Health Insurance

Health Insurance

Foreign nationals in the Czech Republic are required to have a valid health insurance. 

Tutorial

Video tutorial and PDF version

Health Insurance for non-EU citizens

The Foreign Nationals Residence Act stipulates that if you are entering the Czech Republic for a stay longer than 90 days, you are obligated to have travel insurance covering comprehensive health care upon arrival.

Foreigners can choose any insurance company that offers comprehensive health care. The most popular insurance providers in the Czech Republic are PVZP, AXA, Slavia, Uniqa, ALLIANZ and others. We recommend carefuly reading the terms of your selected insurance, to ensure it includes the services you may need based on your individual medical needs, as well as all key services such as dental care, gynecological examinations, psychological assistance, etc. 

You must submit the document on travel medical insurance before the visa is indicated in your passport. You can choose either 

  • Comprehensive health insurance for the entire period of your stay.
  • Insurance covering the necessary and urgent care for the first 90 days and a comprehensive health insurance covering the remaining period of stay

This obligation does not apply to you if you are:

  • 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)

  • DISCOUNTED INSURANCE PACKAGE THROUGH PVZP PARTNERSHIP

    Charles University is now partnered with PVZP to offer a discount on one of their comprehensive insurance packages, the Foreigners Comprehensive Medical Insurance EXCLUSIVE.

    You can enroll online via a unique LINK for a 20% student discount on standard rates or via PVZP sales representatives for students over 30 or with pre-existing conditions.

    This insurance package is:

    • Fully compliant with Czech legislation
    • Equivalent to Czech public health insurance
    • Includes emergency care in the Schengen area
    • Covers pre-existing conditions (if disclosed in advance)
    • Available for 4 to 60 months for students under 35

    More information is available on the CUNI website.

    This offer is non-exclusive, so you can of course choose another option from PVZP or a different provider that meets the visa requirements and may better suit your needs.

Health Insurance for EU citizens

 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 do, 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 many). The largest Czech insurance provider is Všeobecná zdravotní pojišťovna (VZP), and since they have the widest health-care network, we recommend choosing them.

    Všeobecná zdravotní pojišťovna (VZP) - branches:

    Praha 1 – Na Perštýně Na Perštýně 6, 110 00 Praha 1
    Praha 1 – Lazarská Lazarská 3, 110 00 Praha 1
    Praha 2 – Vinohrady Škrétova 12, 120 00 Praha 2

    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.