Frequently asked questions about medical insurance for foreigners in the Czech Republic

Preventive medical care contains medical examinations which aim to prevent the development of illnesses. Preventive care also contains vaccination.

Third countries are all countries outside the EU, the European Economic Community and Switzerland. 

An employee card is in fact a residence permit. It entitles foreigners to a temporary stay longer than 3 months in order to work on a position for which the employee card was issued.

An embassy or other office of the Czech Republic outside its territory. 

The area of 26 states that have signed the so called Schengen Agreement.

A private payer is a person who pays for medical services from his own pocket. The prices are based on price lists of the medical facility he chooses.

It is a document that entitles its holder to make use of free medical care during his temporary stay (no more than 6 months in 1 year) in EU countries + Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

Urgent care is provided in order to prevent aggravation of the patient’s current condition.

It’s the maximum sum that the insurance company will pay, if you seek medical attention.

A long-term stay is for third country nationals that wish to stay longer than 6 months in the Czech Republic. A permanent stay permit can be obtained by foreigners that have lived continuously in the Czech Republic for the past 5 years making use of a long-term stay permit or other forms of residence permit as stated by the law.   

Medical facilities that have a cooperation contract with a specific health insurance company. The facilities that cooperate with your health insurance company are the ones you should contact in the first place in case of need.  You will get a list of them with your insurance contract and can ask for more info when contacting the assistance helpline of your insurance company.

For EU citizens, this information is: identification data, permanent address, current delivery address, travel document number and name of the authority issuing it, type of work, place of performance and time during which you plan to employ this person, gender, day the commencement and termination of employment.

A long-term stay is for third country nationals that wish to stay longer than 6 months in the Czech Republic. A permanent stay permit can be obtained by foreigners that have lived continuously in the Czech Republic for the past 5 years making use of a long-term stay permit or other forms of residence permit as stated by the law.   

An employee with a university degree or a 3 year higher professional school.

The definition of comprehensive health insurance for foreigners in the Czech Republic should be understood as the broadest health care coverage and insurance package that you can arrange in the Czech Republic right after the public health care system. You “must” in fact arrange it in order to apply for a visa extension or a long-term stay permit when already in the Czech Republic.

A waiting period is an initial period of health insurer membership during which no benefit is payable for certain procedures or services. It often concerns health care packages for mothers, where a 3 month waiting period for health care coverage during pregnancy is applied. 

Consultations via phone with a medical professional.

Czech, English, German and Russian – an Arabic or Vietnamese translator can be quickly arranged, so as other less common languages.

You can report an insured event or ask for guidance on which hospital or doctor to visit.

No, you don’t – your health always comes first. Call an ambulance in urgent cases and then the assistance helpline when you are ready.

Ask your health insurance company for a Provisional Replacement Certificate. It will work as good as the EHIC card until its expiry date.

A valid passport.

Belgium, Bulgaria, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Ireland, Italy, Cyprus, Lithuania, Latvia, Luxembourg, Hungary, Malta, Germany, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Austria, Romania, Greece, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the UK.

Yes, it is - even when arranged or purchased online.

No, you don’t – it already has an electronic signature of the insurance company.

No, you don’t – both the Ministry of the Interior and the Foreign police accept electronic applications.

In depends on the doctor – the assistance service will always guide you to a doctor where you don’t have to pay if it’s possible. If not, AXA Assistance will refund the money. Generally speaking - medical treatment is free of charge in most hospitals, but you may pay for ambulance transportation if you’re not in imminent danger.

We always recommend to go through the terms and conditions of your contract but in general they are congenital diseases, that you knew of prior to entering the Czech Republic, injuries caused by negligence or on purpose, or by drug and alcohol consumption. Every case is individually evaluated by AXA Assistance in order to satisfy the insured individual as much as possible.

With comprehensive health insurance for foreigners you can travel throughout the Schengen area while not exceeding a maximum of 30 days for one trip and still be protected. But keep in mind that the comprehensive insurance plan automatically downgrades to a basic medical insurance for foreigners coverage plan.

You choose a validity from 1 to 36 months and pay for the whole period at once.

No, this type of insurance doesn’t cover expenses for prescription glasses and contact lenses.

No, it does not cover medical expenses in this case.

Yes, the Welcome insurance package covers medical expenses concerning COVID-19 treatment.

If you don’t qualify for the public health care system, commercial comprehensive health insurance for foreigners is your other option. 

Všeobecná zdravotní pojišťovna České republiky, Vojenská zdravotní pojišťovna České republiky, Česká průmyslová zdravotní pojišťovna, Oborová zdravotní pojišťovna zaměstnanců bank, pojišťoven a stavebnictví, Zaměstnanecká pojišťovna Škoda, Zdravotní pojišťovna ministerstva vnitra České republiky and Revírní bratrská pokladna, zdravotní pojišťovna.

Slavia, VZP, UNIQA, Maxima, AXA Assistance and ERGO.

I’m pregnant or planning a baby during the insured period. Which plan should I choose? Definitely the comprehensive health care package. The Standard mode covers care during pregnancy starting 3 months since the start of the contract and care concerning childbirth 8 months since the start of the contract. By upgrading to the Mother package, there are no such conditions and your newborn baby’s care is also covered. If using the insurance in the Schengen area, basic health insurance terms apply.

A price list can be found on the website of each health facility or at their reception desk.

A list of offices and branches can be found on their official website.

This type of insurance for foreigners can be arranged for at least 12 months and the maximum of 36 months.

Yes, packages for mothers are more expensive in general. But if you pick just the standard comprehensive health care package for foreigners, even though you are already pregnant or plan on becoming before the specified waiting period (3 months for pregnancy, 8 months for childbirth), you will have to pay all expenses concerning pregnancy and childbirth from your own pocket. We therefore recommend you to pick the correct package and pay a little bit more now that much more later.

No, this type of insurance works only for mothers until their 45th birthday.

No, outside of the Czech Republic in the Shengen area the comprehensive health care package switches automatically to basic medical insurance for foreigners.