Compulsory health insurance (povinné zdravotní pojištění)

What

In cases of illness, the policyholder’s health insurance covers the necessary healthcare to the extent stipulated by law.

Health insurance (Zdravotní pojištění) is mandatory for all persons permanently resident in the Czech Republic. Insurance may be paid by employers, policyholders themselves or, in certain cases, the government.
Health insurance is established on the date of birth (for persons with permanent residence in the Czech Republic) or the day on which a person not permanently in the Czech Republic becomes an employee or a permanent resident in the Czech Republic.
If you are in employment, your employer will pay your insurance for you.
Self-employed persons must pay their health insurance themselves. Insurance may also be covered by the government.
The government pays health insurance for dependent children, retired persons, women on maternity leave, persons on parental leave, recipients of parental allowance, job seekers, persons receiving assistance in material need, persons dependent on the care of another person, applicants for international protection and persons granted a visa for tolerated stay exceeding 90 days.

Good to know

Health insurance cover in the Czech Republic is mandatory. In the event that you are in employment, check with your health insurance company that your employer is paying your health insurance. Failure to pay your health insurance on time and in the correct amount will result in a debt which your health insurance company will enforce including a fine. Any arrears on insurance whatsoever are serious circumstances for assessing a possible later application for Czech citizenship.

Where

A list of health insurance companies can be found on the website of the Ministry of Health of the Czech Republic (Ministerstvo zdravotnictví): (in Czech): www.mzcr.cz/dokumenty/zdravotni-pojistovny_945_839_1.html.