Together with an amendment of the Act on Residency of Foreigners which introduced changes in the area of immigration, changes in the area of health insurance have also taken place. These impact mainly foreigners from countries outside EU residing in the Czech Republic.

Complex health insurance

Under prior conditions, foreigners from countries outside EU could reside in the Czech Republic if they had access to minimum travel health insurance.

However, this now changes. A foreigner who entered the Czech Republic after 2 August 2021 and intends to stay for more than 90 days is required to obtain complex health insurance. This insurance can be obtained solely from VZP, a.s. insurance company.

This condition will not impact those foreigners who are subject to the public health insurance in the Czech Republic e.g. as a result of being employed here, and neither will it impact foreigners who are holders of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) i.e. EU citizens, or GHIC (UK citizens).

The requirement to obtain complex health insurance will not impact those foreigners to whom health insurance is paid based on an international treaty.

Health insurance for newborns

As of 2 August 2021, a requirement for newborns to be subject to mandatory health insurance is also introduced. Children born within the territory of the Czech Republic as of 2 August 2021 to a mother with a long-term residency permit will automatically be insured as of the date of birth until the end of the calendar month in which they are 60 days old.

Health insurance for this initial period has to be paid by the newborn’s legal representative. In 2021, the amount paid is CZK 4,104.

The newborn has to be registered with the mother’s health insurance company within 8 days of being born. If the mother does not have public health insurance in the Czech Republic, the newborn has to be registered with the father’s health insurance company. If the father is not insured either, the newborn is registered with VZP, a.s. health insurance company.

If you do not want to lose time reading the new regulations and need to find your way in the new requirements, do not hesitate to contact us and we will be happy to help you.