Job Discussion Forums

[prettyizzy]

Greetings!

1. Am I right in assuming that the school which hires you is responible (by polish labor law) to provide medical insurance for you and your family (i.e. to pay your dues to NFZ)?

2. If you decide to "work on your own", can you join NFZ on your own, or buy some kind of medical insurance?

3. Is the state of healthcare in Poland as bad as I read in the press (shortage of doctors, long waits, low quality of hospitals)? Can someone recommend a good hospital/clinic/doctor in Warszawa or Krakow.

Dziekuje!

[Pollux]

Don't bother with NFZ. It is slow, corupt, and insefficient.

In Warsaw, I'd recommend Damiana Medical Center. It's a short walk from the Sluzew metro station, and they have a full staff of doctors, dentists, and surgeons on call. A visit costs 80 zlotys.

My daughter was born there and I was pleased with the care.

[Grrrmachine]

I cant quote the exact law, but it's mandatory to carry some kind of health insurance at all times, whether it's NFZ, the card confirming your NI payments for UK citizens, or a private insurer. For native Poles, they HAVE to make ZUS payments.

After 6 months here I found out that my boss wasnt making my ZUS payments, so I had no account, and they wanted 4000 zlotys to create one. Fingers up to them, I got in touch with some of the bigger private insurers, and took out a package with Hestia (who have no qualms insuring foreigners.) No medical, no demands for previous paperwork, and an option of either 40zl pm for a basic package or 127zl pm for a higher package (all standard checkups and appointments are free at LuxMed locations.) No, I don't work for them, but they're a worthwhile option for those who don't like the idea of paying 300zl per month to NFZ for the privilege of a month long wait for the dentist.

[prettyizzy]

[quote="Grrrmachine"]
package with Hestia (who have no qualms insuring foreigners.) No medical, no demands for previous paperwork, and an option of either 40zl pm for a basic package or 127zl pm for a higher package (all standard checkups and appointments are free at LuxMed locations.)

So how long do you wait for a doctor/dentist appointment at LuxMed? Does the staff speak English? And is a hospitalization covered? At what hospital?

[Grrrmachine]

I've had the policy for over a year and have only had one checkup, but I called them on Thursday evening and had an apointment for Friday morning, and have found the service impeccable, with English speaking doctors and staff in very clean facilities.

I couldn't tell you if you can only get served in LuxMed facilities; just do some research into Hestia or LuxMed. There may even be places that are even better; I went with them because my chronically panicking MiL ("oh matko boska, you have no medical, we are breaking the law...") just went with whoever would sign me up the quickest.