The so-called ‘co-payment’ system for prescriptions, basically just another means of squeezing more money out of the public to fund government overspending, came into operation on Sunday and, so far at least, has proceeded ‘without incident’ according to the authorities. Then again, it was a Sunday.
Under the new system, every citizen is allocated a code which determines what percentage of the cost of medication they will have to pay. Many argue that they have already been paying for this for many years through social security contributions and are therefore paying twice for the same thing, a valid point.
Pensioners will pay, in general, 10% of the prescription cost with a limit of between €8 and €60 per month depending upon income.
Workers with an income of less than €18,000 will pay 40% of the cost, those earning over €18,000 will pay 50% of the cost and those earning over €100,000 will pay 60% of the cost.
Those on minimum wage or unemployed without benefits are, currently, exempt from increased payments.
Civil servants, military personnel and those involved in the administration of justice will pay 30% of the cost of medications.
Until now, everyone paid 40% of the prescription cost except for the chronically ill who paid 10%.
There are ‘limits’ involved in the new system. For example, a pensioner earning less than €18,000 per year will pay 10% of the cost up to a maximum of €8 per month. If the payments made exceed the €8 per month, that pensioner will be entitled to a refund of the amount above the €8 per month.
The autonomous region will be responsible for repaying the excess contribution and is required to do so within a maximum period of six months. And we all know the rapidity with which the authorities pay their creditors.