People who do not have mandatory health insurance in Poland can purchase voluntary coverage through NFZ. However, if their break in paying contributions lasted at least three months, they must pay an additional upfront fee. The amount ranges from 1855 to 9278 zlotys, and in extreme cases it can reach 18,500 zlotys.
Voluntary health insurance gives access to all publicly funded medical services on the same terms as mandatory insurance. According to a report in „Rzeczpospolita”, this option is available to residents of Poland who are not covered by compulsory insurance – for example because they do not work, are self-employed but do not qualify for ZUS, or have lost their previous entitlement.
The crucial catch is the additional fee. Anyone who applies for voluntary insurance after a gap of at least three months in paying contributions must settle this charge before signing the contract with the local branch of NFZ.
Who can get voluntary health insurance?
Voluntary insurance is designed for people living in Poland who are not subject to mandatory health insurance. The list includes, among others, unemployed individuals not registered with the labour office, students over 26, and certain foreign workers. Once enrolled, they enjoy the same scope of benefits as insured employees.
However, the system includes a penalty for those who have let their insurance lapse. If the interruption lasts three months or more, the applicant is required to pay an extra amount before the agreement becomes effective.
How is the extra charge calculated?
„The amount of the fee depends on the average salary in a given quarter and the length of the break in paying contributions,” explains „Rzeczpospolita”. The base is a percentage of the average quarterly wage in the enterprise sector. For breaks of less than three months no extra payment is required. For longer gaps the fee is:
– for 3 to 6 months: 1855 zlotys,
– for 6 to 12 months: 4639 zlotys,
– for more than 12 months: 9278 zlotys.
In exceptional circumstances – for example after a very long period without coverage – the maximum additional charge may reach 18,500 zlotys, which equals the equivalent of three months’ average salary at the upper limit.
How to pay the extra charge
The entire sum must be transferred to the account of the relevant regional branch of NFZ before the voluntary insurance contract is concluded. Only after the payment is confirmed does the coverage begin. The regular monthly premium – currently around 600 zlotys per month – is then due separately.
„Rzeczpospolita” notes that the extra charge is a one-time financial hurdle, not a recurring cost. People who maintain continuous voluntary insurance without further gaps will not face the fee again.
Ministry of Health figures show that the number of people opting for voluntary insurance has grown steadily in recent years, partly because many informal workers want to secure access to public healthcare. The extra payment can strain a household budget, especially for those who have been uninsured for years and face the highest charge.
Źródło: WNP.PL, Fot. PAP/Paweł Supernak
