Health care in Poland for ex-pats

I'm an English ex-pat - I spend most of my time in Poland (at least 8 months a year).

The question is, am I entitled to medical care in a public hospital in Poland? I pay voluntary NI contributions to the UK system and I'm up to date with them.

If not, what the heck should I do? Private medical insurance?

Grateful for any advice!!!!!

I think yes, if you are insured in one of EU countries you should have health care in Polnand , but I dont know the details ...

You should have your "European Health Card" (This replaced the E111). If you are paying NI contributions in the UK you are covered for treatment throughout the EU. This includes all forms of treatment but excludes repatriation to the UK by air ambulance etc, for this you will need private insurance.

Thanks for the advice Lukasz, Avalon.

Hope you don't mind but I decided to check the National Insurance helpline just to be double certain. The Inland Revenue seem fairly unanimous that since I'm currently resident in Poland, my British contributions unfortunately don't cover me for hospital treatment. The E111 is really only for tourists.

If I weren't working, I could fill in an 'E106' and I would be covered, although this is really for people who are going abroad to retire.

So - looks like I have to start paying ZUS contributions. Bleedin racket or what?

Not sure if this site would be of any help to you: statmedica.com

Thanks! Good article -

statmedica.com/hospitals.php?art=aw1

Just a thought, if you go self-employed here, there is a offer on at the moment where you only pay 50% of your zus (National Insurance) contributions for the 1st two years. And then you will be automatically covered for health care along with claiming a lot of tax back for expenses.

Poland and the UK have an agreement where all essential health care is free. So poles can use the NHS, and i can use the polish health service. didnt know about it untill i had to go to hospital after dislocating my shoulder-ouch:(

get a private medical care mate the public one here in Poland is real bad even private is bad

I have medicover and still not good call another day for a specialist had to wait for a week

crazy here