Dear patient,

if you need information or help when the medical problems occur during your temporary stay in Poland contact with National Health Fund in Lodz. For further information you should contact directly with the Department of  International Cooperation.

Our phone numbers are: +48 42 275 49 40, +48 42 275 49 76, +48 42 275 48 22, +48 42 275 40 07
and the fax number: +48 42 275 49 12.

General information

Poland has the health care system based on general health insurance. Insured citizens 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 later amendments).

An insured person and family members are entitled to receive free health services from health care providers who have concluded relevant contracts with the regional branch of the National Health Fund (NFZ).

Access to health care in Poland during a temporary stay

On the 1st 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. An insured person entitled to health care under EEA rules on coordination of social security 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) is usually covered by an insured person from his own means. A list of free services and materials is available in the dentist surgery;
• rescue services and ambulance transport.

In case of a sudden illness, accident, injury, intoxication or life threat a person from a member state who stays temporarily in Poland, is entitled to free health care on the basis of  European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Replacement Certificate.

EHIC or Replacement Certificate give the same rights to receive a medical care within the territory of Poland. Those documents guarantee that the person is insured and is subjected to public health care system in other member state. A patient itself is obliged to have one of these documents during the temporary stay in Poland. A holder of the EHIC or Replacement Certificate will receive free health treatment from health care providers who have concluded a relevant contract with NFZ.

In case of lack of these documents or if the medical help was given by the doctor who has no  contract with NFZ the patient will be obligated to cover the costs of treatment by itself.
Prescribed medicines can be purchased in every pharmacy:

• for a lump-sum price (basic medicines and medicines made in the pharmacy),
• for 30 % or 50 % of the price of a medicine (supplementary medicines),
• for full price - in case of medicines which are not included in the reimbursed drugs list.

The most important thing is to remember that these rights have both the citizens of the member states and those who are in Poland temporarily.

The foreigners who live in Poland may subject to the voluntary insurance but on the condition that they do not have the citizenship of the member state. The groups of people who may sign the contract with the National Health Fund are:

• foreigners who stay within the territory of Poland on the basis of relevant cards (for example a resident card) or visas with the work permission and people who have the emigrant status which was given by the Polish authorities;
• foreigners studying on polish universities, those who have graduated from a university and must have compulsory trainings, foreigners who are participants of doctoral studies;
• foreigners - the members of convents (monks, nuns), postulants and probationers who stay in Poland on basis of relevant cards or visas;
• foreigners who are learning Polish language or those who lead up to take on the studies in Polish.

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

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

Taking into consideration this matter a person must apply for the voluntary insurance to the National Health Fund. If the foreigner has all the required documents, may sign the contract with the Fund. The family members of the foreigner, who is voluntary insured, should be entitled to his/her insurance. But under the condition that the members do not subject to any other public health care system. This possibility concerns only the family members of foreigner who stay in Poland on the basis of relevant cards or visas. There is no need to pay the premium double if there is for example one more person entitled to the insurance. The amount of the insurance premium may change every 3 months. Those who have voluntary insurance get the same rights and duties like all the other insured citizens of Poland.

In brief, the rest of the forms that are relevant to foreigners (citizens of member states) who stay in Poland (temporarily or permanently) are:

• E 106 - a certificate that concerns rights to receive benefits in kind on basis of maternity and health insurance for people living in other member state and working in another. The form E 106 may be issued for workers and those who pay the insurance premiums by themselves. Also a posted or a seasonal worker may receive the form. It does not have the validation date. Every form E 106 must be registered by the National Health Fund. The holders obtain the right to free health care services in all medical areas.
  
  
• E 109 - a certificate issued for a registration of the family members of a worker or a person who pays the insurance premiums on his own. The family members should live in other country than the worker does. They receive the access to medical health care system on the same basis as the citizens of Poland. There is a need to certify the form E 109 by the National Health Fund.
  
  
• E 112 - form that gives the right to receive planned medical care (for example to have an operation in other member state). In Poland an insured person can receive the form E 112 under conditions:
  • whether there is no possibility to have an operation or medical treatment in Poland;
  • if the waiting period for medical treatment is too long;
  • continuation of the previously begun treatmen.

The foreigner who is applying for such a form first must choose the hospital in Poland where he/she wants to cure himself/herself. The form E 112 indicates exactly a kind of operation or medical examination which will be given to the insured person.

• E 120 - a document confirming the rights to receive benefits in kind. The form is issued for people who apply for pension and for their family members. It is valid till the moment when the institution is able to give to the insured person the form E 121. Every form E 120 must be registered by the National Health Fund.
  
  
• E 121 - the form which is issued for the pensioners who want to move to other member state. It must be registered by the National Health Fund. It is compulsory to have domicile in Poland. The insured person should also have the identification number and relevant card. On the basis of the form E 121 the foreigner has the right to receive the same medical help as the citizen of Poland. The family members may also get the form E 121. The National Health Fund decides who is considered as a family member. In such a situation the Fund sends the request of issuing a separate form for a family member to other member state.

The mentioned forms (except the form E 112 and E 120) are usually issued right away.