Poland’s Ministry of Health published a new refund list including 3,600+ free medications for seniors aged 65 and older.
New List of Free Medications for 65+ Seniors
The Ministry of Health published a new refund list, which includes the so-called “List S” – a catalog of free medications for seniors. For many retirees, this represents a savings of several dozen to several hundred zlotys monthly.
The new refund list includes over 3,600 items under “List S.” This includes not only individual preparations but also their generic equivalents – meaning the same medication can appear multiple times in the catalog in different dosages, packages, and manufacturers.
Common Medications on the List
Among the most frequently recurring items on the list are metformin (type 2 diabetes), ramipril (hypertension), statins such as atorvastatin and rosuvastatin (cholesterol), as well as sartans – telmisartan and losartan. In the cardiology section, beta-blockers are prominently featured: bisoprolol and nebivolol.
In diabetology, alongside metformin, sitagliptyn (oral medication) frequently appears. Insulins (including aspart, lispro, glargine, degludec), which seniors take chronically, are also clearly marked in the “0 zł” therapy group.
Requirements for Free Medications
The free medications program for 65+ seniors operates according to precise rules. A senior must meet all three criteria simultaneously to qualify.
This means that even if a particular preparation appears on “List S,” it will not be free if prescribed outside the refund indications.
Prescribing Free Medications
Many seniors still believe that free medications are only available after a visit to a public clinic. This is not true. Prescriptions marked with “S” can be issued by public healthcare providers, private doctors, or specialists.
The key is the proper marking of the prescription with the “S” code.
Expansion from 75+ to 65+
The free medications program originally covered individuals aged 75+. It was only expanded to include seniors aged 65+ and children and youth up to 18 years of age starting September 1, 2023.
Since then, the number of eligible individuals has increased by several million. According to Ministry of Health data from previous years, millions of patients use the program annually, with refund values counted in billions of zlotys.
Potential Savings
Consider a senior with three chronic conditions: hypertension, diabetes, and osteoporosis. The monthly cost of therapy before inclusion in the medication refund program could have been 120–250 zlotys.
After the new list took effect, if all medications are included in “List S” and within the financial limit, monthly costs could be reduced to 0 zł.
Annually, the savings could reach several thousand zlotys, provided all medications are on the “List S” and within the funding limit.
Are All Medications Completely Free?
Not always. The program covers medications in the refund catalog. If a patient chooses a more expensive generic beyond the refund limit, they may be required to pay the difference. This is one of the most common sources of confusion in pharmacies.
What Seniors Should Check Before Visiting a Pharmacy
Seniors should verify that their prescribed medications are included in the current refund list published by the Ministry of Health and that they have been issued a prescription properly marked with “S” code.
Current lists are published in refund announcements by the Ministry of Health, with a detailed list found in the annex to the announcement.
Frequently Asked Questions
The article addresses common questions seniors have about the free medication program for 65+ seniors, with information on legal basis, requirements, and potential savings.
