Restoring lapsed Bulgarian health insurance rights
In Bulgaria, the health insurance rights of people who pay their own contributions lapse if more than three monthly contributions are missing in the last 36 months. To restore them, all health insurance obligations for the last 60 months must be paid; this is published by the National Revenue Agency (НАП).
Healthcare · Last reviewed: 2026-10-08
This is not legal or financial advice
When rights lapse
According to the NRA page, for people who insure themselves (freelancers, registered craftspeople, sole traders, owners or partners of commercial companies, registered farmers, and persons under Article 40(5) of the Health Insurance Act, among others) rights lapse if more than three monthly contributions are unpaid within a 36-month period. The period is counted up to the start of the month before the month in which the person receives medical care paid by the National Health Insurance Fund (НЗОК).
Rights do not lapse if your employer failed to pay
Restoring lapsed rights
According to the NRA, when rights are interrupted, meaning more than three contributions are missing in the last 36 months, all health insurance obligations for the last 60 months must be paid for them to be restored. The NRA's 'Health Insurance Calculator' e-service shows the amount due and interest; contributions are paid at the rates applicable to the periods they relate to.
How to check your status
- The NRA e-service 'Health insurance status' (Здравноосигурителен статус).
- The NRA Information Centre on 0700 18 700 (at the price of one call, per the page).
- In person at NRA offices and territorial directorates.
How and when to pay
Contributions go to the NRA's health insurance bank account: at any bank by payment order, by card at POS terminals in NRA service halls, through the NRA's virtual POS or ePay.bg, or by postal order. For self-insured persons they are due by the 25th of the month after the month they relate to. A person under Article 40(5) must file declaration form 7 before starting to pay contributions themselves.
For 2026 the NRA page states the health insurance rate as 8 percent. For self-insured persons the contribution is entirely at their own expense and not less than 24.81 euro per month from 1 August 2026 (22.03 euro from 1 January to 31 July 2026).
Paid but not yet shown, and you need urgent hospital care
According to the NRA page you can ask the NRA office at your permanent address for a certificate that you have uninterrupted health insurance rights, showing your payment receipts. It lets you use free medical care for the period concerned.
This page is not legal or tax advice
Frequently asked questions
How do I find out if my rights have lapsed?
Use the NRA e-service 'Health insurance status', call the information centre on 0700 18 700 or visit an NRA office.
What do I have to pay to restore lapsed rights?
According to the NRA page, all health insurance obligations for the last 60 months; use the 'Health Insurance Calculator' for the amount and interest.
Sources
The information on this page is based on the official sources listed below. Legislation changes — open the links and verify the current position.
- Национална агенция за приходите — Възстановяване на здравноосигурителни права — https://nra.bg/wps/portal/nra/osiguryavane/zdravno-osiguryavane/vuzstanovqvane-na-zdravnoosiguritelni-prava · 2026-10-08
- Национална агенция за приходите — Размер на осигурителни вноски за здравно осигуряване — https://nra.bg/wps/portal/nra/osiguryavane/zdravno-osiguryavane/razmer-osiguritelni-vnoski · 2026-10-08
Related topics
Interrupted health insurance rights and how to restore them
What an interrupted status means in practice, why emergency care still happens, how the debt is settled and from which date cover reopens.
How health insurance contributions are paid in Bulgaria
The mechanics for employees, the self-insured and those paying on their own account: who declares, where the money goes, what a gap causes and how the abroad exemption works.
How Bulgaria's healthcare system works
Compulsory health insurance, choosing a GP, the referral chain and what the European card covers — Bulgaria's health system explained by institution.
Using the EHIC in Bulgaria
What the European Health Insurance Card opens in Bulgaria, what it does not cover, where the Bulgarian card is issued and what to do if it is refused.
How EU social security coordination works
EU social security systems are coordinated, not merged: one country's law at a time, equal treatment, aggregation of periods, export of benefits and forms such as A1, S1 and U1.