A Look at the Public Health Care System in Bulgaria

If you will be moving abroad to live overseas in Bulgaria and will also be taking up employment in the country you may be interested in the health care system of the country. As an employee in the country you will have to pay in mandatory contributions to the Bulgarian social security system, which funds the public health care system in Bulgaria. Under the Bulgarian social security system, known as NOI, anyone that makes contributions is entitled to receive free or subsidized medical services and treatment as well as dental services and treatment from the public health care system. Any dependents that you may have are also automatically eligible for benefits based upon your contributions to the system.

All residents of Bulgaria, even those that are not employed, are required to pay in contributions to the Bulgarian social security system (NOI). By paying in the required contributions all residents of Bulgaria are eligible for free medical treatment from a family doctor or GP. All referrals to specialists are also at no charge. And medications are available at reduced prices and are sometimes available at no cost.

The Bulgarian health care system does have some reciprocal health care agreements in place with a few other counties including the United Kingdom. Under the reciprocal health care agreements, citizens of the approved countries are able to receive free medical, dental and hospital services and treatment while in Bulgaria. However medications are not free and must be paid for. If you are not from a country that has a reciprocal health care agreement in place with Bulgaria then you will need to have your own private health care insurance or travel insurance plan that will cover you if you are not eligible for medical services and treatment under the Bulgarian public health care system.

As a member country of the European Union, any national of a European Union country is able to get health care services and treatment in Bulgaria at no cost or at a reduced cost. All that is needed for this to be the case is that the European Union national must have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with them when treatment or services are sought out. The European Union national also must be in the country on a temporary basis with a stay not lasting longer than 90 days in duration.

Note that many people prefer to have private health insurance, even those that are entitled to the free public health care. The quality of services that are received in the private health care sector are considered to be considerably better than what is offered in the public sector.