2027 Compulsory Health Insurance Fund Budget Draft: More Funding for Healthcare Services, Medicines and Digitalisation
The Compulsory Health Insurance Council (CHIC) has approved next year’s Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF) budget proposal. In 2027, CHIF revenue is projected to reach EUR 4.86 billion, 12.9% higher than this year, while expenditure is expected to total EUR 4.76 billion, an increase of 10.5% compared with 2026.
The increased funding will make it possible to further expand healthcare services available to residents, improve their accessibility, reimburse new medicines and medical devices, and strengthen the digitalisation of the healthcare system.
“A healthcare system is strong not when it accumulates more funding, but when people feel the benefits of that funding. The growing CHIF budget primarily provides greater opportunities to expand services, reduce barriers to access and fund solutions that patients need today,” says Gytis Bendorius, Director of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).
Contributions for State-Insured Residents Will Increase
As in previous years, compulsory health insurance contributions will remain the main source of CHIF revenue. They are projected to account for approximately 95% of the Fund’s total revenue. Contributions paid by employed people alone are expected to reach EUR 3.24 billion next year, an increase of 8.4% compared with this year. This growth is driven by the projected increase in the country’s total wage bill.
State contributions for residents covered by health insurance at the state’s expense will also increase significantly. In 2027, EUR 1.4 billion is earmarked for these contributions – almost EUR 297 million more than this year. This change is driven by a new contribution calculation procedure taking effect next year, under which the state contribution will be linked to the average compulsory health insurance contribution paid by an employed person.
In total, CHIF revenue is expected to increase by EUR 554 million next year. Of this increase, EUR 103.1 million will be allocated to replenishing the Fund’s reserve, while the remainder will be directed towards meeting the needs of the healthcare system.
More Funding for Healthcare Services
The largest share of CHIF expenditure will continue to be allocated to personal healthcare services. A total of EUR 3.41 billion is earmarked for these services, almost EUR 357 million more than this year, excluding the impact of reallocations between expenditure categories. This will account for approximately 72% of the Fund’s total expenditure.
Additional funding will be used to expand healthcare services, introduce new base payments, and index existing payments and reference prices.
Funding is earmarked for the expansion of primary healthcare, mental healthcare, day hospital and other services, as well as for improving access to specialist consultations.
In addition, reference prices for certain services are set to increase, including medical rehabilitation, nursing services for people with diabetes, and blood components.
A significant share of the additional funding will also contribute to increasing salaries for healthcare institution employees. The additional funding allocated to healthcare institutions will enable them to continue raising the salaries of medical professionals and other healthcare system employees.
Increased Funding for Medicines and Medical Devices
More than EUR 912 million is planned to be allocated next year for medicines, reimbursed medical aids, foods for special medical purposes and the rental of medical devices. The actual increase in funding, excluding accounting-related transfers between different budget categories, amounts to EUR 73.3 million compared with this year. This area will continue to account for 19% of the Fund’s budget.
Part of the additional funding will be allocated to cover the rising costs of medicines that are already reimbursed. A further EUR 13 million is earmarked for adding new reimbursable medicines from the reserve list. Funding will also be increased for reimbursable and centrally funded medical aids, with additional funds allocated for the reimbursement of hearing implant processors.
Focus on eHealth (e.sveikata) and Data Security
The 2027 budget places particular emphasis on a new area to be funded from the CHIF budget: the development of digital health solutions. A total of EUR 15 million is planned for the operation and development of the Electronic Health Services and Cooperation Infrastructure Information System and the Advance Patient Registration Information System.
Starting in 2027, funding is also planned for the digitalisation of healthcare data held by healthcare institutions and the strengthening of data security. EUR 3 million is earmarked for this purpose next year, with plans to increase this amount in subsequent years.
Strengthening Financial Security
Alongside increased funding for healthcare services and medicines, plans are in place to further strengthen the financial resilience of the CHIF. In 2027, a total of EUR 103.1 million is expected to be added to the CHIF reserve. Of this amount, EUR 100 million will come from increased CHIF revenue, while EUR 3.1 million will be allocated from the state budget to replenish the portion of the reserve used previously.
At the beginning of the year, the CHIF reserve is projected to reach almost EUR 873 million. These funds ensure the ability to respond to unforeseen circumstances and maintain uninterrupted funding for healthcare services, even during periods of economic or other challenges.
The 2027 CHIF budget proposal will now be considered further by the Government before being submitted to the Seimas for approval.
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