EU/EEA citizens Should the need to provide medical care arise, a student from a member country staying temporarily in the territory of Poland is entitled to free health care on the basis of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
The student is obliged to present the card (it is advisable to have also a copy) together with an identity document directly to the health care provider. The student will receive free health services from health care providers who have concluded a relevant contract with the NFZ (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia – National Health Fund), the institution responsible for assuring health services for insured persons and members of their families in Poland. Facilities of these health care providers are marked with the NFZ logo:
Without the EHIC and an ID, the patient will be obliged to cover the costs of treatment by him/herself; the same applies to services provided by health care units which do not have contracts with the NFZ.
To consult a specialist, you need a referral from a physician with an NFZ contract. No referral is required to the following specialists: obstetrician, dentist, dermatologist, gynaecologist, oncologist, eye specialist, psychiatrist. Also in case of a sudden illness, accident, injury, intoxication or life threat a you will receive necessary medical treatment without a referral.
If you needed hospital treatment, a doctor’s referral would be required. A patient who presents a European Health Insurance Card receives free hospital treatment within the health care system.
Apart from the academic and public medical care system, there is also a well-developed private sector. The costs of medical care may be reimbursed if you have purchased a health insurance policy in your country before departure. A database of English-speaking doctors is available at our Admissions Office.
The students from non-EU/EEA countries should purchase health insurance in their home countries before departure. In case of the ISIC or Euro<26 cards, health care is covered by the insurance and you do not need to buy another policy unless you want to increase its scope or value. Erasmus students, on presenting the so-called legitymacja studencka – student card – issued by the host university, are usually allowed to consult doctors at academic medical care centres. However, according to state health regulations, foreigners (except the EU/EEA citizens, see above) have to pay for medical consultation. The cost is then reimbursed by the health insurance company. Apart from the academic and public medical care system, there is also a well-developed private sector. More information is provided on the NFZ website.
Non-EU students and EU students who do not have health insurance in their home country may sign an insurance agreement with the Polish National Health Fund (NFZ-Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia) and take out the insurance for the monthly fee of PLN37.80 (approx. EUR10). EU citizens must present the E104 form issued in the home country, certifying that the person concerned is not insured there and stating when the last insurance period had finished. Both EU and non-EU citizens must present:
- certification from a Polish Higher Education Institution (HEI) confirming their status of a student or PhD student
- student / PhD student ID
- passport or – EU citizens only – other ID card
- registration of residence, issued by the Office for Civil Affairs (Wydzia³ Spraw Obywatelskich, ul. M³yńska 4) of the Katowice district or – if the student stays at the university dormitory – certification from the Polish Higher Education Institution
- in case of the stay exceeding 3 months – PESEL (Polish Personal Identification number) issued by the Office for Administration and Civil Affairs (as above).