Health Insurance in Poland: A Guide for Migrants

When moving to a new country, it is essential to ensure access to medical care, even if you are in good health. For those relocating to the EU — and Poland in particular — having health insurance is a mandatory requirement for obtaining a visa or a temporary residence permit.

Healthcare in Poland is partially free and financed through contributions from insured individuals. In this article, we explain in detail how the NFZ works and what it is, how it differs from ZUS, and what conditions a foreigner must meet to participate in the public health insurance system.

Previously we discussed renting an apartment in Poland.

Poland has a dual healthcare system: a public one, managed by the National Health Fund (NFZ) and, alongside it, a network of private medical service providers. Both operate nationwide and are available to foreigners depending on their legal status.

Switching between public and private insurance is allowed at the individual’s discretion — unlike in Germany, you don’t need to reach a certain income level. Most Polish residents use the NFZ and supplement it with private packages when needed.

Most medical forms and online portals are available only in Polish. To register or book an appointment, you may need help from a friend who speaks the language or use an online translator. Services adapted for English-speaking expats are more commonly found in clinics partnered with private insurers than in public hospitals.

In discussions about mandatory health insurance in Poland, two abbreviations often appear: NFZ (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia, National Health Fund) and ZUS (Zakład Ubezpieczeń Społecznych, Social Insurance Institution). Since these organizations are closely linked, foreigners may confuse them. Let’s clarify the responsibilities of each.

What does ZUS do?

What does NFZ do?

Thus, there is no separate “ZUS insurance.” The issuing and management of health insurance policies is handled by the NFZ, and public health insurance in Poland is referred to as NFZ. The alternative to NFZ is private insurance.

Throughout the article, the term PESEL will appear — this is an identification number assigned to all residents, including Polish citizens and foreigners staying in the country for more than 30 days. The PESEL number is required for administrative, legal, and financial matters. In particular, it confirms a person’s right to receive medical care under their insurance.

You can obtain a PESEL number at the local municipal office; the electronic version is free, while a paper document may require a fee.

Citizens of EU countries have the simplest path — with an EHIC policy or by being covered through the healthcare system in their home country, they can use their existing insurance in Poland via forms S1 or S2. If they plan to stay in Poland long-term, they can later register with the NFZ.

Non-EU immigrants are required to have valid health insurance for the entire duration of their stay in Poland — otherwise, they will not be able to obtain a visa or a temporary residence permit. All international students must also secure insurance for the full period of their studies. The policy must cover all potential medical expenses, including emergency care and hospitalization.

Foreigners who come to Poland to work under an employment contract are automatically enrolled in the NFZ through their employer. Private insurance may be needed for the period between arrival in the country and the employer’s first NFZ contribution (approximately 90 days). After that, private coverage is used in a hybrid mode as an additional option to cover the client’s individual needs.

The National Health Fund (NFZ) is the only provider of public health insurance in Poland. Unlike in Germany, where clients can choose their insurer, in Poland, once a person enters the NFZ system, the only alternative is switching to a private policy.

9% of a person’s income is deducted each month and transferred to the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS), which then allocates the funds to the National Health Fund (NFZ). For students and unemployed individuals, the contribution is fixed at 55 PLN per month. For entrepreneurs, the amount of the contribution depends on the chosen taxation system.

The money collected from citizens allows NFZ branches to provide insured individuals with medical assistance, diagnostic tests, and hospital care throughout Poland.

Self-employed persons, students, or sole proprietors who wish to be covered by NFZ must register voluntarily and pay contributions themselves.

If an employee takes unpaid leave for more than 30 days, according to Article 174 of the Labour Code, they lose the right to health, social, and pension insurance under NFZ. Students may continue using a discounted policy for up to 4 months after completing their education.

The national healthcare system operates on a gatekeeping model. You cannot book an appointment with a specialist without first receiving a referral from your primary care doctor (a general practitioner you are assigned to). In Polish, these doctors are referred to as POZ physicians — Podstawowa Opieka Zdrowotna, meaning primary healthcare.

The government does not assign a general practitioner automatically, so you must register with a specific doctor at a clinic that has a contract with the NFZ. POZ doctors are available in most public hospitals and many private medical centers. To register, visit a suitable clinic and fill out a registration form at the reception. If the chosen doctor does not meet your needs, you may switch to another one. Changing your POZ doctor is allowed up to three times per year.

After the COVID-19 pandemic, teleconsultations became widely used in Poland. They are suitable when your concern can be addressed remotely or if you need a prescription renewal. Booking a teleconsultation follows the same procedure as booking an in-person visit.

Most specialists and procedures under NFZ require a referral. This requirement is not for making an appointment, but for ensuring that the National Health Fund covers the cost of the visit. You can see a specialist without a referral, but without private insurance you will need to pay for the visit yourself.

There are exceptions — specialists who may be consulted directly, without a GP referral. These include a gynecologist, oncologist, psychiatrist, dentist, and, in cases of urgent dermatological issues, a dermatologist.

Most POZ doctors speak at least some English, but reception staff are likely to speak only Polish. If needed, bring a friend as a translator or look for public clinics recommended by expatriates for their English-speaking staff.

Public health insurance covers the costs of visits to a general practitioner, hospitalization, vaccinations, emergency care, appointments with specialists upon referral, and certain dental services. Diagnostic tests and various surgical procedures are also included. In some cases, patients may even be eligible for state-funded rehabilitation stays in health resorts.

If a patient is unable to travel to a medical facility, primary care doctors may conduct home visits.

Patients with chronic illnesses (such as diabetes, asthma, and others) are entitled to regular free consultations, referrals for tests, and certain medications. Under new government programs, patients may also be assigned a dedicated care coordinator for chronic disease management.

Although many medications in Poland can be purchased over the counter, an electronic prescription (e-recepta) is required in order to receive reimbursement for prescription drugs. After the consultation, the doctor sends the prescription directly to the system. To purchase prescribed medicine at a pharmacy, you need your passport or PESEL number.

NFZ fully or partially covers many medications. Depending on the category of the drug, patients pay a co-payment ranging from 3 to 50 PLN.

Patients are also entitled to reimbursement for medical devices. These include prostheses, orthopedic braces and supports, wheelchairs, canes, crutches, walkers, orthopedic shoes, infusion systems for personal insulin pumps, adult diapers, catheters, and other equipment. A prescription for such a device can be issued by a doctor — sometimes by a nurse, physiotherapist, or another authorized professional.

The reimbursement order for a medical device is issued for a period from 1 to 12 months. Medical equipment can be purchased in pharmacies and stores that have contracts with the National Health Fund. Patients may choose products within or above the reimbursement limit. Each certified supplier must offer at least one item in every category whose price does not exceed the state reimbursement limit.

If you’re unsure whether your employer has registered you in the public healthcare system, visit the electronic services platform of the Social Insurance Institution (eZUS). Create or log into your account. Under the “Medical insurance data” tab, go to “Insurance and payers.” There you can check whether your employer is making NFZ contributions.

Doctors and pharmacists verify a patient’s right to public healthcare through the eWUŚ system, which updates daily based on information from ZUS and the Agricultural Social Insurance Fund. If eWUŚ displays your name in red by mistake, you must submit a written statement confirming your insurance status and attach supporting documents, such as a certificate from your employer. Submit the request to your local NFZ branch.

If you change jobs, be sure to ask your new employer to register your non-working family members in the NFZ.

Holders of ZUS insurance can access medical care in other European countries by obtaining a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The card is free — you only need to fill out an application (for tourists or employees abroad) and submit it to any NFZ office.

Likewise, holders of EHIC from other countries can receive necessary medical care while traveling in Poland, but only to the extent required for urgent health needs.

EHIC is not valid outside the European Union — for medical assistance beyond the EU, private travel insurance is required.

If a person does not have official employment in Poland or private insurance but wishes to join the public healthcare system, voluntary health insurance is available. To participate in the NFZ on a voluntary basis, one must have an income (or another legal and stable source for paying monthly contributions).

Voluntary coverage works the same way as mandatory insurance: the same services are available, and the contribution rate is also 9% of income (except for entrepreneurs — for self-employed individuals the contribution amount depends on the chosen taxation method). Details about the contribution rates can be found on the official website.

A guide for Polish entrepreneurs on how to correctly calculate healthcare contributions is also recommended for review.

Students benefit from preferential terms — their monthly NFZ contribution is 55 PLN.

The registration process includes the following steps:

1. Download the application form and fill it out.

2. Prepare any documents confirming your ability to pay monthly contributions.

3. Visit your regional branch of the National Health Fund or one of its local offices to sign the voluntary insurance contract.

4. If applicable, pay the opłata dodatkowa (an additional fee), which depends on the duration of the gap in healthcare coverage and ranges from 1,770.82 to 17,709.22 PLN.

5. Submit the NFZ contract to your local Social Insurance Office to complete your registration in the system.

A physical NFZ card is not issued to voluntarily insured individuals. Proof of insurance consists of a copy of the contract and confirmation of the most recent monthly payment. It is also possible to make medical appointments and obtain medications using only your PESEL number or passport.

The private healthcare system offers users several advantages, such as significantly shorter waiting times compared to the public sector, English-language services for those who have not yet learned Polish, and often more modern medical equipment. Comprehensive insurance providers such as LuxMed, Medicover, and Enel-Med are very popular in Poland and operate clinics across the country.

Foreigners can visit private clinics and pay for services out of pocket, or they can purchase a monthly or annual private health insurance policy.

The level of coverage under private health insurance in Poland depends entirely on the user’s needs: the more services included, the higher the price of the policy. Private companies have several advantages over the public system. First, there are no queues and access to specialists is much faster. Second, you can book an appointment directly with the doctor you need, without going through a POZ referral. For issues requiring prompt attention, a private policy is often indispensable.

Let’s finish our guide to the Polish healthcare system with a few practical tips.

1. Be prepared for long waiting times — appointments with public healthcare specialists are often booked months in advance.

2. When picking up prescription medications, always bring your PESEL or passport.

3. Large pharmacy chains (DOZ, Gemini, Super-Pharm) often employ English-speaking staff, and prescription medications can sometimes be ordered online.

4. If you require long-term treatment, ask your doctor to issue a prescription covering 3–6 months.

5. To find English-speaking doctors, search for lekarz po angielsku in NFZ clinics in major cities.

6. NFZ only covers emergency dental care; children and pensioners are treated for free. Adult patients typically purchase private dental insurance.

Despite the complexities of the local healthcare system, most foreigners who come to Poland on an employment contract are registered in NFZ automatically and rarely need to think about arranging insurance themselves. However, sooner or later, you may need to send money home — as a gift or to support family members.

The Korona app allows you to send money transfers to more than 60 countries worldwide. This trusted and reliable service is appreciated by users for its simple and intuitive interface, fast and easy transfer process, and almost instant delivery. Another advantage is one of the lowest transfer markups on the market.

Korona is available for download in the App Store and Google Play.

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