Treatment in another EU country: reimbursement rights
EU law gives you, under conditions, a right to be reimbursed for treatment covered by your public health insurance when you receive it in another EU country. The answers lie with the authorities of the country where you are insured, not where you are treated; if you are insured in Bulgaria that is the National Health Insurance Fund (НЗОК).
EU membership and rights · Last reviewed: 2026-10-08
This is not legal or financial advice
The general rule
According to Your Europe, if a treatment is included in your public health insurance at home, it is your right as an EU citizen to be reimbursed for the same treatment elsewhere in the EU, provided you meet certain conditions. Consultations, specialist care, diagnostics and surgery are covered. Prior authorisation may be needed in some cases; the page names interventions with overnight stays, very serious or complex procedures, or procedures involving expensive medical equipment.
What costs are covered
You are reimbursed according to the rates of your home country or of the country of treatment, whichever is cheaper. Whether you go to a public or private establishment can change the amount. Travel and accommodation are in most cases the patient's responsibility. A treatment not in your statutory insurance at home may still be reimbursed in some cases, for example where the necessary expertise or equipment is not available at home or cannot be obtained in a reasonable time.
National Contact Points
Each EU country has at least one National Contact Point for cross-border healthcare. The one in your home country can tell you whether prior authorisation is needed, whether you are limited to public hospitals or can be reimbursed at private clinics, how payment will be managed and whether any travel and accommodation costs are reimbursed. The one in the country of treatment can tell you whether a provider is registered, its quality and safety system and patients' rights. Questions about coverage and reimbursement can only be answered by the authorities of the country where you have your public health insurance.
The НЗОК page in Bulgaria
On its cross-border healthcare page the НЗОК explains Directive 2011/24/EU and the right to access healthcare in any Union country with costs covered by national health insurance funds, and lists three items: planned treatment with form S2 under Regulation 987/2009, an application for authorisation for subsequent reimbursement of costs, and reimbursement of medical or dental care received during a temporary stay in another country. It also publishes documents, including the text of the Directive and a form for claiming reimbursement. As what to know before you go, it lists the conditions for the care and the reimbursement, your rights, the contact details of the National Contact Point, the quality and safety of treatment and the complaint procedures.
If your rights are not respected
This page is not legal advice
Frequently asked questions
Do I need prior authorisation for every treatment?
No. According to Your Europe it may be needed for overnight stays, very serious or complex procedures or expensive equipment; the National Contact Point can tell you which apply.
Who answers questions about reimbursement?
Only the authorities of the country where you have public health insurance; if you are insured in Bulgaria, the НЗОК and the National Contact Point.
Sources
The information on this page is based on the official sources listed below. Legislation changes — open the links and verify the current position.
- Your Europe — Organising planned medical treatment in another EU country — https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/health/planned-healthcare/right-to-treatment/index_en.htm · 2026-10-08
- Your Europe — Information points for cross-border healthcare — https://europa.eu/youreurope/citizens/health/planned-healthcare/get-more-info/index_en.htm · 2026-10-08
- Национална здравноосигурителна каса — Трансгранично здравно обслужване в ЕС — https://www.nhif.bg/bg/abroad/cross-border-healthcare · 2026-10-08
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