Reimbursement of costs incurred abroad

If you paid for health care services abroad, in certain cases you are entitled to reimbursement of costs from the CHIF

The following persons are entitled to reimbursement of costs from the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (CHIF):

• Insured persons who used health care services in a contracting state within the scope set out by the particular international treaty and who had to pay for these services in the contracting state despite a certificate obtained from the CHIF,
• Insured persons who used health care services in a third country which could not be postponed until their return to the Republic of Croatia (posted workers and their family members residing in a third country) if these persons are insured with the CHIF for use of health care services in third countries,
• Insured persons who used health care services in a third country to receive emergency treatment for the purpose of eliminating an immediate threat to their life and health and who, prior to going to the third country, paid a special contribution to the CHIF for use of health care services abroad (travel for private purposes),
• Insured persons who used and paid for necessary/emergency health care services in another state of the European Union, European Economic Area (Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein) or in Switzerland in accordance with the regulations of the European Union,
• Insured persons who underwent planned treatment in another member state of the EU/EEA or in Switzerland pursuant to a previously obtained approval from the CHIF, but who still had to pay for this treatment despite the obtained approval.

Reimbursement request

If you followed the stipulated procedure before traveling abroad and you still had to pay for the health care services which could not be postponed until your return to Croatia, you are entitled to request reimbursement of the costs you paid in the CHIF’s regional or branch office, to which you need to submit a written request (there is no stipulated form).

You are required to enclose the following with the request:

• Medical records on the treatment received,
• Original invoice issued to your name, which shows which treatment you received and confirms that the invoice was paid.