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emeRGencieS
One weakness in the Czech system is the state of its emergency
rooms. Instead of emergency rooms proper, hospitals usually designate
one small section of the hospital for “Urgent Care” and the training of
those staffing this ward isn’t always of the highest standard. It’s often
best to contact your doctor’s 24-hour emergency hotline instead. Your
physician can then act as a mediator between you and the hospital
personnel (who probably won’t speak much English) in an emergency
situation. The Polyclinic at Národní is an emergency medical service
center that specially caters to the US and British Embassies but opens
its doors to everyone. For more on emergencies see page 194.
public heAlth inSuRAnce
Those living in the Czech Republic are required to have some form
of health insurance. If you are a permanent resident or an official
employee of a Czech company you can join one of the nine public
health funds. The Public Health Insurance Act stipulates that public
health insurance covers: stays in a public hospital, emergency care,
visits to a GP (including medical check-ups once every two years),
vaccines against rabies, tetanus, TB, and against influenza for people
over 65, twice yearly dental check-ups, amalgam dental fillings, and
prescription medications.
Payment for your health insurance comes directly from your wages.
The total contribution per person is 13.5% of their salary; one third is
paid by the employee and two thirds by the employer. This means that
4.5% of your income goes towards your health insurance. If you have a
business license, your insurance is usually paid at tax time. The amount
is typically 13.5% of half of your annual income, though this can vary
depending on the accounting method you use.
www.expats.cz
If you neither have permanent residence nor are employed by a Czech
employer, you must organize insurance on your own. If you are selfemployed
and have a long-term residence permit you should arrange
contractual insurance individually with a public health insurance
company. Premiums are paid upfront and the contract will apply for a
specified period. You will need to undergo a medical examination and
fill out a simple questionnaire. The policy can be extended if you are
renewing your residence permit.
New health insurance regulations (as of 2011) say that foreigners
applying for a long-term visa in the Czech Republic must carry
comprehensive health insurance known as komplexní zdravotní
pojištění. Apart from health insurance being mandatory, it must be
provided by a company listed with the Czech National Bank. The
coverage must be for the minimum amount of 30,000 EUR and must
cover medical treatment for sudden injury or illness, and repatriation of
the patient. Furthermore, the insurance should have no deductibles. The
term in Czech is bez spoluúčasti, which translates literally as “without
participation”. Either way, it means that there is no amount which should
be paid by you, and the insurer should provide full coverage.
If you have a long-term visa and you are an employee of a company
registered in the Czech Republic, then it is possible to be insured through
VZP, in the same way that someone with permanent residence would be
insured. The insurance is dependent on the period of employment. When
you are not employed you are expected to take out private insurance.
If you are not employed by a company registered in the Czech Republic,
e.g. if you are a student or you work under a business license then you
will have to take out insurance. Of the 53 insurers listed with the Czech
National Bank, seven offer health insurance for foreigners who meet the
criteria mentioned above. These insurers are: VZP/PVZP, Maxima/AXA,
Slavia, UNIQA, and Victoria Volksbanken.
Many employers have an arrangement with Všeobecná zdravotní
pojišt’ovna České republiky (General Health Insurance Company of the
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