The first patients to benefit from breast implant reimbursement

Date

2022 05 18

Rating

The first women have benefited from the reimbursement of breast implants for breast reconstruction surgery, which was introduced by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF) this year. Specialists from the National Health Insurance Fund under the Ministry of Health (NHIF) are pleased that the new procedure for reimbursing implants significantly reduces the financial burden on patients and helps them to regain their self-confidence.

According to the data of the NHIF, in the first four months of this year, more than 64,000 euros from the CHIF were spent on inpatient treatment for reconstructive breast surgeries using implants, of which almost 17,000 euros were needed to reimburse the first 30 patients for breast implants and expanders.

"We are pleased that women who have lost their breasts due to cancer are slowly starting to benefit from the new implant reimbursement option. This is not only a significant financial support for patients who need breast reconstructive surgery, but also an emotional incentive for them to return to a normal life and to feel fulfilled," says Tatiana Golubayeva, Deputy Director of the NHIF.

She said that the innovation is expected to help not only those women who have already had their breasts removed due to cancer and need reconstructive surgery using implants, but also those who will have their tumour-damaged breasts removed and reconstructed during the same surgery, thus avoiding a repeat operation.

The Health Insurance Fund reimburses each breast implant and expander used in the patient's treatment at an average cost of €410. As these instruments are an integral part of the reconstructive surgery, this service is 100% covered by the CHIF and patients do not have to pay extra. Women also do not have to worry about the purchase of implants. The treatment facilities have to provide their own implants of the required quality.

The NHIF reminds women that until this year, the CHIF paid for breast reconstruction operations after breast removal. However, due to the high cost of implants, the reimbursement of the service did not fully cover all the related costs of the surgery. Therefore, from this year onwards, women who have lost their breasts due to cancer are reimbursed not only for the surgery, but also for breast implants.

Preliminary estimates suggest that around 300 women a year could benefit from breast implant reimbursement for breast reconstruction surgery after cancer surgery. It is estimated that this could require around €250,000 per year from the CHIF.

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