices also changed, for 579 products they fell and for 408 they rose.

Based on the appendix to Announcement No. 79, examples of reductions in co-payments for medicines used in the treatment of diseases frequently occurring in seniors (and not only) are presented:

• Heart failure - up to PLN 10.62
• Ulcerative colitis - up to PLN 2.58
• Alzheimer's disease - up to PLN 1.35
• Glaucoma - up to PLN 0.79
• Diabetes - up to PLN 0.57
• Symptomatic coronary atherosclerosis - up to PLN 0.49
• Parkinson's disease and syndrome - up to PLN 0.11

SEE: Is Our Wallet Signaling Dementia? It Turns Out That's Right

It is worth remembering that the list does not include all the details regarding the scope of indications covered by reimbursement. Full information can be found in the document available on the official website of the Ministry of Health in the "Reimbursed medicines" tab. In case of doubt, it is also worth consulting your doctor .

The current list of reimbursed drugs also provides for the withdrawal of some drugs or indications from reimbursement. This means that patients will have to cover their entire cost. These include, for example, drugs for hypertension and drugs lowering cholesterol.

SEE: These products are best avoided after 60. They contribute to dementia and high blood pressure in seniors

In the event of an increase in the cost of medication, it is worth talking to your doctor about possible alternatives. A consultation will allow you to choose a treatment tailored to the needs and capabilities of the patient. This will allow you to avoid excessive expenses without giving up on proper health care.