Updated: July 2010

Health insurance in Croatia includes basic, additional and private health insurance. Basic health insurance is mandatory and consists of the right to health care and the right to financial benefits. The right to various financial benefits includes compensation of salary during sick leave (including maternity leave) and transport costs incurred when using the health services. Additional and private health insurances are voluntary insurances with a beneficiary contributing a monthly insurance premium.

Health care for foreigners in the Republic of Croatia should be provided under the same conditions as for Croatian citizens. However, for now it mostly depends on each case individually. The important fact to note is whether the country of origin has or has not signed the Agreement on Social Security with the Republic of Croatia.

If such an Agreement has been signed and the foreigner is validly insured in his/her home country, then this insurance is also valid in Croatia. If there is no such Agreement, or the foreigner is not insured in his/her home country, then he/she bears his/her own health care expenses in Croatia (unless they have health insurance on some other grounds). A foreign researcher can become insured at the Croatian Health Insurance Institute after receiving the temporary stay permit.

The Croatian Health Insurance Institute establishes the minimum amount and rate of contributions. The basis for payment by foreigners (who do not have obligatory insurance on a different basis) of health insurance contributions has been changed to the average monthly salary x 35% x health contribution rate of 15%.

Health insurance is also an obligatory condition to the approval of temporary residence in the Republic of Croatia for foreigners who are not residing in Croatia for the purposes of scientific research.

Getting health insurance
Before coming to the Republic of Croatia, foreign citizens are advised to check with the health insurance authority in their country of origin whether there exists an agreement on health insurance between the Republic of Croatia and their country of origin. In case such an agreement does exist, their local health insurance authority must issue a document on the basis of which the foreigner will be entitled to medical protection while in Croatia. In case such a document does not exist, foreign citizens may procure a health insurance policy by the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance (HZZO) in the following way:

- upon arrival they need to register at the police administration/station, where they shall be issued a registered number;
- on the basis of this number the HZZO office will register the person on temporary evidence and issue relevant confirmation, which entitles the foreigner and binds the HZZO to medical insurance after the residence regulation;
- with this temporary confirmation from the HZZO, the foreign citizens need to return to the police administration/station, where their temporary residence shall be approved and a permit issued;
- after bringing a copy of the residence confirmation to the HZZO, the foreign citizen will be fully insured;
- necessary documents: a copy of the first page of the passport, a copy of the passport page with visa, a copy of the residence confirmation;
- monthly financial contribution in 2010 amounts to 400 kuna – the payment slip shall be delivered to the address where the person has registered residence.

Foreigners on temporary stay are obliged to have health care for members of their families (spouses and children) who reside in the Republic of Croatia with them and bear health care expenses for them themselves.

The Act on Health Care for Foreigners

Additional useful information on the Croatian Health System - here and here (PDF).

List of hospitals

The content on this page has been authorised by the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance.

Disclaimer: The descriptions of administrative procedures in the Republic of Croatia given on this website are to be used for informational purposes only. Recommendations on this website do not substitute official information sources and information given by the official administration should be taken into account in all cases. The information provided on this website gives no right for claims of legal expectations of any kind.