Iceland Health would like to remind of changes to the co-payment system for medicines that will take effect on January 1, 2026.
On the one hand, changes will be made to payment levels, but Iceland Helath co-payment will also be based on use according to the medication manufacturer's recommended maximum dose

Changes in the co-payment of medication costs

The proportional patient co-payment has decreased significantly in real terms, while health insurance expenditures have increased significantly. The aim of the changes is to respond to the growing public expenditure on pharmaceuticals while also protecting individuals from high costs, as well as certain groups, i.e. the disabled, the elderly and children.

The change will add a level to the co-payment system, so there will be four instead of three. The maximum co-payment for patients per year remains unchanged, so that as in the current system, general payers will not pay more than 62,000 kr. per year and disabled people, the elderly and those under 22 years of age will pay a maximum of 41,000 kr. Payment periods in effect at the end of the year will not be adjusted and individuals will complete them unchanged. However, anyone who starts a new payment period in 2026 will pay according to the new system.

In the first stage, the individual pays for the medicine in full, in the second stage, he pays 40% of the price of the medicine, in the third stage, he pays 15% of the price of the medicine and in the fourth stage, 7.5%. When the cost of the medicine has reached a certain maximum, which is 62,000 kr. for general payers and 41,000 kr. for discount groups, the medicine in question is fully paid for by the Health Insurance for the remainder of the period.

More detailed information about changes in the co-payment of medication costs can be found on the Government's website in a news release from September 26, 2025.

Stjórnarráðið | Breytingar á greiðsluþátttöku í lyfjakostnaði um næstu áramót (ice.)

Co-payment is based on the recommended maximum dose

Iceland Health co-payments will be based on use according to the drug manufacturer's recommended maximum dose. After the change, there will be no co-payment for doses that exceed the recommended maximum dose. The new arrangement will take affect on January 1, 2026. Medication usage forming the basis for assessing whether the maximum dose has been reached, will be calculated from that time. As of April 1, 2026 co-payments for the portion that exceeds the recommended maximum dose will cease.

Iceland Health has compiled responses to the main questions regarding the changes: Greiðsluþátttaka miðast við ráðlagðan hámarksskammt | Sjúkratryggingar (ice).