Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion

Bulgaria

Emergency

Ambulance

Национална здравноосигурителна каса
(National Health Insurance Fund)
Tel: +359 2 965 9116
Tel Hotline: 0800 14 800

 


Treatment, coverage & costs

Doctors (outpatient medical care)

  • Most doctors in Bulgaria have a contract with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF)
  • You should be able to obtain treatment by showing your European Health Insurance Card.
  • You will be charged a consultation fee of BGN 2.90 for outpatient medical care.
  • This fee is non-refundable.

Dentists

  • Most dental services are not covered.
  • If the dentist does not have a contract with the NHIF, you will be charged the full cost of the treatment.

Hospital treatment (inpatient medical care)

  • Hospital treatment in clinics or hospitals that have a contract with the NHIF is free of charge, provided that you show a valid European Health Insurance Card or provisional replacement certificate.
  • You should pay a standard daily fee (BGN 5.40) but not for more than 10 days per year for hospitalisation.
  • After being discharged, you are entitled to 2 further check-ups as part of the treatment linked with your hospitalisation.

Prescriptions

  • Medicine prescribed to you by a doctor who has a contract with the NHIF is available at a discount in pharmacies contracted by the NHIF. You can recognise such pharmacies by the NHIF logo displayed there.
  • To get expensive medicines prescribed for chronic illnesses at discounted price or free of charge you will need a 'prescription booklet'. You can get this through an NHIF contracted general practitioner. For this purpose you will have to provisionally choose a general practitioner.
  • If you have paid for medicine, contact your national health insurance provider to claim reimbursement when you get home.

Ambulance

  • Free of charge only in emergencies.

Doctors (outpatient medical care)

  • Most doctors in Bulgaria have a contract with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF)
  • You should be able to obtain treatment by showing your European Health Insurance Card.
  • You will be charged a consultation fee of BGN 2.90 for outpatient medical care.
  • This fee is non-refundable.

Dentists

  • Most dental services are not covered.
  • If the dentist does not have a contract with the NHIF, you will be charged the full cost of the treatment.

Hospital treatment (inpatient medical care)

  • Hospital treatment in clinics or hospitals that have a contract with the NHIF is free of charge, provided that you show a valid European Health Insurance Card or provisional replacement certificate.
  • You should pay a standard daily fee (BGN 5.40) but not for more than 10 days per year for hospitalisation.
  • After being discharged, you are entitled to 2 further check-ups as part of the treatment linked with your hospitalisation.

Prescriptions

  • Medicine prescribed to you by a doctor who has a contract with the NHIF is available at a discount in pharmacies contracted by the NHIF. You can recognise such pharmacies by the NHIF logo displayed there.
  • To get expensive medicines prescribed for chronic illnesses at discounted price or free of charge you will need a 'prescription booklet'. You can get this through an NHIF contracted general practitioner. For this purpose you will have to provisionally choose a general practitioner.
  • If you have paid for medicine, contact your national health insurance provider to claim reimbursement when you get home.

Ambulance

  • Free of charge only in emergencies.

Air ambulance

  • No information available.
  • No information available.

Reimbursement

Doctors

  • The consultation fee is non-refundable.

Dentists

  • If the dentist does not have a contract with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), you will be charged the full cost of treatment. The amount paid is not refundable by the NHIF.

Prescriptions

  • In Bulgaria, the patient co-pays towards the cost of most medication.
  • If you have paid for medicine, contact your national health insurance provider to claim reimbursement.

Patient contribution

  • You may have to make co-payments for services covered by health insurance (clinical tests, dental care, in-patient and out-patient services and prescription drugs) in cases where the NHIF does not cover the full cost.
  • A number of hospitals charge all their patients additional fees. Ask them to provide you with an invoice.
  • Going to hospital? Ask the hospital in advance whether there is any extra charge for your treatment and, if so, how much.
  • As a patient, you will have to pay any non-regulated surcharges and user charges. These cannot be reimbursed.
  • Examples of co-payments:
    • Standard fees for out-patient & in-patient care
    • Medical devices & supplies
    • Fee for choosing a doctor or medical team to treat you when receiving treatment as in in-patient treatment
    • Single/double room in the hospital
    • Specific dietary requirements

Dialysis, oxygen & chemotherapy

Dialysis

  • Chroniodialysis and peritoneal dialysis (Continuous Ambulatory Peritoneal Dialysis (CAPD), Automated Peritoneal Dialysis (APD) and dialysis treatment for acute conditions) are covered by the NHIF, provided that they are carried out in an NHIF-accredited hospital/dialysis clinic.

Oxygen therapy

  • The NHIF only covers continuous positive airway pressure (CPAP) and bi-level positive airway pressure (BiPAP), provided in a hospital accredited by the NHIF for such therapy.
  • This therapy applies only to patients with neuromuscular diseases who are suffering from chronic respiratory weakness and who have already been prescribed a programme of breathing support with non-invasive ventilation (CPAP or BiPAP). It allows respiratory support to be provided according to the patient's pre-diagnosed needs.
  • Information about the medical institutions that have contracts with the NHIF is available:

Chemotherapy

  • Chemotherapy may be provided in hospitals and cancer clinics accredited by the NHIF under outpatient procedures No. 5, 6, 7, 8, 38; or different clinical pathways depending on the type of disease. The 'clinical pathway' is a system of requirements and guidelines for medical specialists performing diagnostic and therapeutic procedures on patients with certain diseases requiring hospitalisation.

How do I apply for an EHIC?

Information about how to apply for the EHIC (in Bulgarian only)


Doctors & hospitals accepting the EHIC

All doctors and hospitals contracted by NHIF should accept valid EHICs.

N.B. According to the European legislation, the adoption of the EHIC is not mandatory for medical specialists. Often patients in the EU countries are forced to pay for their medical services. Upon return to the state of affiliation, they may apply for reimbursement.


Loss of card

Contacts for holders of EHICs issued in Bulgaria

Национална здравноосигурителна каса

Tel: +359 2 965 9116

Hotline: 0800 14 800

Email: euro-rights@nhif.bg; crossbordercare@nhif.bg

 

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