Thanks to its presence in the European Union, patients from Poland - after fulfilling several conditions - can receive elective treatment abroad. Throughout the Community in 2022, a total of more than 24,000 documents were issued as a basis for planned treatment. In 2023 alone. The National Health Fund issued 126 approvals for treatment abroad. The most expensive treatment for our patient in the EU in 2023 cost PLN 740 thousand.
Treatment planned abroad. This is possible thanks to the presence in the EU
Published June 7, 2024 09:32
Poland's entry into the European Union (EU) has opened up the possibility of treatment outside the country. The right to receive planned treatment outside Poland is subject to the approval of the institution of the country of insurance. In Poland, this is the National Health Fund.
Scheduled treatment abroad is possible only in strictly defined cases. This is, for example, a situation in which the service is guaranteed in a given country, but the waiting time for its provision is too long in relation to the patient's condition. In addition, in Poland it is also possible to obtain consent for planned treatment in a situation where the service is guaranteed, but there is no possibility of providing it in our country. Such consent can also apply to treatment outside the European Union.
The basis for the provision of scheduled treatment in accordance with the coordination regulations was document E112, and then since 2010 is document S2. These relate to scheduled treatment in another EU member state.
According to a report on Cross-Border Healthcare in the European Union, in 2022 more than 24,000 S2 documents were issued in total across the Union. One such document can be the basis for billing several stages of treatment. To date, the National Health Fund has issued 2087 E112/S2 documents. In 2023. The National Health Fund issued 126 approvals for treatment outside Poland. In the same year, the National Health Fund Headquarters received a total of 160 applications for treatment outside the country and payment of transportation costs. The processing of 42 applications from 2022 also continued. Of these 202 cases, 55 involved children. In 2023, for the cardiac treatment of a one-year-old child in the United States, the NFZ paid about PLN 6.5 million. In contrast, for treatment in the European Union, the Fund paid about PLN 740,000 for the treatment of an adult patient for oncologic surgery.
