National Health Fund (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia)

EU students

The European Health Insurance Card – what’s that?

EHIC is the only valid medical insurance document on the European Union territory, as far as free medical care is concerned. The EHIC can be used to cover any necessary medical treatment due to either an accident or illness within the European Economic Area (EEA). The EHIC entitles the holder to state-provided medical treatment within the country they are visiting and the service provided will be the same as received by a person covered by the country’s ‘insured’ medical scheme.
EU students should apply for this insurance card before they come to Poland. The application procedure is simple but it must be done in the health care units in the student’s country of origin.
In Polish the European Health Insurance Card is “Europejska Karta Ubezpieczenia Zdrowotnego”.

How does the EHIC work in Poland?

1. General practitioner
Go to a doctor who has a contract with the NFZ and show your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Primary health care comprises examination and consultation by a general practitioner. A doctor may also refer you to diagnostic tests, to a specialist or to a hospital. Dispensaries (health centers) are usually open from Monday to Friday, from 8 a.m. to 6 p.m. After 6 p.m. on workdays, as well as on Saturdays, Sundays and on holidays 24-hour-care is provided by health units which have concluded contracts for this kind of services. They comprise out-patient care and home visits in case a patient’s condition is serious. Addresses and telephone numbers of health units providing 24-hour-care are available in health care dispensaries.
In Polish “a dispensary/ medical centre ” is “przychodnia”; “a pharmacy” is “apteka”; “general practitioner” is “lekarz pierwszego kontaktu”.

2. Consultation with a specialist
A general practitioner can give you a referral to a specialist. No referral is required to following specialists: obstetrician, dentist, venereologist, oncologist, psychiatrist. Note that free dental services are available only in the restricted scope. A list of free services and materials is available in the dentist surgery. You will have to cover costs of over standard services and materials on your own. Polish citizens use mostly private dentist practices.

3. Hospital treatment with the EHIC
In case of a sudden illness, accident, injury, intoxication or life threat you will receive necessary medical benefits in hospital without a referral. Go to a hospital which has a contract with the NFZ and show your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). During stay in a hospital operations, diagnostic tests and medicines are provided free of charge. In case of an accident, injury, childbirth, sudden illness or sudden deterioration of the state of health call an ambulance (dialing 999 or 112) or go directly to a hospital, in particular to an accident and emergency department (SOR). Ambulance transport in such cases is free of charge. Show your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

International students from outside the European Union

International students who come from non-European countries need to have, , a private insurance which was required for the visa application. This TRAVEL MEDICAL INSURANCE must be valid in the Schengen area and for the entire duration of stay; the TMI's minimum coverage is 30.000 euro and it must cover costs of any emergency medical treatment and repatriation for medical reasons as well as in case of death repatriation of the deceased). But this insurance covers mostly only accidents and does not cover general practitioner’s consultation. For a general medical care insurance you have to apply in the NFZ department.
Wrocław University of Science and Technology pays NFZ (National Health Found) health contributions for the students who have a valid Pole's Card or documented Polish origin. After signing the contract with the NFZ student should deliver it to the dean's office.

NFZ details in Wrocław:
NFZ Insurance Department
gen. R. Traugutta st. 55
50-416 Wrocław

NFZ insurance costs 55,80 PLN per month and with it you can use the free medical care on the same rights as Polish citizens. For the application procedure you need:
- an application form (provided by NFZ Insurance Department) - If you need help in filling in this form contact: studentsupport@pwr.edu.pl
- a copy of your passport
- a confirmation from the Wrocław University of Science and Technology that you are a student.
What should be done to receive confirmation of student status?
Students who pay for their studies - write an e-mail to: studentsupport@pwr.edu.pl
Students studying for free - contact your Dean's Office.