Health Insurance in Serbia

Serbia ‘s healthcare system is primarily funded through health insurance contributions to the National Health Insurance Fund (HIF).

State healthcare is centrally governed by the Serbian Ministry of Health, whose responsibilities include the management of the public healthcare system as well as its operations.

Health insurance for expats in Serbia

How does the Serbian Healthcare system work?

All residents and citizens in Serbia are eligible for medical treatment in the medical system if they pay 5.15% of their income in social security contributions.

Full-time employees will receive a health insurance card from their employer if they are registered as a resident, which acts as proof of entitlement to public healthcare services.

Those who pay contributions will also be covered if they’re not able to work because of illness, and be eligible for reimbursement if they have to travel to access healthcare services. Some healthcare services included as part of the public healthcare system includes:

• Specialist consultations

• Preventative care

• Hospitalisation

• Maternity care

Healthcare in Serbia is categorised into different levels of care, which incorporates:

• Primary care: this is provided at local healthcare centres by a general practitioner, and can include treatment for chronic illnesses and referrals for specialist treatment,

• Secondary care: comprises of more specialised medical services such as outpatient treatment and diagnostics, and

• Tertiary care: describes highly-specialised medical treatment, such as neurosurgery and transplants.

Other facilities to be aware of living in Serbia are its mixture of public and private pharmacies, where patients can purchase over the counter medicine as well as prescriptions from their doctor.

How to choose health insurance in Serbia: local or international?

Aside from the mandatory workplace contributions, there are two types of health insurance to choose from in Serbia: local and international.

With a local health insurance plan, individuals can get access to private medical treatment while living in Serbia and it may be less expensive. However, it will be limited to the country where the plan was taken out.

Whereas international medical insurance cover can provide flexibility to expats, allowing them the choice over where their treated and by which physician. It’s also beneficial for individuals who often travel between different countries, as it can give them access to a variety of medical treatment within their area of cover.

It’s worth noting for those considering a move to Serbia, that proof of health insurance cover is a pre-requisite when applying for a residency permit.

To get an idea of how much it can cost to have an international health insurance plan, have a look at our blog here.