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Health

Ochranný limit

protective limit for medicine top-ups

What does “Ochranný limit” mean in Czechia?

Protection Limit — the yearly maximum you pay for prescription medicine. Anything over this amount is free for you.

Limits 2026

  • 5,000 CZK — adults
  • 1,000 CZK — children under 18 and people aged 65+
  • 500 CZK — people aged 70+ and some people with disabilities

What counts

  • only eligible co-payments for partially covered prescription medicine
  • DO NOT count: vitamins, food supplements, over-the-counter drugs

🆕 How it works in 2026

The limit is calculated online through eRecept: if you go over the limit, the co-payment is removed directly at the pharmacy, instead of being returned quarterly as before. The limit resets every January.

Important. The limit resets every January. This means large medicine expenses that go across the New Year will be counted in two separate years. And remember: all over-the-counter medicines, vitamins, and food supplements do not count towards the limit at all.

Examples of use

SK
The protection limit for seniors over 65 years old is 1,000 CZK per year.
The protection limit for people over 65 years old is 1,000 CZK per year.
SK
Over-the-counter medicines are not included in the protective limit.
Over-the-counter medicines are not counted towards the protective limit.

Frequently asked questions

What is the protection limit for an adult?
5,000 CZK per year. For children under 18 and people 65+ — 1,000 CZK, for 70+ and some people with disabilities — 500 CZK.
Are vitamins counted?
No. Only započitatelné doplatky (eligible co-payments) for partially covered prescription drugs.
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