n Poland, you can be treated in the public health service (free of charge) or privately (then you must pay for healthcare services).

If you want to use healthcare services for free, you must be insured in the National Health Fund. Thanks to the NHF insurance, you can also use the services of private medical facilities, but such facilities must have a contract with the National Health Fund .

Public healthcare plans

Individuals entitled to the general insurance and healthcare services financed from public funds are defined by the law from 27 August 2004 on healthcare services financed from public funds. Every person who pays contributions to the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) is provided with health insurance in NFZ. If you are employed under a regular employment contract or a civil law contract (Polish: umowa zlecenie), your employer is obliged to pay your contribution for you. Employer reports all newly recruited employees to the Social Insurance Institution by filling in the application form called ZUS ZUA

Once you are registered, every time you visit a hospital or a clinic you will need to present some kind of ID (personal ID, passport or student ID), which will enable the staff to check your status in the system. Foreigners coming to Poland with their family have a right to add relatives to their healthcare plan. This applies to children (until they are 18 y.o.; or 26 y.o. provided they pursue higher education), spouses as well as parents or grandparents (if they reside in the same household).

It is also possible to join the state-run NFZ healthcare system if you are not employed or you are a student. You will need to present a written application along with your ID or student status confirmation. This option is paid (approximately PLN 50/month if you are a student) but guarantees wide access to numerous public facilities all around Poland

Private health insurance

In Poland voluntary or private health insurance is an insurance which enables one to receive free (or partially reimbursed by the insurance company) access to selected medical institutions and medical services depending on the insurance coverage. This kind of medical subscription is quite popular, especially among foreigners. Insurers develop an offer in cooperation with private institutions providing medical services under these su subscriptions.

It is very often your employer who may provide you with a medical package which is based on private healthcare services. It is a popular benefit in many companies, which may also allow you to insure family members as well once you cover some extra costs. Although it might require paying some extra money, many Poles choose this option, as it guarantees more comfort and reduces waiting times for getting an appointment. From a foreigner's perspective, it may be better to get a healthcare plan in a private medical facility, as their staff and doctors are usually able to provide services in English. In regular state-run hospitals and clinics, especially outside major cities, foreigners may still experience language barrier, although the situation is gradually improving

EHIC for Short Stay

What is the European Health Insurance Card?

A free card that gives you access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in any of the 27 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland or the United Kingdom under the same conditions and at the same cost (free in some countries) as people insured in that country. The benefits covered include, for example, benefits provided in conjunction with chronic or existing illnesses as well as in conjunction with pregnancy and childbirth.

Important – the European Health Insurance Card is not an alternative to travel insurance. It does not cover any private healthcare or costs such as a return flight to your home country or lost/stolen property, does not cover your costs if you are traveling for the express purpose of obtaining medical treatment, does not guarantee free services. As each country’s healthcare system is different, services that cost nothing at home might not be free in another country.

Please note: when you move your habitual residence to another country, you should register with the S1 form instead of using the EHIC to receive medical care in your new country of habitual residence.

Who can benefit from the card?

To be eligible for a card, you must be insured by or covered by a state social security system in any Member State of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. Each separate member of a family traveling should have their own card.

People from non-EU countries who are legally residing in the EU and are covered by a state social security scheme are also eligible for a card. However, nationals from non-EU countries cannot use their EHIC for medical treatment in Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.