Participation of foreign nationals in health insurance
Health care is largely provided on the territory of the Czech Republic on the basis of compulsory health insurance. Foreign nationals participate in public health insurance when they have permanent residence in the Czech Republic and, if it is not the case, when they are employed by an employer with registered office or permanent residence in the Czech Republic. In some cases the state pays the insurance contributions (for example, for children without means of subsistence up to the age of 26, old-age pensioners). Concerning employment, the employer pays in health insurance contributions 13.5% of the employee’s gross wage and the employee contributes one third of this, that is 4.5%.
Those who do not satisfy the conditions for participation in public health insurance and have no arrangement for reimbursement of medical expenses must obtain travel insurance. Difference between public and travel insurance are described in the next chapter.
Special categories of persons regarded by law as foreign nationals with a permanent residence permit:
- foreign national with a long-term residence permit for scientific research is considered for the purposes of reimbursement of health care a foreign national with a permanent residence permit;
- person enjoying subsidiary protection for the purposes of the provision of health care and employment is regarded as a person with permanent residence on the territory of the Czech Republic;
- an asylee has permanent residence on the territory of the Czech Republic for the period of validity of the decision on asylum;
- foreign nationals enjoying subsidiary protection are considered, for the purposes of the provision of health, foreign nationals with a permanent residence permit;
- foreign nationals born on the territory of the Czech Republic whose legal guardian resides on the territory of the Czech Republic on the basis of a permanent residence permit. The legal guardian is obliged to apply to the police within 60 days of the birth on behalf of the newborn foreign national for a permanent residence permit. If the application has been filed, the residence of the newborn foreign national is considered permanent residence from the moment of birth to the time when the decision on the application comes into force;
- persons seeking international protection and their child born on the territory of the Czech Republic and foreign nationals granted a tolerated stay visa and their child born on the territory. These persons are provided free health care within the scope of the care reimbursed from health insurance under Act 48/1997 Coll., and health care in connection with a compulsory quarantine or another measure related to the protection of public health; this does not apply if health care is assured according to Act 326/1999 Coll. on the stay of foreign nationals on the territory of the Czech Republic, as amended;
- foreign nationals who have been granted permission to reside in the Czech Republic to be provided temporary protection (Act 221/2003 Coll.), if they have no income from employment or self-employment.
Participation in the public health insurance system terminates on the day of:
- termination of permanent residence on the territory of the Czech Republic,
- death of the insured person or his/her being declared dead,
- termination of employment in the Czech Republic (persons without permanent residence in the Czech Republic).