Product refund for seniors. How to use the grant?

Caring for a sick senior requires enormous financial outlays. However, caregivers can count on reimbursement of products for seniors. It is about both equipment and hygiene items. What products are financed by the National Health Fund? How do I get a refund request?

Products reimbursed by the National Health Fund for seniors

Individual products for seniors reimbursed by the National Health Fund are specified in the Regulation of the Minister of Health of May 29, 2017 on the list of medical devices issued on request. The list includes 136 products, most of which do not require the patient’s own input. These are:

1. various types of lower and upper limb prostheses,
2. various types of lower and upper limb orthoses,
3. orthopedic corsets,
4. orthopedic footwear,
5. hearing aids,
6. electronic larynx,
7. tracheotomy tube,
8. external and urological catheters,
9. corrective eyeglass lenses,
10. ostomy bags,
11. manual wheelchair.

In addition, the reimbursement of products for seniors includes hygiene items in the amount of 90 items per month. The refund covers 100 percent. prices, although in some cases the National Health Fund covers only 70 percent. costs. Belong to them:

1. diaper pants,
2. anatomical diapers,
3. anatomical insoles,
4. sleepers.

In addition, the reimbursement of medicinal products for seniors covers those items that require 30 percent. patient’s own contribution. It is about:

1. truss,
2. anti-bedsore pillows and mattresses,
3. an elbow or axillary ball,
4. balcony.

The regulation of the Minister of Health also designates a group of people who are entitled to 100% co-financing of all equipment and articles up to the limits. They are military invalids, war invalids and repressed people. In order to obtain a refund of products, they should prove their entitlement by presenting an ID. In the case of sending the order by post, a photocopy of the document must be attached.

Principles of reimbursement of products for seniors – limits

There are certain rules in the reimbursement of products for seniors. First of all, these are the limits related to the frequency of granting funding from the National Health Fund. For example, they will be:

1. dentures, orthoses, corsets – once every 3 years,
2. orthopedic shoes – once a year,
3. a hearing aid – once every 3-5 years,
4. spectacle lenses – once a year or 2 years,
5. coils, ostomy bags, diaper pants and other hygiene items – once a month,
6. walking frame, manual wheelchair – once every 5 years,
7. ball – once every 3 years.

In the case of reimbursed medicinal products with monthly limits, the order is valid for the entire month. However, it is not possible to pick up the items one month back, although it is possible to execute the order for the following months. This means that if the order for reimbursement of products for seniors includes three consecutive months, then in the first month you can pick up products for three months in advance, but in the third one – only one monthly limit.

Product refund for seniors – how to use it?

In order to obtain a refund of products for seniors:

1. go to a geriatric, internal medicine, family medicine, general or oncological surgery, cancer chemotherapy, clinical oncology, gynecology or oncological gynecology, neurology, urology, primary care physician, hospice or palliative care physician, health insurance fellow, nurse in order to obtain an order;
2. report to a branch of the National Health Fund and approve the order – in the case of items reimbursed every month, the patient will receive a monthly supply card;
3. collect refunded products for seniors at a pharmacy or medical store.