Healthcare in Poland has two layers. NFZ (Narodowy Fundusz Zdrowia, the National Health Fund) runs the public system, funded by mandatory health contributions, so if you work in Poland as an employee or sole trader you’re covered. LUX MED and Medicover are the best-known private networks. They sell medical packages, usually through employers, that give faster access to doctors and tests. Most tech workers end up using both.
This guide explains how NFZ works, what a private package adds, what each costs, and how to get started as a newcomer. It’s general information, not medical or legal advice. Rules and amounts change, so check the official links.
NFZ: public health insurance in Poland
Who is covered
You have the right to NFZ care once you’re registered for health insurance (Act on publicly funded health care, art. 67). For most readers that happens automatically:
- Employees: your employer registers you, and a 9% health contribution comes out of your salary.
- Sole traders on B2B: you register yourself when you set up your business and pay a monthly health contribution (at least PLN 432.54 a month in 2026). Our tax guide has the details.
- Family members: an insured person must register their spouse, their children (up to 18, or 26 if still studying) and any parents or grandparents living in the same household. Family members are covered from the day they’re registered (art. 3 and 67).
If you’re not insured through work
If you live in Poland and aren’t covered by any of the above, you can sign a voluntary insurance agreement with NFZ. The contribution was at least PLN 845.67 a month for July to September 2026, and is recalculated every quarter. After a gap in insurance of 3 months or more, you also pay a one-off enrolment fee, starting at PLN 1,879.27 for a gap of up to a year (NFZ).
EU citizens visiting or just arrived
If you’re insured in another EU or EFTA country, your European Health Insurance Card gives you access to necessary NFZ care during a temporary stay (NFZ). Once you start working in Poland, you switch to Polish insurance. In return, Polish insurance gets you a free Polish card (EKUZ) for trips abroad, valid for 3 years for employees (NFZ).
How to use NFZ
1. Choose a family doctor (POZ)
Primary care (podstawowa opieka zdrowotna, POZ) is your entry point. You choose a doctor, nurse and midwife at a clinic that has an NFZ contract by filing a declaration (deklaracja) at the clinic or online through your Internet Patient Account (NFZ). Your family doctor treats common illnesses, orders basic tests and writes referrals.
Some private networks also run NFZ-funded family practices. LUX MED, for example, accepts free NFZ declarations at its clinics whether or not you have a LUX MED package (LUX MED). That way your public and private care can be in the same building.
2. Set up your Internet Patient Account (IKP)
The Internetowe Konto Pacjenta at pacjent.gov.pl holds your e-prescriptions, e-referrals and test history, and you can file declarations and apply for an EKUZ there (pacjent.gov.pl). You’ll need a PESEL number and a way to log in, such as a trusted profile or bank login. Our relocation checklist explains how to get a PESEL.
3. Specialists: referrals and waiting lists
For most NFZ specialists you need a referral from an NFZ doctor. You don’t need one for a gynaecologist and obstetrician, dentist, venereologist, oncologist, psychiatrist, sports medicine doctor, psychologist or optometrist (art. 57).
If a specialist can’t see you straight away, the clinic puts you on a waiting list and gives you a date. Urgent cases (pilny) go ahead of stable ones (stabilny). You can be on only one list per service. If you miss your date without a good reason, you’re taken off the list (NFZ).
NFZ waiting times (NFZ terminy leczenia) vary a lot by specialty and city. You can search the first available date at each clinic in the official terminyleczenia.nfz.gov.pl tool. Checking clinics in nearby towns sometimes finds a much earlier date.
4. Evenings, weekends and emergencies
- Night and holiday care (nocna i świąteczna opieka) covers non-life-threatening problems from 18:00 to 8:00 on weekdays and around the clock on statutory days off. Locations are listed on NFZ’s “Gdzie się leczyć” search (NFZ).
- NFZ patient helpline: 800 190 590, 24 hours a day.
- Emergencies: call 112 or go to a hospital emergency department (SOR).
LUX MED and Medicover: private medical packages
Private packages (abonament medyczny or pakiet medyczny) are one of the most common job benefits in Polish tech. They’re sold to employers and to individuals, including sole traders.
What a package usually gives you
- Faster appointments with GPs and specialists at the network’s own clinics and partner clinics, often within days.
- Tests and diagnostics listed in the package, without a separate payment.
- Online booking, tele-consultations and an app. LUX MED’s Patient Portal (Portal Pacjenta) lets you book and manage visits under your package and under NFZ (LUX MED). Medicover’s is Medicover OnLine (Medicover).
- Occupational medicine: the pre-employment and periodic medical checks that Polish employers must arrange for their staff (Labour Code, art. 229).
LUX MED’s company offer covers outpatient care, hospital care in its own and partner hospitals, occupational medicine and psychological support, with separate packages for sole traders, firms of 5 to 100 people and larger firms (LUX MED, for companies). Medicover offers packages for sole traders that can cover you and your family, with access to its own centres and partner facilities across Poland (Medicover).
Neither company publishes package prices for companies online. Prices depend on the package level, the number of people and the region, and you request a quote.
What packages often don’t cover
Exact terms differ, so read the list of services (zakres usług). Check in particular:
- Hospital treatment and surgery: basic packages usually cover outpatient care only. Hospital cover is often a separate insurance product.
- Dentistry: may be limited to check-ups, with treatment at extra cost or a discount.
- Expensive imaging such as MRI and CT, which some packages exclude or limit.
- Family cover: adding a partner or children usually costs extra and may be deducted from your salary.
Contact details
| LUX MED | Medicover | |
|---|---|---|
| Helpline | 22 33 22 888 (Mon to Fri 6:00 to 22:00, Sat and Sun 7:00 to 21:00) | 500 900 500 |
| Online account | Portal Pacjenta (web and app) | Medicover OnLine |
| Sources | LUX MED contact | Medicover |
NFZ vs Luxmed vs Medicover: side by side
| NFZ | Private package (LUX MED, Medicover and others) | |
|---|---|---|
| Who pays | Mandatory health contributions | Your employer, you, or both |
| Can you opt out? | No, if you work in Poland | Yes, it’s optional |
| GP visits | Free at your chosen POZ clinic | Included |
| Specialists | Referral needed for most; waiting lists | Usually no referral; faster dates |
| Hospital care and emergencies | Covered | Often not, or only with extra insurance |
| Language | Polish; English depends on the doctor | Varies; ask whether you can book English-speaking doctors |
| Prescriptions | E-prescriptions, with NFZ drug refunds | E-prescriptions; private doctors can also prescribe |
Two points matter most:
- A private package doesn’t replace NFZ. You still pay health contributions, and NFZ remains your cover for hospital treatment, emergencies and serious illness.
- Private care is about speed and convenience. For a quick specialist visit or routine tests, a package can save weeks.
How to choose as a newcomer
- Ask in the interview whether the company offers a medical package, which network, which level, and whether family cover is included or paid by you.
- Register with an NFZ family doctor as soon as you have a PESEL, even if you have a package. It costs nothing and keeps your public options open.
- Check where the clinics are. A package is only useful if there’s a clinic near your home or office. Use each network’s facility search to see what’s near you, especially outside the biggest cities.
- Keep your EKUZ for trips within the EU.
If you’re comparing offers, a medical package is part of your total pay. Our salary guide and the salary after tax calculator help you compare the cash side. On B2B, packages are usually arranged differently; see paid leave and benefits on B2B.
Frequently asked questions
Do I need private health insurance in Poland?
No. If you work as an employee or sole trader, you’re covered by NFZ through mandatory contributions. Private packages from networks like LUX MED or Medicover are optional extras that mainly give faster access to specialists and tests. Many tech employers offer one as a benefit.
How do I check NFZ waiting times?
Use NFZ’s official search at terminyleczenia.nfz.gov.pl. Choose the service and region to see the first available date at each clinic with an NFZ contract. Waiting times differ a lot between clinics and towns, so it’s worth comparing several. If you can’t attend, tell the clinic as early as possible.
Can I see a specialist on NFZ without a referral?
For some specialists, yes: a gynaecologist and obstetrician, dentist, venereologist, oncologist, psychiatrist, sports medicine doctor, psychologist and optometrist. For other NFZ specialists you need a referral, usually from your family doctor. Private packages usually let you book specialists directly.
How much does NFZ cost if I’m not employed?
Voluntary NFZ insurance cost at least PLN 845.67 a month for July to September 2026, and the amount is recalculated every quarter. After a gap in insurance of 3 months or more, there’s also a one-off enrolment fee, from PLN 1,879.27. Check the current figures on the NFZ website.
Does a LUX MED or Medicover package cover hospital stays?
Usually not in basic packages, which focus on outpatient visits and tests. LUX MED offers hospital care in some company packages and sells a separate hospital insurance product. Check your package’s list of services. NFZ still covers hospital treatment and emergencies for insured people.