Using healthcare in the Republic of Croatia
Healthcare in the Republic of Croatia – Introduction
Temporary stay in Croatia
If during a temporary stay in the Republic of Croatia, a person is the beneficiary of compulsory health insurance in another Member State of the European Union (EU), the European Economic Area countries (EEA), Switzerland or the United Kingdom of Great Britain and Northern Ireland (UK) healthcare services will be provided to that person in the same way as to the insured person of the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (hereinafter: CHIF). Her competent institution for health insurance shall bear the cost of the services provided to a person.
Temporary stay in Croatia includes staying here on private business (tourism, visiting relatives, etc.), temporary work, professional training or education to which you referred to by your employer from another Member State, official business, studying in Croatia and every other short-term stay.
During the temporary stay in Croatia, a person is entitled to the necessary health care, based on the European Health Insurance Card (or EHIC) or a Provisional Replacement Certificate of the EHIC. Necessary health care can be utilised in health care facilities and physicians in Croatia, that have entered into a contract with the CHIF for providing health care on the basis of the Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the coordination of social security systems (basic regulation, hereinafter: Regulation 883/2004) and the Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 of 16 September 2009 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 (hereinafter: Regulation 987/09).
Based on the Directive 2011/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011 on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare (hereinafter: Directive 2011/24/EU), it is possible to utilise healthcare services in the private healthcare facilities, as well as with private physicians in Croatia. However, the total cost of utilising private healthcare services shall be borne by the person utilising the health care services.
Residency/permanent stay in Croatia
In the event that you have a permanent residence in Croatia, and health care is realised at the expense of the competent institution for health insurance of the other Member States of the EU/EEA/Switzerland/UK, healthcare you will use in the same way as the other insured person in Croatia.
Retired persons
If a persons receive their pension in another Member State of the EU/EEA/Switzerland/UK, and live in Croatia, they are entitled to full health care in Croatia providing that their competent institution for health insurance in the country where they are receiving their pension has issued an S1 form or an equivalent, electronic, SED form S072. An S1 form or SED form S072 must be delivered to the competent regional or branch office of the CHIF in the place of residence in Croatia. The competent institution for health insurance in the country in which the person is receiving her pension will issue the EHIC card needed for utilising the necessary health care in other Member States of the EU/EEA/Switzerland/UK.
Employed and self-employed persons, as well as cross-border workers
If a person has a permanent residence in Croatia, and is employed by an employer with its headquarters in another Member State of the EU/EEA/Switzerland/UK or is self-employed in one of these countries, the compulsory health insurance status shall be determined in the country of employment/self-employment.
But, due to the residency in Croatia, the person shall be entitled to full health care in Croatia, the cost of which shall be borne by the competent institution for health insurance in the state of employment/self-employment, providing that the mentioned institution has issued her an S1 form or an equivalent, electronic, SED form S072. Issued form must be delivered to the competent regional or branch office of the CHIF in the place of residence in Croatia. The competent institution for health insurance shall also issue them the EHIC card.
Persons temporarily employed in Croatia
Should an employer with headquarters in another Member state of the EU/EEA/Switzerland/UK refer a person to Croatia for temporary employment, and the person has acquired residency in Croatia, she will be entitled to apply for the issuance of an S1 form from her respective insurance.
Issued an S1 form must be delivered to the competent regional or branch office of the CHIF in the place of residence in Croatia. Based on it, the person will be entitled to full healthcare services in Croatia. The competent institution for health insurance shall also issue the EHIC card.
Planned treatment in Croatia
To exercise the right to planned treatment in Croatia, the cost of which shall be borne by the competent institution for health insurance in home country, it is necessary to contact the competent institution for health insurance.
Last update date: 01.02.2024.
