IMPORTANT INFORMATION

As of 2 August 2021, the Foreign Nationals Residence Act newly stipulates the obligation for foreign nationals entering the territory with the intention of staying more than 90 days in the Czech Republic to have travel insurance covering comprehensive health care. This obligation does not apply to foreign nationals covered by Czech public health insurance, or if their health insurance is paid for on the basis of an international agreement or if they hold a valid EHIC or GHIC health insurance card.

Please note that according to a new law amendment, foreigners no longer have to buy their insurance with PVZP, but can choose any insurance company. The most popular insurance providers in the Czech Republic are PVZP, AXA, Slavia, Uniqa, ALLIANZ and others.

You must submit the document on travel medical insurance before the visa is indicated in your passport:

• This insurance must cover the necessary and urgent care for the first 90 days. For the remaining period of stay you have to submit also the document on comprehensive health insurance.
• Alternatively, you can contract comprehensive health insurance for the entire period and submit that.

This obligation does not apply to:

• EU citizens
• Holders of a valid EHIC or GHIC health insurance card
• Foreign nationals covered by the Czech public health insurance scheme
• Foreign nationals whose health care is covered under an international agreement (see the list here)

Since the Czech Republic's entry into the EU, all EU nationals should be able to cover the cost of standard medical treatment through their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), or through a Provisional Certificate.

However, in order to obtain treatment under the provisions of European regulations, you must make sure you contact a medical care institution that has a contract with the Czech Public Health Insurance System (most of the institutions have so, but some are purely private). You must also take your EHIC card with you. Otherwise, the medical staff can insist on cash payment.

Other kinds of medical care, e.g. non-urgent treatment, or medically assisted transport home following serious illness or injury, are not covered by your EHIC, and for these eventualities, we recommend you to have extra commercial travel insurance.

EHIC is issued by your national health insurance provider. 

Important – the European Health Insurance Card:

• is not an alternative to travel insurance. It does not cover any private healthcare or costs such as a return flight to your home country or lost/stolen property,
• does not cover your costs if you are travelling for the express purpose of obtaining medical treatment,
• does not guarantee free services. As each country’s healthcare system is different services that cost nothing at home might not be free in another country.

REGISTER YOUR CARD (EHIC) at Czech Insurance Provider - less paperwork at the doctor

Although the practitioner should (in theory) be willing to provide the treatment simply on the basis of your European Health Insurance Card, it will save you both time and a lot of unpleasant paper-work during the doctor's visit if you register your EHIC in advance with any Czech insurance provider, who will act as an intermediary once you need medical care.

It is entirely up to you which Czech insurance provider you choose (there are several). However, the largest Czech insurance provider is Všeobecná zdravotní pojišťovna (VZP), and since they have the widest health-care network, we recommend to choose them.

Všeobecná zdravotní pojišťovna (VZP) - branches:

You can register your card at any branch of VZP, but one of the largest branches in the city center is conveniently located 5 minutes' walk from Hollar, at Na Perštýně 6, Prague 1 (entrance in Martinská street). There is a queuing system in operation, pick a number from the machine by the entrance (press the button: for individual insurance, "individuální pojištěnci" in Czech), and then wait till your number comes up. Counter-staff will help you with the rest.