Benefits for foreigners and Poles in Poland – differences

In Poland, the question of whether benefits for foreigners get „the same” as citizens, comes up every time they visit the doctor and apply for a residence card. Intuitively, many people assume that there is one rule for everyone in public healthcare. In practice, access to benefits depends mainly on whether, on what basis are you insured and how you document your right to treatment.

Therefore, realistic differences Poles vs foreigners do not result from „nationality,” but from the system: NFZ, EKUZ, international and private agreements insurance for foreigners. Below, we explain the most important scenarios and show where limits, surcharges, and exclusions apply.

In Poland, the simplest division is as follows: some people are entitled to benefits financed by the National Health Fund (NFZ), while others use private healthcare (paying out of their own pocket or using their insurance policy). For Poles, the basis is most often health insurance with the NFZ (e.g., from work, business, registration as a family member). Foreigners may have a similar basis, but they do not always have it from the first day of their stay.

An additional option is the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) for people insured in another EU/EFTA country. The EHIC usually gives access to „medically necessary” services in the public system, but it does not function as a full private policy and does not cover all situations (e.g., planned treatment, comfort, additional costs).

Differences in patient experience arise when someone no confirmed entitlement to NFZ (National Health Fund) or has limited access to them. In such cases, even a basic visit may be charged as a paid service. In practice, foreigners often have to get their documents in order more quickly (employment contract, registration with the Social Insurance Institution, confirmation of insurance from their country of origin) or purchase an insurance policy.

If you want to see how the aid is organized step by step, check out the guide: medical assistance in Poland.

When we talk about insurance for foreigners, The key element is the structure of the coverage: it usually includes medical expenses insurance and assistance in Poland. The general terms and conditions distinguish between the option of „medical expenses for foreigners, including assistance in Poland” and only for foreigners who are traveling or staying temporarily. Other variants (e.g., medical expenses abroad) may also cover Poles and foreigners, but operate in a different situation.

In practice, private insurance works differently than the National Health Fund: it has sum insured, limits on selected benefits, and a list of exclusions. The advantage is the quick organization of assistance (e.g., through an emergency center) and the settlement of costs in accordance with the terms of the contract.

Insurance documents for foreigners typically cover the costs of hospital treatment and surgery, diagnostics and outpatient procedures, medication, and medical transport. Assistance is also often included, and you can extend your coverage to include accident insurance or personal liability insurance. It is worth comparing this with your residence status and the purpose of your visit.

If you want to understand the limits and scope in real-life examples, see also: scope of benefits 2025.

Most noticeable differences Poles Foreigners see this when they need to quickly confirm their eligibility or when costs are rising. Poles using the National Health Fund (NFZ) usually do not think about the limit for a visit or hospitalization. In a private insurance policy, the limit or sum insured is the basis of the contract, which is why it matters in more expensive cases.

On the foreigner's side, there is also the issue of documents. Definitions in the General Terms and Conditions often specify that a „foreigner” is a person without Polish citizenship and indicate which travel document was the basis for entry. This is important when verifying who can be covered by a specific type of protection and on what terms.