GovWire

Anyone living in Croatia for more than 3 months must have health insurance.

Healthcare is not free in Croatia. As well as insurance contributions, youll need to pay something towards the cost of any medical treatment. This is called a co-payment.

UK nationals usually access the Croatian healthcare system in one of these ways:

• paying contributions to the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO)
• using a UK-issued GHIC or EHIC for temporary stays when studying, or as a posted (detached) worker
• registering a UK-issued S1 form with HZZO (see UK-funded healthcare: getting and using an S1 form in Croatia below)

Healthcare if you live and work in Croatia

If you are planning on moving to Croatia, see the guidance on Living in Croatia for more information about visa and residency requirements.

You must show proof of healthcare cover:

• before you can register as a resident
• when you apply for a visa

For details about the healthcare cover required for residency applications, contact local authorities in Croatia or the appropriate Croatian embassy or consulate in the UK.

You must register as a resident if you plan to stay in Croatia for more than 3 months.

You must pay health insurance contributions to the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO), which funds the healthcare system.

Healthcare is not free in Croatia. Youll also need to make a co-payment of 20% of the cost of any medical treatment you receive. The maximum youll pay for a single treatment is 530.88 euros.

Most people in Croatia take out supplementary health insurance with HZZO to cover their co-payments.

Some people are entitled to free supplementary health insurance for example, if youre disabled, a student or on a low-income.

You may be entitled to a Croatian EHIC for travel, including visits to the UK.

You may also have the right to apply for a UK S1 if you start drawing a UK State Pension (see UK-funded healthcare: getting and using an S1 form in Croatia below).

How to register for healthcare

You first need to register as a resident.When youve applied for your permit, youll get a letter that proves youre applying to be a Croatian resident.

Take this letter to your local HZZO office within 8 days to register to pay your health insurance contributions.

If youre employed or self-employed, youll make monthly contributions. These are calculated annually and based on the average salary. Theyll be deducted from your salary by your employer or accountant.

If youre not working, you must pay HZZO a fixed single amount of around 700 euros each year for annual health insurance.

Your dependants will be covered by your insurance. They also need to register with HZZO.

Once youve registered, youll get a letter confirming your insurance, and an insurance card. The card can take up to 3 months to arrive.

If you need any healthcare while youre waiting for your card, show your insurance confirmation letter to prove that youre entitled to healthcare.

You need to register with a GP or paediatrician for children. They are your first point of contact for accessing healthcare. Find a healthcare provider registered with HZZO.

How to access healthcare services

Find your nearest hospital or clinic on this GOV.UK webpage.

How much youll pay

Basic state health insurance does not cover the full cost of medical care. You need to pay 20% of the cost. This ranges from 1.32 euros to 530.88 euros for a single treatment.

For example, youll pay 1.32 euros for a GP appointment.

If you have supplementary health insurance, you do not have to pay the 20% co-payment. Supplementary insurance costs 10 euros to 40 euros a month.

Basic prescription medicine is free. Youll have to pay for other medicines, unless youre covered by supplementary insurance. Your doctor can tell you when and how much youll have to pay for any prescribed medicine.

Emergency healthcare is usually free. Youll need to pay for any follow up treatment.

Dental care is covered by state healthcare insurance although many people use private dentists in Croatia.

If your UK employer has sent you to Croatia temporarily (posted workers)

A posted worker, also known as a detached worker, is someone employed or self-employed in the UK, but temporarily sent to a European Economic Area (EEA) country.

UK posted workers can access healthcare in Croatia using a GHIC, EHIC or S1 form.

HMRC has a helpline for National Insurance enquiries from non-UK residents. They can answer questions about posted worker status and explain which documents you will need to get healthcare while posted.

UK-funded healthcare: getting and using an S1 form in Croatia

There is different guidance if you have an S1 as a posted worker (see If your UK employer has sent you to Croatia temporarily (posted workers) above).

You may be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK if youre a resident in Croatia and receive a UK State Pension or an exportable benefit. See Planning your healthcare abroad on the NHS website for more information about eligibility.

You may also be entitled to an S1 form if youre a frontier worker (someone who works in one state and lives in another). You must contact HMRC National Insurance enquiries to find out if youre eligible.

Once you have an S1 form, you must register it on the Croatian system.

This will mean you and your dependents will be entitled to healthcare in Croatia on the same basis as a Croatian citizen.

Youll also get:

• a UK-issued GHIC or EHIC for travel
• planned treatments in other EU countries

You can find out more about using your GHIC or EHIC abroad and the rules on planned treatments in other EU countries on the NHS website.

Dependants and family members may be classified differently in Croatia than the UK.

Check with the local authorities when you register your S1 form.

View the original news story