site.btaPersons with Temporary Protection Status in Bulgaria to Have State-paid Health Insurance Coverage

Persons with temporary protection status in Bulgaria will have State-paid mandatory health insurance with the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF), according to revisions of the Health Insurance Act adopted conclusively on Wednesday. This will ensure access for those persons to the full healthcare package paid by the NHIF, said Health Committee Chair Anton Tonev MP of Continue the Change and a group of MPs who moved the revisions.

On March 10, the Council of Ministers granted temporary protection to displaced persons from Ukraine. They are non-EU third-country nationals who have no access to the EU social coordination system, the reasoning behind the amendments said.

They will apply for one year to all persons with temporary protection status in Bulgaria, not just to Ukrainians.

Persons granted temporary protection under the Asylum and Refugees Act are entitled to medical assistance and medical services under that Act and the Health Act under the terms and procedure applicable to Bulgarian citizens, except medical assistance rendered in line with the EU rules on coordination of social security systems . The rights of the insured person are non-transferable.

A government decree will specify aspects of the health insurance contributions, including their amount, the terms and procedure of their payment, the date on which the health insurance obligation and the health-insured person's rights arise, and the source of financing.

In financial terms, equalizing those categories of persons to Bulgarian nationals will require payment of health insurance contributions whose amount and source of financing will be determined by a government decree due to the dynamic situation and the temporary nature of this measure. This will apply to persons without means.