Medical Care & Insurance

Every foreign student is obliged to purchase health insurance in the National Health Fund (NFZ); each student must be insured for the whole semester in advance. There are no exceptions to this rule in accordance with the ordinance of the Ministry of Education of October 12, 2006, Art.1, Point 2, Section 3, on foreigners undertaking and continuing studies and participating in scientific research and training. Students should submit a written application and attach certification of student status from the host university.

Wrocław NFZ Office:

Street: Dawida 2

Tel. (71) 797-91-31

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Documents required for Insurance:

  • National Health form (NFZ) + a copy;
  • proof of payment for insurance (any Post Office 46,80 PLN per month + 3,50 PLN Post Office charge);
  • 1 copy of 1st page (with photo) of passport;
  • 1 copy of a valid student’s card or a statement from university that you are an active student;

Health Insurance for Foreigners

GENERAL INFORMATION

Poland has the health care system based on general health insurance, and is financed by a State through National Health Service (in Polish “NFZ”). Insured people are entitled to obtain free health services in the territory of Poland. Rules of the general health insurance are provided in the Law from 23rd of January 2003 on the General Insurance in the National Health Fund (Official Journal 03.45.391, with amendments).

Obligatory Health Insurance gives the right to medical care which ensures health protection, disease and contusions preservation, early detection of illnesses as well as preventing disabilities. An insured person entitled to health care under EEA rules on coordination of social systems can receive health services in the following areas:

  • primary health care
  • specialist outpatient treatment
  • hospital treatment
  • dental treatment – nevertheless it is important to remember that most of the costs of dental care (mainly over standard services) are usually covered by an insured person from his own means. A list of free services is available in the dentist surgery
  • rescue services and ambulance transport
  1. Who has the right to access the State’s Health Insurance?

Foreigners employed in Poland have almost entire range of medical services ensured including specialist hospital treatment, surgical operations and stays in sanatoria. Medical insurance also covers emergency medical care, which ensures transportation to hospital.

Among those who have the right to access the State’s Health Insurance are expatriates who are staying in Poland on the basis of:

  • stay visa to perform work – provided in the Law from 13th June 2003 on foreigners (Official Journal nr 234, with amendments)
  • residence permits
  • temporary residence permits
  • refugee status granted in Poland
  • temporary protection on Polish territory

Additionally, non-obligatory insurance can be paid by:

  • undergraduate – and post-graduate students who study in Poland
  • graduates who are on obligatory itinerary in Poland
  • foreigners studying on polish universities, and those who have graduated from a university and must have compulsory trainings
  • students who are participants of doctoral studies
  • members of convents and alumni of theological seminaries, postulants, novice and juniors of convents and counterparts in Poland on the basis of visas, residence permits or temporary residence permits
  • foreigners who are learning Polish language or those who lead up to take on the studies in Poland

Another group concerns the foreigners who may have the citizenship of the other member state:

  • people who have the citizenship of other member state and live in Poland (article 9 of the EEC, Council Regulation number 1408/71)
  • foreigners having an adaptive training in Poland

Please note that health insurance also covers the members of families of the listed groups staying in Poland.

  1. How to apply for the voluntary health insurance?

For general medical care insurance you have to apply at the NFZ department appropriate to the right place of residence. For the application procedure you will need:

  • foreign students and participants of doctoral studies:
  • an application form (provided by NFZ Insurance Department or by International Office)
  • a copy of your passport
  • a copy of student's ID
  • a confirmation from the university (provided by International Office) that you are a student
  • members of convents and alumni of theological seminaries, postulants, novice and juniors of convents and counterparts in Poland on the basis of visas, residence permits or temporary residence permits:
  • an application form (provided by NFZ Insurance Department or by International Office)
  • a copy of your passport and/or visa
  • evidence of residence
  • certificate from the convent
  • foreigners having an adaptive training in Poland:
  • an application form (provided by NFZ Insurance Department or by International Office)
  • a copy of your passport
  • evidence of residence
  • contract on adaptive training
  • foreigners who are learning Polish language or those who lead up to take on the studies in Poland:
  • an application form (provided by NFZ Insurance Department or by International Office)
  • a copy of your passport
  • evidence of residence
  • contract on training

If the foreigner has all required documents, may sign the contract with National Health Fund.

  1. What should the person do after signing the contract?
  2. After signing the contract with Insurance Department, the person is obliged to report this fact to Social Insurance Institution (in polish “ZUS”) by filling appropriate form so called ZUS ZZA. The form is available in the seat of ZUS.
  3. Report the other members of family (if the insurance also covers them) by filling appropriate form so called ZUS ZCNA.
  4. pay regularly insurance premium to 15th day of the next month for the previous month
  5. the amount of the insurance premium may change every three months. Therefore, every insured person should update the amount of premium (according to changing basis).
  1. How to dissolve the contract?
  • by writing a resignation and sending the information to the Insurance Department
  • the dissolution is also possible after a monthly back pay
  • when insured person changes the place of residence outside Poland
  1. The rights of insured person

The right to insurance and health benefits is described in detail in the contract. The insured person receives an insurance card. However, it is important to notice if given public health institution, into which we are going for a specialist service, has signed an agreement for this service with NFZ.

  1. Insurance premium in 2010

The insurance premium amounts 9% of the basis.

2010 / January, February, March / April, May, June / July, August, September / October, November, December
The basis of the insurance premium / 3,456.61 zl
The insurance premium / 311.09 zl
the basis of the insurance premium for foreigners / 520.00 zl
The insurance premium for foreign students / 46.80 zl

The insurance premium should be paid onto ZUS account.

  1. Additional costs:

A person who has a monthly back pay and wants to be insured again, is obliged to pay amount in arrears. This sum depends from the time when the person was not insured.

2010 / January, February, March / April, May, June / July, August, September / October, November, December
20% of the basis of the insurance premium with the break from 3 months to 1 year / 691.32 zl
50% of the basis of the insurance premium with the break from over 1 year to 2 years / 1,728.31 zl
100% of the basis of the insurance premium with the break from over 2 years to 5 years / 3,456.61 zl
150% of the basis of the insurance premium with the break from over 5 years to 10 years / 5,184.92 zl
200% of the basis of the insurance premium with the break from over 10 years / 6,913.22 zł

Health Insurance for EU Foreigners

On the first May 2004 Poland have joined the European Union. That fact enables citizens from other member states to receive free medical help during a temporary stay in Poland.

Access to health care during a temporary stay in Poland

1) Students

The European Health Insurance Card - what's that?
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) replaced the former E11 since the 1st January 2006. At the moment the EHIC is the only valid medical insurance document on the European Union territory, as far as free medical care is concerned. The EHIC can be used to cover any necessary medical treatment due to either an accident or illness within the European Economic Area (EEA). The EHIC entitles the holder to state-provided medical treatment within the country they are visiting and the service provided will be the same as received by a person covered by the country's 'insured' medical scheme. Students should apply for this insurance card before they come to Poland. The application procedure is simple but it must be done in the health care units in the student's country of origin. If you are not sure whether the EHIC is provided, please consult your university's international office. In Polish the European Health Insurance Card is Europejska Karta Ubezpieczenia Zdrowotnego.

How does the EHIC work in Poland?

a. General practitioner
Go to a doctor who has a contract with the NFZ and show your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Primary health care comprises examination and consultation by a general practitioner. A doctor may also refer you to diagnostic tests, to a specialist or to a hospital. Dispensaries (health centers) are open from Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. After 6 p.m. on workdays, as well as on Saturdays, Sundays and on holidays 24-hour-care is provided by health units which have concluded contracts for this kind of services. They comprise out-patient care and home visits in case a patient's condition is serious. Addresses and telephone numbers of health units providing 24-hour-care are available in health care dispensaries.
In Polish "a dispensary" is "przychodnia"; "a pharmacy" is apteka; general practitioner is lekarz pierwszego kontaktu.

b. Consultation with a specialist
A general practitioner can give you a referral to a specialist. No referral is required to following specialists: obstetrician, dentist, dermatologist, venereologist, oncologist, eye specialist, psychiatrist. Note that free dental services are only available in the restricted scope. A list of free services and materials is available in the dentist surgery. You will have to cover the costs of over standard services and materials on your own. Polish citizens use mostly private dentist practices.

c. Hospital treatment with the EHIC
In case of a sudden illness, accident, injury, intoxication or life threat you will receive necessary medical benefits in hospitals without a referral. Go to a hospital which has a contract with the NFZ and show your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). During the stay in a hospital operations, diagnostic tests and medicines are provided are free of charge. In case of an accident, injury, childbirth, sudden illness or sudden deterioration of the state of health call an ambulance (dialing 999 or 112) or go directly to a hospital, in particular to an accident and emergency department (SOR). Ambulance transport in such cases is free of charge. Show your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).