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Poland Expat Health Insurance / Healthcare System News |
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Poland healthcare is based on a general health insurance system. The healthcare system is divided into state and private. The public healthcare system is funded in two ways, through Government subsidies and also through compulsory individual contributions to the state healthcare insurance scheme. The amount of an individual’s contribution varies according to income and status. Foreigners immigrating to Poland without jobs must produce proof of private health insurance in order to obtain residence permit.
The healthcare system in Poland is based on the principles that it guarantees to provide insured persons with, i) free access to health services at their choice of service provider, ii) equal treatment to residents, iii) compulsory contributions to healthcare for persons receiving a salary, iv) Government subsidies for citizens not receiving a salary and v) the use of private or public care for an additional charge.
Under public healthcare, most of the medical services are covered, including treatment by GPs and specialists, diagnostic examinations, hospitalisation, emergency care, prescription medicine and surgical appliances, dental treatment (routine checkups), pregnancy and childbirth and rehabilitation.
The standard of medical care in Poland is considered adequate, although hospital facilities are of a lower standard when compared with many Western countries. For foreign nationals who are not covered by the national insurance scheme, some doctors may required immediate cash payment. To ensure that your medical costs are covered, it is therefore an advantage to put in place a Poland health insurance plan.
Medical staff in Poland are very well trained. However, the monthly salary for a general doctor is approximately US$460 while the average monthly salary for a nurse is about US$390. Comparing to the UK, on average, a GP and a nurse earns approximately US$18,000 and US$ 2,000 respectively depending on their experience and specialty. As a result, in Poland, there is a trend for young health workers to emigrate to other countries, especially those with the knowledge in other foreign languages.
Widespread corruption in the Polish healthcare system is also a problem. Medical care bribery can occur between patient and doctor or between patient and hospital staff. Patients pay bribes to ensure quality care, to guarantee access to hospital treatment, to skip long waiting queues for operations and even to obtain sick-leave certificates for their employers. Since doctors are poorly paid, many patients give them a gratuity for their services, this is in terms of money as well a bottle of wine or a box of chocolates.
Corruption exists even when it involves the dead body of a patient. Funeral home often pay healthcare workers to inform them when a patient dies, so that they can offer their services immediately to the devastating family members. Corruption also occurs between doctors and pharmaceutical firms, between pharmaceutical firms and Ministry of Health officials and between private clinics and National Health Fund staff.
Although on the surface level, the healthcare services in Poland appear to be adequate, one is unsure of the extent on the hidden corruption costs and consequences lead by corruption. Whilst travelling or living in Poland, it is therefore important to ensure that you and your family members are fully protected by medical and health insurance.
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Poland Expat Health Insurance |
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Globalsurance is a one-stop insurance brokerage service provider for you when travelling to Poland. Expat health insurance policies that we offer can meet your individual needs, including benefits such as dental, maternity, inpatient, outpatient, specialist consultations and many others Contact our professional advisers today if you would like to know more about Poland, Expat Health Insurance for yourself and your family, or to get a free expat health insurance quote.
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