Healthcare
Poland — Healthcare: Average Costs
Poland covers insured residents through the NFZ, foreigners can buy voluntary NFZ insurance, and EU/EFTA visitors use the EHIC.
VerifiedGovernment / official sourceNational Health Fund (NFZ) and Gov.pl — health insurance for foreignersLast reviewed: 2026-10-23
Key facts
- Publicly funded care is available to third-country nationals who are insured within the NFZ, mandatorily (such as through employment) or voluntarily.
- A foreigner legally resident and not under mandatory insurance can buy voluntary NFZ insurance at the regional branch; one source listed PLN 646 a month (possibly outdated).
- Non-public providers are free only if they hold an NFZ contract.
- EU/EFTA visitors use the EHIC for necessary unscheduled care, and scheduled treatment abroad needs an S2 form.
Steps
- Shopping for private health insurance — Foreigners in Poland may need to purchase private health insurance to cover certain medical expenses, especially those not covered by public insurance.
- Determining costs for a specific medical procedure — Since detailed information on average healthcare expenses in Poland is hard to find, it's essential to consult multiple sources and possibly contact healthcare providers directly to determine costs for specific procedures.