The Tidö parties want to increase the high-cost protection for medicines • PRO: “Unreasonable”
The government and the Sweden Democrats want to shock increase the high-cost protection for medicines.
Then the Pensioners’ national organization collapses.
– It would have very serious consequences, says Joel Stade, expert at PRO.
The Tidö parties propose a sharp increase in the limit for free cards for medicines. 30 percent up, which is the biggest increase since 2012. For the individual, it will be 900 kroner more expensive, and pensioner organizations are critical of the proposal, which will come into force next summer and which will now go out for consultation.
– What I’m very afraid of is that people don’t take out their medicines, medicines that the doctor has decided they should take, says Joel Stade, an expert on pensioners’ finances at PRO and an active social democrat.
PRO: Serious consequences
PRO says the increase will hit their 260,000 members hard, especially those with small margins and low pensions.
– In the group of single women over 80, there are many who have very small margins. They need their medicines, and I am worried that they will not collect them, which would have very serious consequences, says Joel Stade.
The increase is justified by the fact that the state’s share of the cost of the high-cost insurance has increased much more than the patients’ co-payments.
– It is great that pharmaceutical companies research and develop new medicines. It can create better and longer lives for many, which is great. It is also the case that there is already a system that increases the high cost protection, indexation. It is already increasing from the turn of the year by SEK 50. But if you raise it by SEK 900, it will be a very significant increase. Then I think that the state and the individuals in society must share the cost, I think that the state should take this higher sum. It will be unreasonable to pass it on to individuals who need their medicines, says Joel Stade.
Will protest
Today, the individual must pay SEK 2,850 (2,900 after the index increase at the turn of the year) out of their own pocket over a twelve-month period before the state takes over the entire cost. Then a free card is given and the medicines become free of charge. According to the proposal, the limit should be raised to SEK 3,800 after July 1 next year.
Joel Stade is clear. PRO will oppose.
– We will protest against this. I don’t really know how yet. We are negative about this and it is the wrong way to go. I think more and more people are starting to realize that this is going to cost more money in the next year. We must of course take care of that and show the government that this is not a policy that has support, he says.