Job Discussion Forums

[Tracer]

Now that Poland is a Schengen territory, one of the requirements is that any American who wants to legally live and work in Poland needs to purchase health insurance that will cover for up to 30.000 euro in medical costs. You need to buy this insurance before you apply for a visa/work permit.

http://www.losangeleskg.polemb.net/index.php?document=73

I'm an American, and I'm looking at lots of different companies right now. I'm just wondering if anyone has had good luck finding good private insurance that will cover them abroad?

I think the rules are different for most non-EUs so I'm mostly interested in the American experience in this regard. Of course, if you're an Aussie or a Kiwi and can recommend some decent private health insurance, then I'd be glad to hear from you.

[lundjstuart]

I went to a PZU office and got 3 months worth for 150zl. It covers everything that you will need to get a visa. Simple, bring your passport and they will fill everything out (its also in English), then you take it to Długa 5 if you're in Warsaw. If you need any other info, I've been through the process and to the office of hell too many times to count!

[Tracer]

Hey Thanks, Lund. So what's the PZU? (Sorry, I'm really new here.)

I'm not looking forward to dealing with the "office of hell," but this type of insurance strikes me as a lot better and cheaper than the insurance offered by some of the shady, "Bahama Based" companies, offering insurance for expats, I had stumbled across on the internet.

[lundjstuart]

So the name was short but heres the long version of it:
Powszechny Zakład Ubezpieczeń Sp�łka Akcyjna

The address that I went to is quite far from the center but you can get there by a tram towards Okęcie, Lechicka is the stop and its on the right hand side opposite of the petrol station.

01-864 Warszawa, ul. Kochanowskiego 45a
tel. 022 639 73 03

You should go there with somebody that can translate for you because the lady doesn't speak English.

Good luck!

[Richfilth]

If PZU's health insurance department are anything like their car insurance part, then I'd rather bleed all over the street that trust their healthcare package. You'll be paying for a bloated bureaucratic service who will dump you at the nearest state hospital in case of emergency, make you pay the bill and then reimburse you three years later.

Try LuxMed or Medicover - both offer much better service for your zloty, have 24-hour English language services, and lots of up-to-date easily visited centres right in the city centre (Medicover in the Atrium Centre, Jana Pawla II; LuxMed at Chmielna 85.) Find their websites and request an English-speaking agent, and one will even visit you at home to discuss the package.

The day a state-owned company like PZU provides that is the day I tattoo my bollocks red and white (one colour each)

[Tracer]

[Tracer]

[ayahyaha]

I agree that Lux Med and Medicover both look better (and both sites are in English, btw) but the premiums are of course much higher.

Lux Med, for example, shows 3000zl annually, or 250zl per month, compared to PZU's 3 months for 150zl.

Basically, if you're a single, healthy, American just looking to get insurance in order to get the visa, PZU is a much better deal.

[Richfilth]

Luxmed sell packages through Hestia (www.hestia.pl), who offer a standard package for 47PLN/month, or a Plus package for 127PLN; the latter provides most services for free, and you only pay for materials (handy in the dental care area.) That 3000PLN/year package is a real VIP service, it would seem.

[lundjstuart]

Im sure your only asking because you just need to get a visa. Although I have PZU for visa reasons, I still pay to see the doctor! I have paid to see a LUX MED doctor and I have to say that its not better where ever you go! Poland is quite low in terms of quality doctors! Good Luck!

[Tracer]

Thanks guys. I guess I spaced it on luxmed's website (yes, they have an English version as well). Not sure how I missed that?

Anyway, you all make good points. I'm a very healthy single guy and right now I'm not bringing in a lot of zl here in pl. I'll probably just go with PZU as
lundjstuart recommended. When I start earning more, I might look into luxmed and medicover again.

[Tracer]

Thanks guys. I guess I spaced it on luxmed's website (yes, they have an English version as well). Not sure how I missed that?

Anyway, you all make good points. I'm a very healthy single guy and right now I'm not bringing in a lot of zl here in pl. I'll probably just go with PZU as
lundjstuart recommended. When I start earning more, I might look into luxmed and medicover again.

Thanks again.

[Harry from NWE]

I've got Medicover from work. When I need it it is excellent. Never waited more than 24 hours for an appointment and when I've called for a home visit the doctor has always arrived within 90 minutes.

With that said, it would work out cheaper if I just paid for the services as and when I use them rather than having the monthly package.

[Tracer]

I was able to get in touch with medicover and concur that they've got it together. The problem is:

1. Medicover only begins policies on the 1st and 15th of every month, and the application takes at least a week to process.

2. The Polish consulate in LA will not confirm whether Medicover will meet their requirements.

3. Medicover says they cannot provide documentation that any of their plans will cover up to 30.000 euro in medical costs, because that's not how their insurance plans work. After you pay the monthly premium you can see an MD everyday for free if you want.

Are there any Americans with Medicover who have used it to apply for a visa out there?