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29-07-2025

The National Health Insurance Fund reminds you about the possibility to use vital equipment at home

Iliustracija

Patients with certain chronic diseases who are covered by compulsory health insurance can rent medical devices for use at home: oxygen and artificial lung ventilation devices, simple or smart insulin pumps, infusion, and enteral feeding pumps. When this assistance is necessary, the health insurance fund may cover the rental costs.  

“The ability to use vital medical equipment at home rather than in a hospital greatly improves the quality of life for seriously ill people. Therefore, if a hospital’s medical council determines that these expensive devices are necessary for a patient’s home healthcare, the costs of renting them are reimbursed by the Health Insurance Fund from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund. This year, more than EUR 10 million from the fund is earmarked for this purpose,” says Giedrius Baranauskas, head of the Medical Devices Reimbursement Division at the National Health Insurance Fund. 

Currently, more than 3,000 people use medical aids at home, the rental costs of which are covered by the health insurance fund. Almost 60% of them use oxygen and artificial lung ventilation devices. For patients diagnosed with chronic respiratory failure, these devices help maintain respiratory function. This means that these people do not need to stay in hospital – they can live at home.   

Nearly 1,300 patients, including almost 600 children, currently use insulin pumps covered by health insurance. They are prescribed to people with type 1 diabetes, pregnant women and women planning to become pregnant for a period not exceeding one year when diabetes is uncontrolled, as well as to patients on the waiting list for islet transplantation. Continuous subcutaneous insulin injection helps these patients avoid sudden fluctuations in glucose levels. 

Infusion (pain) pumps are prescribed for people with cancer who experience severe or unbearable chronic pain that cannot be controlled by conventional means. They deliver medication continuously and accurately, allowing for effective pain control. Enteral feeding pumps are prescribed for patients who are unable to eat normally due to illness or injury and are fed through a special tube or stoma. They help to safely and evenly supply food. The costs of renting all these pumps can also be covered by the health insurance fund.   

“The health insurance fund covers 100% of the reimbursable cost of medical devices prescribed by a medical council. When artificial lung ventilation and oxygen equipment are required, a pulmonologist must participate in the council; if an insulin pump is necessary, an endocrinologist must participate,” explains G. Baranauskas.   

Patients who have a medical council conclusion that the device is necessary should contact companies that rent these devices and have a contract with the health insurance fund. The selected company signs a contract with the patient for the provision of the device, warranty service, ongoing maintenance, and the supply of replacement parts. Companies that have a contract with the health insurance fund must provide residents with medical aids without applying surcharges for technological features. 

More and more funds from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund are being allocated each year to compensate for the costs of renting medical equipment. Over four years, the amount used for this purpose has doubled: from EUR 3.3 million in 2021 to EUR 6.6 million last year.  

The NHIF invites you:

Last updated: 11-08-2025

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