Health insurance

Within the EU
A European health insurance card may be enough for citizens of countries, which are EU members. In terms of treatment in medical facilities in the Czech Republic, this proves that the patient is insured in the EU and that medical care will be paid for by his or her insurance company.

On the other hand, the insured party of one EU member country is only entitled to essential medical care within the territory of another member country with a view taken to the nature of the illness and expected length of stay. On the basis of this card, the insurance company will not pay for anything above the framework of essential care and will not even settle the excess stipulated by the local laws. This excess is payable at the following levels in the Czech Republic (simplified list):

Visit to a GP – CZK 30,
Emergency treatment – CZK 90,
A day in hospital – CZK 60,
Item on a prescription – CZK 30.

It is thus recommended that you arrange additional commercial insurance which is able to cover these fees.

Citizens of countries outside the EU
If you do not have permanent residency within the EU, you must have concluded a commercial insurance policy. If you did not have this, you would have to pay for all care on the spot in cash.