Another brand / Preference policy

Why am I getting a different brand?

There are several reasons why you may be getting a different brand than last time. The most common reasons are:

• Unavailable medication, see also medicine shortages.
• The preferred policy, also known as the preference policy, of your health insurer.
  see below for more explanation, or check your health insurer's website.

What health insurers have a preference policy?

Most health insurers have a preference policy.

• Zilveren Kruis
• VGZ
• CZ
• Menzis
• Zorg en Zekerheid
• ASR

What is the preference policy?

Patent expired
When a new drug is made, the manufacturer is given 10 years to recover the cost. The manufacturer is the only one allowed to make and sell this new drug. This is also called a "patent. The drug is then only available under the brand name. This is also called original or spécialité.

After 10 years, the patent expires. After that, other manufacturers may also make the drug. They then make the drug under the name of the drug itself: a unbranded or generic drug. Other manufacturers can offer the unbranded drug cheaper. This is because they have to spend less money on research and development.

Because unbranded medicine is cheaper, it makes healthcare cheaper and more affordable. The government checks that the unbranded drug works as well as the original. Only then are patients allowed to use it.

Preference policy
Most of the time, your health insurer decides which brand of medicine your pharmacy should supply to you. We call this the "preference policy. The brand of medicine preferred by your health insurer is called the 'preferred' medicine. Usually, your health insurer's preferred drug is unbranded and your pharmacy is then required to dispense this. Even if the doctor puts the brand name of the medicine on the prescription. Your pharmacist always assesses whether the unbranded medicine is appropriate for you.

The health insurance company will only reimburse the preferred medicine. An unbranded drug from another manufacturer your health insurer will not reimburse or not fully reimburse. Which drug is preferred may be different for each health insurer. Sometimes after a few months or a year, the health insurer chooses another preferred drug.

Sometimes your pharmacy may determine which brand of drug you get. For example, if your health insurer does not designate a preferred medication.

Medicine shortages
Sometimes a medication is not available at the pharmacy. This can be short or long. And sometimes your medicine goes off the market altogether.

If your medicine is unavailable, your pharmacist always looks for an alternative. Ideally, the pharmacist will choose another brand of medicine with the same active ingredient. If you are given another brand of medicine, your pharmacist will explain this.
Read more about medicine shortages.

Source: pharmacy.co.uk

Does another brand work the same?

Other brand medicine: looks different, but active ingredient is the same
An unbranded medicine is usually given the name of the active ingredient. Along with the name of the manufacturer. An example: omeprazole is an antacid. The active ingredient is omeprazole. The brand of medicine is called Losec. The unbranded version from manufacturer X is called Omeprazole manufacturer X. And the unbranded version from manufacturer Y is called Omeprazole manufacturer Y.

Effective ingredient and excipients
An unbranded drug always has the same active ingredient as the original brand drug. Thus, an unbranded drug works just as well as the original brand drug. However, it may contain other excipients. For example, it may contain wheat starch instead of corn starch. This usually does not affect the effect of the medicine. Very occasionally you may be allergic or hypersensitive to an excipient. Then it may be necessary to use another brand without this excipient. If this is so, you can discuss this with your pharmacist.

Another brand of medicine looks different
So another brand of medicine works just as well, but it may look different. Manufacturers get to decide what a drug looks like. So the color, shape, taste and packaging of one brand of medicine may be different from another brand of medicine.

Source: pharmacy.com

Why does the health insurer choose which brand I get?

If you get a different brand of medicine, you as a patient can also be cheaper. You always have a deductible with your health insurer, in 2023 it will be 385 euros. If the cost of your medication falls under your deductible, you will pay less if you use an unbranded medication.

Self choose another brand of medication
Do you insist on continuing to use your current brand of medication? Even though you are not allergic or hypersensitive to an excipient? You can, but you will then have to pay for the medicine yourself. Please let us know if this is what you want. The health insurance company will reimburse a different brand of medicine only if there is a very good reason for it.