Poland’s health system is based on a universal healthcare model, primarily funded through mandatory health insurance contributions. This system is largely public, with private healthcare services also available as an alternative or supplementary option. Here’s an overview of how it works:
1. National Health Fund (NFZ)
- The public healthcare system in Poland is managed by the National Health Fund (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia, or NFZ).
- NFZ is funded by compulsory health insurance contributions from citizens, usually deducted from salaries.
- All insured residents of Poland have access to free medical services through the NFZ, including general practitioner visits, specialist consultations, hospital treatments, and some medications.
2. Primary Care Providers (PCP)
- Patients typically register with a primary care provider (PCP), who serves as the first point of contact for medical issues.
- PCPs can refer patients to specialists if more specific care is needed.
- Most PCP visits are covered by the NFZ, though patients may experience long waiting times for appointments.
- For conditions requiring specialized care, the PCP is responsible for issuing referrals to specialist services. Without this referral, patients may not be able to access specialized NFZ-covered care, except in certain exempt categories like gynecology, psychiatry, and oncology.
3. Specialist Care and Referrals
- Access to specialist care generally requires a referral from a PCP, except for emergencies or in the case of certain specialties, like gynecology or psychiatry.
- There can be long waiting lists for specialist services, as demand often exceeds available resources in the public system.
- In recent years, the NFZ has aimed to reduce wait times for specialist care by increasing funding for certain specialties, improving coordination between PCPs and specialists, and enhancing the use of telemedicine consultations, especially in rural or underserved areas.
4. Pharmaceuticals and Medications
- Medications are partially subsidized by the NFZ, with certain essential drugs available at reduced costs.
- Some prescriptions may require out-of-pocket payments, depending on the drug’s status within the NFZ reimbursement list.
- Pharmacies are widely available, and patients must present prescriptions from licensed healthcare providers to obtain certain medications.
- For individuals with chronic illnesses, Poland’s healthcare system offers a “chronic disease” designation, which provides further subsidies for medications needed to manage these conditions.
Overall, these components play a crucial role in Poland’s healthcare system, each addressing different aspects of patient care and resource management within a publicly funded structure. The system aims to provide accessible, affordable healthcare, though some limitations, like waiting times and medication access, present ongoing challenges.
Contribution Rates for Employees and Employers:
- Old-Age Pension Insurance (Emerytalne): Total rate of 19.52% of the assessment base, split equally between employer and employee (9.76% each).
- Disability Pension Insurance (Rentowe): Total rate of 8% of the assessment base, with 6.5% paid by the employer and 1.5% by the employee.
- Sickness Insurance (Chorobowe): 2.45% of the assessment base, paid entirely by the employee.
- Accident Insurance (Wypadkowe): The rate varies between 0.67% and 3.33%, depending on the employer’s industry and size, and is paid entirely by the employer.
- Labour Fund (Fundusz Pracy) and Guaranteed Employee Benefits Fund (Fundusz Gwarantowanych Świadczeń Pracowniczych): Combined rate of 2.45% for the Labour Fund and 0.10% for the Guaranteed Employee Benefits Fund, both paid by the employer.
European Health Insurance Card
This is a free card that allows you to access necessary state healthcare during a temporary stay in any of the 27 EU countries, as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom, under the same conditions and at the same costs (in some countries, free of charge) as people insured in that country. It covers benefits provided in connection with chronic or pre-existing conditions, as well as pregnancy and childbirth.
These cards are issued by your national health insurance provider.
