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
e-mail: wniosek_wr@nfz-wroclaw.pl
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 23 rd 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.
2.
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:
o an application form (provided by NFZ Insurance Department or by International Office)
o a copy of your passport
o a copy of student's ID
o a confirmation from the university (provided by International Office) that you are a student
o

o
o
o
o
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
o

o
o
foreigners having an adaptive training in Poland:
an application form (provided by NFZ Insurance Department or by International Office)
a copy of your passport
o
o
evidence of residence
contract on adaptive training
o

o
o
o
o
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.
3.
What should the person do after signing the contract?
o 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.
o Report the other members of family (if the insurance also covers them) by filling appropriate
form so called ZUS ZCNA.
o pay regularly insurance premium to 15th day of the next month for the previous month
o 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).
4.
How to dissolve the contract?

o
o
o
5.
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
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.
6.
Insurance premium in 2010
The insurance premium amounts 9% of the basis.
2010
January, February,
March
The basis of the
insurance premium
The insurance premium
April,
May,
June
July, August,
September
3,456.61 zl
311.09 zl
the basis of the
520.00 zl
insurance premium for
foreigners
The insurance premium 46.80 zl
for foreign students
The insurance premium should be paid onto ZUS account.
7.
Additional costs:
October,
November,
December
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
20% of the basis of the insurance
premium with the break from 3 months
to 1 year
50% of the basis of the insurance
premium with the break from over 1
year to 2 years
100% of the basis of the insurance
premium with the break from over 2
years to 5 years
150% of the basis of the insurance
premium with the break from over 5
years to 10 years
200% of the basis of the insurance
premium with the break from over 10
years
January,
February,
March
691.32 zl
April,
May,
June
July, August,
September
October,
November,
December
1,728.31 zl
3,456.61 zl
5,184.92 zl
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).