COVID-19 – foreign policyholders

COVID-19 – foreign policyholders
In general, a foreign insured person (insured person from the EU, EEA, Switzerland, the United Kingdom and countries with which the Czech Republic has a bilateral agreement providing access to health care – Albania, Montenegro, Northern Macedonia, Serbia, Tunisia, Turkey) is in a position Czech insured person and must be treated in a non-discriminatory manner. If Czech regulations grant a Czech insured person a claim, the foreign insured person also has this claim, while its scope may be limited by an EU regulation or an international agreement.

Testing

From 22.11.2021, the health insurance company pays for PCR tests for Czech policyholders only if they are under 18 years of age, vaccinated with at least one dose of vaccine or cannot be vaccinated for health reasons. Tests also indicated by the doctor or hygiene station are also reimbursed. For persons under 18 years of age, vaccinated persons and those who have not yet reached 14 days after the end of the vaccination schedule, and persons who cannot be vaccinated for health reasons, 5 PCR tests per calendar month are reimbursed. For persons fully vaccinated, 2 PCR tests per calendar month are reimbursed.

Foreign policyholders cannot be discriminated against. However, it is necessary to distinguish between them to what extent of care they are entitled. Those who are entitled to full care in the Czech Republic must be provided and reimbursed with the same care as Czech insured persons. For foreign insured persons who are entitled in the Czech Republic (only) to the provision of necessary care with a European Health Insurance Card, it is necessary to assess whether testing is necessary. KZP considers that this is a necessary care, especially for longer stays (not just short-term, eg weekend, tourist stays). The purpose of testing is to test the population to reduce the spread of the disease. However, this is certainly not a necessary care if the foreign insured person came to the Czech Republic only for the purpose of testing.

The costs incurred in this way must be charged to the Czech auxiliary health insurance company. Ultimately, however, the costs of testing foreign policyholders will be borne by their foreign insurance company.

General information for testing here.

Vaccination

Coronavirus vaccination has been included in health insurance-covered services. This means that it is paid to Czech and foreign policyholders within the limits of their entitlement. Foreign insured persons are entitled to vaccination under the same conditions as Czech insured persons (eg age criterion, health status, occupation, etc.).

Foreign insured persons who are entitled to full care in the Czech Republic must be provided and reimbursed with the same care as Czech insured persons, ie including vaccinations. Foreign insured persons who are entitled in the Czech Republic (only) to provide the necessary care with the European Health Insurance Card and the card have registered with the Czech auxiliary health insurance company and have been assigned an auxiliary number by the insured person are also entitled to vaccination under the same conditions as Czech insured persons. Due to the epidemiological situation, KZP considers that vaccination is a necessary care. The purpose is to inoculate the population to reduce the spread of the disease. However, this is certainly not a necessary care if the foreign insured person came to the Czech Republic only for the purpose of vaccination.

The costs incurred in this way must be charged to the Czech auxiliary health insurance company. Ultimately, however, the costs of vaccinating foreign policyholders will be borne by their foreign insurance company.

From 11.6.2021, vaccination is also available to persons insured only with commercial insurance companies and self-payers. More information about self-paying vaccinations here.

General information on vaccinations here.

In Prague on June 11, 2021
PhDr. Mgr. Adam Ander, Deputy Director