State-paid health care services are not always absolutely free of charge. The bigger part of the cost is covered by the State, yet sometimes a patient needs to pay the patient co-payment, which is typically the smallest part of the total cost.
In Lithuania, if a person is covered by compulsory health insurance, the health insurance funds pay for their treatment from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund. However, according to the list of paid services, in some cases, payment for services in medical institutions is also in place for insured patients, so it will still be necessary to pay for certain medical services.
Compulsory health insurance
Compulsory health insurance (CHI) is a system of personal health care and economic measures established by the state. Participants in the compulsory health insurance system are obliged to pay fixed contributions each month. For residents who belong to socially sensitive groups, these contributions are paid by the state.
This guarantees the provision health care services and payment of the costs of these services to persons insured with compulsory health insurance in the event of an insured event, as well as reimbursement of the costs of the purchase of medicines and medical aids and the rental of medical equipment (devices) necessary for the provision of home health care by the insured.
Release from the patient’s co-payment
Some groups of patients do not need to pay a patient co-payment for State-paid health care services. This is especially relevant for medicines.
These groups include:
- children aged up to 18 years
- persons older than 75 years
- persons receiving emergency medical assistance
- some persons with disability
- persons in need; and others
You can find a full list in Section II of the Law on Health Insurance.