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HEALTH CARE

Insured persons of contracting states

If you are insured within the compulsory health insurance in one of the contracting states and temporarily reside in Croatia for private or business reasons, you can exercise health care within the scope of your work contract, and on the basis of the certificate of the right to health care abroad issued by your health insurance holder.

In case that the health insurance holder of another contracting state has issued you a certificate of the right to health care due to your place of residence in Croatia when, for example, you receive a pension from another contracting state or are insured through a member of your family who is employed in another contracting state, you can realise the right to full health care in Croatia at the expense of the competent health insurance holder of another contracting state.

In the same way Croatian insurees exercise the right to health care during their stay in other contracting states.

MORE – Contracting States | HZZO

 

Citizens of non-contracting states

Citizens of non-contracting states that have regulated the status of compulsory health insurance in the Croatian Health Insurance Fund are entitled to health care in Croatia as well as other insured persons in the Croatian Health Insurance Fund.

QUESTIONS AND ANSWERS:

1. How is the right to health care provided to insured persons of other contracting states who reside in Croatia for private reasons?

In order to be able to use the healthcare services in Croatia when needed, it is recommended that persons who have obtained a certificate of their right to use health care from their health insurance holders from abroad are advised to substitute this certificate for the health insurance certificate in the Croatian Health Insurance Fund.

Based on the health insurance certificate issued by the HZZO (CHIF), it is possible to use health care directly in health care institutions and with doctors who have a contract for providing health care services with the HZZO. In exceptional circumstances, e.g., in the event of an emergency, it is possible to use health care services on the basis of their certificate of the right to health care.

2. What if a person does not have the said certificate?

If a person is not in possession of the provided certificate of the right to health care, in the case of a long-term or hospital treatment, they must contact the regional service or office of the HZZO in their place of residence in Croatia, and this service or office will request the subsequent issuance of the certificate of the right to health care from its competent foreign holder.

3. How can workers of other contracting states temporarily employed in Croatia exercise their right to health care?

Workers sent from another contracting state to temporary work in Croatia can use health care on the basis of a certificate of the right to use health care issued by the competent health insurance holder in their home country. They exercise their right to health care in Croatia on the basis of the same certificate, in the scope prescribed by particular contracts.

Obtained certificates have to be replaced by health care certificates at the Croatian Health Insurance Fund.

The list of concluded contracts with the names of certificates on the right to health care, as well as the scope of rights can be found at the link Contracting States | HZZO

4. What if my health care in Croatia was charged to me despite the obtained health care certificate?

In case of charged costs, you need to contact the competent health insurance holder in your home country with the request for reimbursement of costs. For this purpose, it is necessary to keep the original invoice of paid health care costs, as well as all relevant medical documentation.

5. Will the period of my health insurance in another contracted state be taken into account when exercising certain rights in Croatia?

Yes. The period in which you were enrolled in a compulsory health insurance in another contracting state prior to your arrival to Croatia will be taken into account when you exercise certain health insurance rights subject to a specified period of previous compulsory health insurance.

Migracije