State support for health expenses for ex-combatants entered a new phase in 2026 and started to have more concrete effects when it comes to collecting medicines from the pharmacy. After a transitional period in 2025, the regime provided for in the Ex-Combatant Statute is now fully applied to retirees who meet the legal conditions for access to these medicines.
The rule is already in full force: former combatants who are pensioners are entitled to 100% of the portion not covered by the SUS for medicines. This right arises from article 16-A of the Ex-Combatant Statute, added by , a diploma that also determined staggered application, with 50% in 2025 and 100% from January 1st of this year.
Ordinance No. 372-C/2024/1, which defined the conditions for access and operation of the regime, establishes that, from 2026 onwards, the State supports the entire non-reimbursed portion of the covered medicines, under the terms provided for former combatants who are pensioners.
In practice, this means that support is no longer limited to half of the installment paid by the user, as was the case last year. Now, for reimbursed medicines that are not included in a homogeneous group, the additional reimbursement is calculated on 100% of the public sale price of the medicine, covering the entire portion that remained unpaid after reimbursement from the SNS.
When the medicine belongs to a homogeneous group, the logic changes a little. In these cases, the maximum support amount is calculated based on the reference price of that group. If the chosen medicine has a higher price than the reference price, the retired ex-combatant may have to pay the difference; if it has the same or lower price, the benefit can translate into zero cost at the pharmacy.
It also clarifies that this regime is not limited to generics. The benefit covers subsidized medicines, including non-generic medicines included in homogeneous groups, as long as they meet the legal conditions.
How to access
Access to the benefit depends on electronic prescription. The ordinance determines that the prescription must contain express mention of the regime, approved by the prescribing doctor. Even so, while the adaptation of the systems is not completed, the law allows, on an exceptional and temporary basis, that the benefit can also be applied to prescriptions without this mention, as long as the user is duly registered in the National User Registry and the prescription meets other legal requirements.
Another important point is that it is not necessary to present the Former Combatant Card at the pharmacy to access this regime. According to official clarifications, it is enough to present the medical prescription, and the reimbursement conditions are checked at the time of dispensing the medicine based on the system records.
The ordinance itself provides that the defense, health and welfare areas automatically communicate the data necessary to identify beneficiaries and their respective pensioner status. It is up to the General Directorate of National Defense Resources and pension paying entities to identify ex-combatants who can benefit from this support.
What’s left out
This regime applies to former combatants who are pensioners in the case of medicines reimbursed by the SUS. Non-pensioner ex-combatants, on the other hand, do not benefit from this full coverage: for them, the law provides for an increase to 90% of the co-participation only for psychotropic medications.
Widows of former combatants are not covered by this additional reimbursement scheme for medicines provided for in the ordinance, although they maintain the exemption from moderating fees provided for in the Former Combatant Statute.
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