About to spend a few months living in the Czechia? Then you should definitely get informed about the country’s health care system, because even if you just come down with a routine cold, you might need it! It’s best to know the basics before any need for knowing them arises, though, so we at Flatio have prepared this neat little summary for you. We’re sure you’ll find it useful, so let’s get into it!
Czechia’s healthcare - contribution, expenditure and more
How much is the healthcare expenditure in the Czechia? Does Czechia have free healthcare? Am I covered by its public insurance scheme? These are probably some of the questions currently running through your head. Hold on tight – we’ll answer them right away.
Healthcare industry in Czechia
The Czech healthcare system is one of the best in the EU, and it shows – Czechia is reportedly one of the healthiest countries in central and eastern Europe. So have no fear, you’ll be well taken care of in this country. Czechia’s health expenditure In Czechia, healthcare spending is currently at around 7% of the GDP, which is a decent portion. Moreover, this means that much of its healthcare is state-subsidized, making it more affordable, so while the care is excellent, it won’t make a dint in your wallet.
Healthcare contribution in Czech Republic
One of the reasons why Czech healthcare is so efficient is compulsory health insurance. Anyone working for a Czech employer is automatically insured, but while this insurance is state-subsidized, both employees and employers still pay monthly contributions. The rate is 13.5% of the assessment base from wages and is either automatically deducted from your salary or sent via bank transfer if you are self-employed.
If you, however, do not currently work for a company registered in the Czech Republic, you will have to purchase private insurance (or have appropriate travel insurance if staying for a short time only).
So, does Czechia have universal healthcare? Almost, but not quite! If you’d like to know more about health insurance, the Czech Health Insurance Bureau website is a very good resource.
Public healthcare in Czechia
Czech public healthcare is heavily subsidized by the state, and generally it is of very high quality. After obtaining health insurance, you will be issued an insurance card, which you have to present every time you visit a doctor. Careful, though – the card is linked to your insurance company, and not all doctors might have a contract with that company, so make sure to check this before choosing a doctor.
Private healthcare in Czechia
As one might expect, private medical care in the Czech Republic tends to be more expensive than public healthcare. However, if you have private health insurance, there are private clinics which will accept it, so you can make use of these. But expensive or not, it might be worth paying for: not only is it excellent, but it often doesn’t come with the same problems as public medical care.
Health-care problems in Czechia
While being of very good quality, the Czech health care system still has its problems. For example, while nowadays many doctors and nurses can speak English, foreign nationals should be aware that this is not always the case, so it’s better to check in advance. Moreover, non-Czechs are sometimes taken aback by the doctors’ cold approach, which is not ubiquitous, but also not uncommon. It’s not to be taken personally, though: keep in mind that in order to satisfy the high demand for their services (which also sometimes means long waiting times for patients), doctors are often overworked and stressed. These problems mostly concern the public healthcare system; if you’d like to avoid them, private healthcare providers are here for you.
That’s it for our little overview – now that we’ve answered your most burning questions, you’ve got the basic stuff down and can go on to research the finer details yourself. The info is all readily available online, so get searching!
Are you also interested in the school system which is applied in Czechia? Then this article is for you! And if you also need to know where to find some new friends in this beautiful country, check carefully our blog! We are trying to bring you the most useful information you may be interested in.
And do you still looking for accommodation in Prague? Then Flatio is ready to help you! We have plenty of apartments and rooms that are fully furnished and even some co-living which is a great choice, especially for students! But if you want to live alone, then the separate apartments are the better choice. You can choose from apartments at different Prague's districts, for example Chodov, Letňany, Zličín, Suchdol, Ruzyně, Vinohrady, etc.
