The healthcare system in Poland is based on the principles of equal treatment and access to medical services. It is based on several general rules. These rules apply unless specific legislation or international agreements provide otherwise.
The National Health Fund (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia, NFZ) is the central institution responsible for managing public health care funds. It is the pillar of the entire health insurance system. National health policy is the responsibility of the Ministry of Health.
Foreign researchers and their families visiting and living in Poland have access to Polish state-funded health services:
As a general rule, all persons working in Poland based on an employment contract (pl. umowa o pracę) or a free-for-task contract (pl. umowa zlecenia), regardless of their nationality, are subject to compulsory health insurance. This means the employer pays the monthly insurance contributions at 9% of the salary base, deducted monthly.
For persons with a specific-task contract (pl umowa o dzieło), the employer is not obliged to cover their insurance. Therefore, They must take out insurance individually, either with the NFZ or a private insurance company.
In Poland, an insured employee must register his or her family members for health insurance coverage under the employment contract. Family members are children, spouses, parents, and grandparents, provided they live in the same household as the employee and do not have their own insurance title. Their personal details must be provided to the employer so that family members can be registered. If you change your employer, you will have to notify the new employer of your family members. No additional or higher contributions will be charged for adding family members.
DURING TEMPORARY STAYS/VISITS ON THE BASIS OF THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives you free access to necessary medical services when travelling temporarily in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland for tourism or work purposes.
It is a two-way card, which means that anyone covered by the state-funded National Health Insurance Scheme in Poland can obtain an EHIC - free of charge from the National Health Insurance Scheme office responsible for their residence.
However, it is essential to note that the EHIC entitles you to medical services under the same conditions as a resident of a particular country. This means that if a specific service is free in Poland, it may not be free abroad.
If you are moving to another EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you should get an S1 document instead of an EHIC to get health care in your new country of residence. An S1 entitles you to healthcare if you don't live in the country where you are insured. It can be helpful to for posted workers, frontier workers, pensioners and their family members.
To obtain the S1 document in Poland, you must apply to the NFZ. The document should be registered with the health insurance institution in your new country of residence.
Useful links:
https://www.euraxess.pl/poland/information-assistance/health-insurance-and-care
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