Right to salary compensation

RIGHT TO SALARY COMPENSATION

In addition to the right to health care, one of the rights from the compulsory health insurance is also the right to salary compensation based on temporary incapacity/disability to work.

If you are, for example, an employee employed by an employer based in another EU/EEA Member State/Switzerland sent to temporary work in Croatia, then temporary incapacity for work (sick leave) can be identified by the contracting primary health care practitioner in Croatia without your return to your home country for this purpose.

The same practitioner may also initiate your sick leave in case you work in another Member State and get sick during your private stay in Croatia.

If you are a Croatian insuree and you become ill during your stay in another Member State, a foreign doctor can open a sick leave for you. The same doctor should fill in form E116 (Medical certificate of temporary incapacity for work), which must then be handed over to foreign insurance at the place of residence in another Member State. The same foreign insurance will then submit the said form to the HZZO together with the form E115 (Request for financial benefits in case of incapacity for work). A foreign doctor may also issue you another certificate of temporary incapacity for work prescribed in the said country. You are obliged to inform your employer in Croatia and the Croatian Health Insurance Institute (HZZO) about open sick leave within the deadlines prescribed by Croatian regulations, and you are entitled to salary compensation in accordance with Croatian regulations.

MORE – Salary compensation during temporary incapacity for work | HZZO

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS

1. What kind of certificate will be issued by a Croatian doctor after the initiated sick leave?

A contracting primary health care practitioner who determined your sick leave will issue a certificate on temporary incapacity/inability to work, which you are obliged to deliver to your employer and the competent health care holder, within the time limits provided by the regulations of your home country.

2. Can a Croatian doctor issue other certificates?

Croatian physician may also, on your request, complete the E116 form (Medical certificate of temporary incapacity for work), which you can submit to your competent health care holder through the Croatian Health Insurance Fund.

3. In that case, what are my obligations upon the termination of my sick leave?

Upon the termination of your sick leave, you need to contact the Croatian Health Insurance Fund for the completion of E118 form, which will be sent to your competent health care holder.

4. Do I have the right to appeal to a decision on non-recognition or termination of sick leave?

In case of non-recognition or termination of sick leave, the Croatian Health Insurance Fund will issue a E118 form (“Notice of non-recognition or termination of incapacity for work”). In case you are dissatisfied with the decision indicated on the aforementioned form, you can submit an application for the issuance of a written decision to the competent regional office or branch office of the Croatian Health Insurance Fund and initiate an administrative procedure which will decide on your right to sick leave. You may file a complaint with the Directorate of the Croatian Health Insurance Fund within 15 days of receipt of the decision.

5. How can I obtain my right to salary compensation?

You can obtain your right to salary compensation in accordance with the regulations of your home country.