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Croatia international health insurance / Croatia Healthcare System |
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Croatia is located in Central-Southeast Europe, sharing its borders with Bosnia and Herzegovina, Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia and Montenegro. It has a population of 4.4 million people. Croatia has developed as a nation since the ending of the conflict with Serbia in 1996, and now has a strong tourism industry.
Since gaining independence in 1992, Croatia has developed as a nation, with an expanding economy and planned accession into the European Union (EU). However, Croatia is still reforming key structural elements of government; this includes state pensions, state subsidies, privatization of the state portfolio and the Croatian healthcare system. The planned entrance into the European Union (EU) – expected by 2011 – should result in accelerated fiscal and structural reform.
The standard of healthcare in Croatia is generally good, with the better quality healthcare services present in the cities and larger towns. However, the standard of healthcare services in outlying areas and islands is more limited, but is still regarded as adequate. The Croatian healthcare system has severe budgetary issues, which can affect the supply of medication in publicly run healthcare facilities in Croatia.
The Ministry of Health (MoH) in Croatia has the role of steward of the healthcare system, with a wide brief. This includes governing healthcare legislation, budgeting, monitoring heath status and healthcare needs, the education of healthcare professionals and overseeing the Croatian healthcare system reform process. As part of the stewardship role, the Croatian MoH has been given the task of implementing the Government adopted National Health Strategy covering the 2006-2011 period. Since 2006, the Croatian health sector has been tackling the accessibility, fairness and equality of the healthcare system, which feature in the overall strengthening of the Croatian health sector. The Croatian National Health Strategy established the need to make primary healthcare more efficient, which in return is planned to ameliorate the over burdening of the secondary and tertiary healthcare services. This is aimed at solving 80% of medical cases at the primary healthcare stage. The reform of the Croatian health sector is also planned to improve the financing of the health sector and to assist in making the healthcare system more efficient and fair.
The financing of the Croatian healthcare system is derived from various sources. Croatian health insurance contributions are compulsory for all employed citizens in the country and for employers. Dependents of a working family member will be covered for Croatian health services by contributions made by the family member. Self-employed workers in Croatia are also required to make contributions towards health insurance. Citizens of Croatia who are categorized as vulnerable are exempt from contributing to health insurance; groups such as pensioners and low income earners will still have access to state-run healthcare facilities. Co-payments towards healthcare services also provides funding for the MoH. Croatian citizens can also obtain private health insurance to give them full coverage for health services in the event that referral for specialized medical treatment is not obtained under the state funded system.
Croatian citizens are required to make co-payments to access health services, although the contribution requirement is limited as roughly 80% of Croatian patients are exempt from payment of fees. In addition to co-payments, patients in Croatia are required to pay in full for certain health services provided by health institutions in the country. This includes dental care, specialist medical consultation services, private polyclinic services and services in some special state-owned hospitals. Part of the Croatian National Strategy is to review and reform the basis of patient contributions for certain health services.
Primary healthcare services in Croatia are delivered through health centres, emergency care centres, home care centres and pharmacies in Croatia. Each municipality in Croatia has a health centre which provides primary health serves to patients through a network of general medical consultations delivered by general practitioners. The Croatian health centers are responsible for providing emergency medical care, diagnostic services – laboratory and radiological – and public health services, which includes hygiene. In rural and remote areas of Croatia, health centres are supervised by hospitals to provide specialist outpatient care, although there are limitations on in-patient and maternity care that can be provided.
General practitioners (GPs) in Croatia require payment for health services and normally expect cash payment up-front before providing a patient with medical treatment. There is a high number of GP's working in the Croatian health sector who are trained in trauma care, but in some cases GP's are not so well trained in general practice when compared to the standards of doctors working in other European countries. GPs will refer patients for secondary or tertiary care in Croatia should they need it, which will provide the patient with free medical access to public run hospitals or polyclinics.
Privately run health facilities managed by doctors and nurses have a strong presence in the Croatian healthcare system. There are also diagnostic facilities and pharmacies which are privately run, which are often better supplied than publicly run pharmacies in Croatia. The privately run health facilities will normally rent space from the government owned health centres. Also, the private practice must meet certain criteria set by the Croatian MoH, which includes a minimum number of registered patients and must offer a minimum range of health services.
Secondary and tertiary healthcare services in Croatia are delivered by hospitals in the cities and larger towns. Hospitals are divided into general and specialist hospitals. General hospitals have facilities for obstetrics and gynaecology, internal medicines, surgery and in-patient paediatric care. Specialist hospitals in Croatia are organized around specific diseases, chronic illnesses or population groups. Croatian hospitals are designed to meet in-patient and out-patient needs and provide ambulatory services.
The Croatia healthcare system also includes sanatoria (spas) facilities, which are designed to provide health services based on natural elements such as water, mud, sand or sea in connection with physiotherapy and massage. These facilities are designed to provide preventative healthcare and rehabilitation for Croatian patients.
Publicly run polyclinics provide specialist consultations, diagnostic and rehabilitation health services in Croatia; they are linked to general hospitals. The Croatian health sector has seen a growing number of polyclinics over the last decade. Patients require a referral from a registered GP in Croatia in order to access a polyclinic.
When Croatia becomes a member state of the European Union – which is expected to occur in 2011 – it is likely to receive funding from the EU to assist in financing the health sector in the country. Croatia's healthcare system is expected to receive financial benefit, with extra capital to improve the health sector and the delivery of health services to Croatian citizens. Flaws still remain in the existing Croatian healthcare system, but the National Health Strategy 2006-2011 aims to strengthen the Croatian health sector and provide equal and fair access to health services for all Croatian citizens by ensuring wider health coverage.
Croatia's healthcare system does have reciprocal health agreements in place with some European countries, which entitles member countries citizens the right to certain health services while in Croatia. However, it does to give a patient from an affiliated European country all medical treatment free of charge. It is still highly recommended that any foreign national visiting or residing in Croatia obtains Croatian international health insurance to give them full medical coverage while in the country.
If you are visiting Croatia with a pre-existing medical condition it is advisable to take an adequate supply of medicines due to the possibility that medication may be in limited supply in Croatia. In private or public pharmacies, a person can obtain prescribed medications, but may have difficulties in obtaining a repeat prescription. Therefore to avoid any difficulties it is sensible to obtain sufficient medication from your doctor before traveling to Croatia.
If you are planning to participate in adventure activities while in Croatia – such as rock climbing or diving – it is important to ensure you have the correct international health insurance for Croatia giving you full cover for medical services. It is also important to ensure you have air ambulance services included in your private health insurance for Croatia, as these medical services can be extremely costly.
Tick-borne encephalitis (TBE) is a common problem in certain areas of Croatia; it is normally spread by infected ticks. If you plan to walk, trek or rock climb in Croatia, you are increasing the risk of exposure to contracting TBE and, in these circumstances, it is recommend you consult with a doctor to receive the appropriate vaccination to immunize you from infection.
Even though the Croatian healthcare system is in the process of reform and healthcare services are in line with general European standards, there are limitations outside the main cities and towns. In the outlying regions of Croatia health services are restricted in the medical care they can deliver to a patient. This should be borne-in-mind if you are planning trips through or spending long periods in rural areas.
All foreign nationals are required to pay for healthcare services provided in Croatia. Even if your home European country has a reciprocal health agreement in place, there will be certain charges towards health services. As a visitor to Croatia, healthcare services can be expensive, and in the case of complex and prolonged medical treatment, costs for medical services may increase dramatically. Visitors to Croatia, who do require medical treatment, can be satisfied that the standard of health service is good, especially in the cities and larger towns, where healthcare facilities are generally equipped to meet the majority of patients’ needs.
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Croatia international health insurance |
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If you are looking for peace-of-mind knowing that medical costs will be covered in case of an accident or illness, to yourself and your family, while traveling to or residing in Croatia, an international medical insurance plan will be the ideal solution. Policies can be tailor-made to ensure all your needs are met while in Croatia. Should you require further information on Croatia and global medical insurance, or to receive a free quotation, please do not hesitate to call one of our expert advisers now. |
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