How can
I
receive
medical
help
within
the scope of the public health insurance in case of a temporary stay on the
territory of Bulgaria
I WILL TRAVEL TO THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA.
I WILL STAY IN THE COUNTRY TEMPORARILY
In the Republic of Bulgaria the public health insurance is
performed by one health insurance fund – The National Health
Insurance Fund (NHIF). It is a public institution, which provides obligatory health insurance in the country and has 28 subdivisions in the regional central cities – regional health insurance fund (RHIF).
If I want to use the rights for obligatory health insurance, I have to use medical and dental care
only in health establishments for outpatient care, health
establishments for hospital care and independent medical and diagnostic
laboratories, which have concluded agreements with the National Health
Insurance Fund.
I don’t pay for the health services, provided to me from the package of the National Health Insurance Fund,
except for the consumer tax.
I HAVE
TO SUBMIT
A CERTIFICATE of
entitlement to benefits in kind
for temporary stay
in Bulgaria. This
may be a
European health
insurance card
(ЕHIC) or
a certificate provisionally replacing the EHIC.This documents
grant me entitlement
to immediately
necessary and necessary health care– i.e.
each type of
help, for which
the doctor decides
that depending on
the health condition
and the length
of stay cannot
be delayed until
my planned return
in the country
where I
live. If I
don’t possess
any of the
two documents, this
does not deprive
me of medical care In case of necessity they may be additionally acquired from
my health insurer.
It
is
recommendable
to
have
copies
of
EHIC
(or
the
Certificate
provisionally
replacing the EHIC), which I shall provide to the treating doctors.
I NEED EMERGENCY MEDICAL CARE
I call the center for emergency medical care (telephone 150) or turn for help to the health institution. I am examined and provided with medical help and in case of necessity I am transported to a
hospital.
I HAVE
A HEALTH
PROBLEM OF
WHICH IMMEDIATELY REQUIRES MEDICAL CARE
I turn for help to a
general practitioner (GP) from a health institution for first outpatient medical
care.
I have a proven health problem and plan to stay in Bulgaria for a period longer than 1
month, it is recommendable to temporarily select a GP from a health institution for first
outpatient medical care, who has concluded a contract
with the National Health Insurance Fund. For that purpose I shall fill in a registration form and present
it to the doctor, selected by me.
Information on the
addresses of the health institutions for first outpatient medical care, which
have concluded contracts with the National Health Insurance Fund where I can
select a GP, I shall receive in the relevant Regional Health Insurance Fund.
The general
practitioner examines me and in case of necessity prescribes me a certain
treatment. If he/she so decides the GP may:
·
Prescribe medicines for home treatment, fully or partially paid by the National Health Insurance Fund;
·
Issue a “Referral
for Consultation or for Conducting of a Cooperative Treatment” to a
relevant specialist;
·
Appoint conducting of additional
medical and diagnostic examinations with a “Referral
for Conducting of Medical and Diagnostic Activities”;
·
Issue a “Referral for hospitalizing” – in case that the treatment cannot be performed in the conditions of an outpatient medical care.
I NEED CONSULTATION WITH A SPECIALIST
I turn to a health institution for first outpatient
medical care. A general practitioner examines me and in case of necessity directs me for additional consultation with a
specialist. For that purpose the GP issues me a medical referral for consultation and conducting of cooperative treatment. The referral may be used for up to 30 calendar days following
its issuing.
With the referral I
go to a health institution for a specialized medical aid for outpatient care,
which I have selected. The specialist examines me and determines the further
treatment. If he/she so decides he/she may:
·
Prescribe medicines for home treatment, fully or partially paid by the National Health Insurance Fund;
·
Issue a “Referral
for Consultation or for Conducting of a Cooperative Treatment” to a
another specialized doctor;
·
Appoint conducting of additional
medical and diagnostic examinations with a “Referral
for Conducting of Medical and Diagnostic Activities”;
·
Issue a “Referral for hospitalizing” – in case that the treatment cannot be performed in the conditions of a medical aid for out patients
If the consultation with the specialist is not appointed by the GP or another specialist in compliance with the procedure described above and I wanted it done for me, I have to pay for the medical help provided to me under the prices of the health institution.
I NEED MEDICINES FOR HOME TREATMENT
In case that
medicines for home treatment are prescribed to me, which are fully or partially
paid by the National Health Insurance Fund, if the diagnosis determined concerns
a non-chronic disease, the doctor issues me a receipt form – sample MH-NHIF
No 5. I may get my medicines only from a pharmacy, which has concluded a contract with the
National Health Insurance. If the medicine is not subject to full reimbursement, I shall pay some additional amount for the part of its price, which is also paid by the Bulgarian citizens that possess health insurance.
If the medicines for the diagnosis determined are not paid by the NHIF, the doctor issues me a prescription form – sample
of the Ministry of Health (МH) and I can buy them in each pharmacy.
If I have a chronic disease, my planned stay in Bulgaria is longer than one month and I need medicines for home treatment, paid
by the NHIF for the relevant diagnosis I have to select a general practitioner. He/she shall prepare a “Prescription book of the chronically ill person”, which I have to verify at the RHIF. I may receive the medicines, prescribed to me from each pharmacy,
which has concluded a contract with the National Health Insurance Fund, which
is situated on the territory of the region from which I have selected a general
practitioner. The master-pharmacist from the pharmacy must be provided with the two copies of the prescription form, the prescription book, my identity document and a copy of the protocol for prescription of medicines – sample
MH-NHIF (in the cases when a protocol is required). If the medicine is not fully reimbursed, I pay in addition the part of the amount, which shall be paid by the Bulgarian health
insured persons.
From the general practitioner selected by me I can receive information for the medicines, which the NHIF pays fully or partially and also for the amount, which I have to pay to the pharmacy in addition.
If for the paid diagnosis the medicines are not paid by the NHIF, the doctor shall issue me a prescription book – sample МH
and I may buy them in each pharmacy. The expenses made may be reimbursed by my health insurer.
I NEED SOME MEDICAL AND DIAGNOSTIC EXAMINATIONS PERFORMED TO ME
I turn to a health institution for outpatient care.
A general practitioner examines me and makes me the required examinations with a
referral for medical and diagnostic examinations. With the referral I go to a medical and diagnostic
laboratory. The referral may be used for up to 30 calendar days after its issue.
If I don’t have a referral for medical and diagnostic examinations, issued by the general practitioner or a specialist in compliance with the procedure described above and I want them made to me, I shall pay for
the examinations in accordance with the prices determined by the health
institution.
I NEED DENTAL HELP
I may visit each doctor specialized
in dental medicine who has signed a contract with the National Health
Insurance Fund. For the activities, which are not fully paid by the National Health Insurance Fund I shall pay the required amount, in the same way in which the Bulgarian health insured persons pay for it.
I NEED HOSPITAL TREATMENT
The general practitioner, the specialized doctor, the doctor for dental medicine or the doctor from the center for emergency medical aid shall issue a referral for
hospitalization to me. With this referral
I may be admitted to a health institution for hospital
care, which has concluded a contract with the National
Health Insurance Fund for Treatment of the relevant disease.
The National Health Insurance Fund shall pay for my treatment and diagnosis under a clinical path.
Upon admission to the hospital I shall be informed about my disease, about the steps, which should be undertaken in the process of my treatment
and also about the necessity to pay additionally for certain consumables, if
required. I sign a declaration for informed assent.
My treatment under a clinical path includes no more than two control examinations after the release from the hospital.
OXYGEN THERAPY AND HEMODIALYSIS
In order to get access to those types of medical care
I have to do the following in advance - either me or my health insurance fund shall contact a health institution in Bulgaria, which provides them. After my admission to such a health institution is agreed and confirmed, I may receive oxygen therapy and hemodialysis during my stay in Bulgaria.
CONSUMER TAX FOR MEDICAL AND DENTAL HELP
For each visit
at the GP, a doctor specialized for treating out patients and a doctor
specialized in dental medicine I shall pay a consumer tax amounting to 1% of
the minimum wage for Bulgaria.
When I make tests, prescribed by my GP, a specialized doctor or a doctor specialized in dental medicine, in
the laboratory I pay:
·
A price for taking of biological material (the amount may not be higher than BGN 2 for one visit to the laboratory, in spite of the number of tests)
OR
·
A
consumer tax, amounting to 1% of
the minimum wage for Bulgaria.
For
each day of hospital treatment I pay a consumer tax, amounting to 2% of the minimum wage for Bulgaria. If I am treated in a hospital for more than 10 days within one year, I don’t pay a consumer tax
for my stay there after the tenth day.
For each paid consumer tax or medical service I shall require a financial document (a
cash receipt or invoice) for the payment made.
ADDITIONAL INFORMATION FOR THE VISITOR OF MOUNTAIN
RESORTS
If I visit the mountain
resorts in Bulgaria it is recommendable to make a medical insurance for
rendering first aid and transport according to the medical indicators in a case
of accident. This insurance is not included in the package for the obligatory health insurance.
IF I STAY IN BULGARIA FOR A LONG PERIOD OF TIME,
I need to have a certificate for registration of the Bulgarian health insurance
fund – NHIF, namely:
♦
Е 101 – for the applicable
legislation, concerning
people working
under labor
contracts or
self-employed persons,
residing in Bulgaria.
The form shall
be presented to
the National Social Security Institute (NSSI) for registration and starting of an insurance process according to the
work place in Bulgaria.
♦ Е 106 – for entitlement to sickness and maternity insurance
benefits in kind for person residing in a country other than the competent for
employed and self-employed persons and members of their families, which
accompany him/her.
♦
Е 109 – for registration at the NHIF of members of the family
that live in Bulgaria, separately from the member of the family, employed by
another member state.
♦
Е 121 – for registration in
the NHIF of
pensioners and
members of their families.
After the
registration at
the National Health
Insurance Fund/
the Regional Health
Insurance Fund
by virtue of
one of the
certificates mentioned
above, I have to select my general practitioner (GP),
in order to be included in the patient list of the
National Health Insurance Fund. After
that I may
receive medical
care like each
Bulgarian health insured person.
Detailed information may be
obtained at the following addresses:
National Health Insurance Fund
Central Management
++ 359 (2) 965 93
87;
Sofia
Health Insurance Fund (SHIF):
e-mail: sofia@nhif.bg
++ 359 (2) 965 67
76
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Blagoevgrad:
e-mail: blagoevgrad@nhif.bg
++ 359
(73) 88 300 475
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Bourgas:
e-mail: burgas@nhif.bg
++ 359
(56) 80 66 66
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Varna:
e-mail: varna@nhif.bg
++ 359
(52) 68 90 11
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Veliko Tarnovo
e-mail: tarnovo@nhif.bg
++ 359
(62) 61 12 52
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Vidin:
e-mail: vidin@nhif.bg
++ 359
(94) 609 824
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Vratsa:
e-mail: vraca@nhif.bg
++ 359
(92) 686 124
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Gabrovo:
e-mail: gabrovo@nhif.bg
++ 359
(66) 81 95 26
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Dobrich:
e-mail: dobrich@nhif.bg
++ 359
(58) 65 45 00
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Kardjali:
e-mail: kardjali@nhif.bg
++ 359 (361) 63 514
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Кjustendil:
e-mail: kiustendil@nhif.bg
++ 359
(78) 55 97 05
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Lovetch:
e-mail: lovech@nhif.bg
++ 359 (68) 68 81
15
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Montana:
e-mail: montana@nhif.bg
++ 359
(96) 39 61 51
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Pazardzik:
e-mail: pazardjik@nhif.bg
++ 359
(34) 40 21 05
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Pernik:
e-mail: pernik@nhif.bg
++ 359
(76) 64 92 85
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Pleven:
e-mail: pleven@nhif.bg
++ 359
(64) 88 25 77
Regional Health
Insurance Fund – Plovdiv;
e-mail: plovdiv@nhif.bg
++ 359
(32) 60 30 60
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Razgrad:
e-mail: razgrad@nhif.bg
++ 359
(84) 61 15 67
Regional Health
Insurance Fund – Ruse:
e-mail: ruse@nhif.bg
++ 359
(82) 88 61 73
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Silistra:
e-mail: silistra@nhif.bg
++ 359
(86) 81 21 44
Regional Health
Insurance Fund – Sliven:
e-mail: sliven@nhif.bg
++ 359
(44) 61 52 05
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Smoljan:
e-mail: smolian@nhif.bg
++ 359
(301) 670 44
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Sofia-district:
E-mail: sofia-obl@nhif.bg
++ 359 (2) 96 56
943
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Stara
Zagora:
e-mail: st.zagora@nhif.bg
++ 359 42 610 977
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Targovishte:
E-mail: targovishte@nhif.bg
++ 359 (601) 61 104
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Haskovo:
E-mail: haskovo@nhif.bg
++ 359
(38) 60 73 11
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Shumen:
E-mail: shumen@nhif.bg
++ 359
(54) 85 00 70
Regional
Health Insurance Fund – Jambol:
E-mail: iambol@nhif.bg
++ 359 (46) 68 50 68
