Healthcare services for expats in Romania
Moving to a foreign country needs documentation first, especially when it comes to major concerns, such as the health care program. Expats moving to Romania may already know that medical services here have suffered lots of lacking during the years, but slowly, they are aligning to the European standards. However, there are local hospitals and clinics that provide urgent medical consultations, as well as lots of private medical units.
The Romanian healthcare system
The unified national social health insurance fund is all under the administration of the National Health Insurance Agency (CNAS) and all the regional centres. There are some categories of people who do not have to pay any contribution:
- Children under 18 years old;
- Individuals of 26 years and under if they are still in higher education programs;
- Disabled people that have no income;
- Invalids, war veterans or widows;
- Pregnant women and those who have recently given birth.
Everyone else will pay the healthcare contribution from their salaries, including expats who are working in Romania.
The healthcare services in Romania consist of clinics, hospitals, and doctors that are members of the Romanian College of Medicine. Most of the major cities will host their own hospitals and clinics, which are very well-equipped. You will also find a generous number of pharmacies in major cities, actually lots of them at most of the ground floors of the blocks of apartments and shopping centres.
However, when it comes to smaller towns and villages, the number of hospitals, clinics, and pharmacies will decrease. While it would be natural to go to the public hospitals in case of medical issues, we recommend you to attend a private clinic, as the public ones are very crowded.
However, their number and accessibility will get more modest as you venture further into smaller towns and villages.
Health insurance in Romania
All the members of the Romanian public healthcare system have the right to receive treatment. The services are paid from the insurance contributions. When there are citizens of other EU countries, who are visiting Romania, they can access this system only if they hold a European Health Insurance Card from the home country.
In all cases, expatriates should subscribe to private health insurance before thinking to travel or move to Romania. There are many insurance companies to choose from, according to your needs and budget. Some of the leading health insurance providers are:
Consider having a look at their offers according to your needs and get a free quote on Expat.com's Health Insurance for expatriates in Romania page.
Costs of healthcare in Romania
The National Health Insurance House (CNAS) manages all the health and maternity insurance in Romania. Most of the medical treatments are financed by the contributions that employees are independent workers are doing monthly. To claim a refund, you will need to designate either a family doctor or a general practitioner. Otherwise, you won't be able to enrol in Romanian health insurance.
Contributions are made as follows:
- benefits in kind: 5.2% by the employer and 5.5% by the insured;
- cash benefits: 0.85% by the employer capped at 12 times the equivalent;
- the equivalent of the national minimum gross salary, multiplied by the number of insured workers.
When it comes to the refund for medication, this is performed in three categories:
- A: 90% refund by the NHIS;
- B: 50% refund by the NHIS;
- C: 100% refund by the NHIS.
The medical services that CNAS provides include health care for specialised practitioners, hospitalisation, medication, maternity health care service, outpatient, medical devices and other services.
The hospitalisation will be refunded 100 per cent only if your doctor or specialist has recommended it in case of an emergency. However, in case you will choose a better hospitalisation or a private one, you will have to exceed the extra costs.
Social security in Romania
Social contributions in Romania apply to both employers and employees.
All the legal residents in Romania have access to social security, offered by the CNAS. Foreigners will be covered only if they are permanent residents. To be eligible for the public health services in Romania, expats need to contribute to the social security system for at least six months during the last 12 calendar months.
To be able to contribute directly to the CNAS, you need to get a tax identification number.
Useful links:
National Health Insurance House ' NHIS
European Health Insurance Card
Embassy of the US in Romania
NHS Choices ' Healthcare in Romania guidelines
Tax identification number
