Poland cancels free healthcare for Ukrainian pensioners and unemployed refugees

From March 4, Poland canceled free healthcare insurance for some Ukrainians with temporary protection status. Pensioners and adult refugees who do not work and do not have a Polish pension may be left without it.

This was reported by Polish Radio for Ukraine.

From March 4, Poland changed the rules for access to free healthcare for Ukrainians with temporary protection status. Now such insurance is reserved only for certain vulnerable categories.

Free access to healthcare services will be available to minors under 18, pregnant women, people living in collective accommodation centers, as well as victims of violence or torture.

At the same time, some Ukrainian refugees may lose the right to free healthcare. This primarily concerns people of retirement age who live in Poland privately, but have never worked there and do not receive a Polish pension.

If a Ukrainian is officially employed, health insurance is maintained. It is valid subject to payment of contributions to the Polish social insurance system.

People who have worked in Poland for at least some time and receive even the minimum Polish pension also automatically have access to health insurance.

For those who do not work and do not have a Polish pension, the possibilities of obtaining state insurance are limited. One of the options is to take out private health insurance or be included in the insurance of a family member who works.

As a reminder, a large-scale operation to check foreigners was carried out in Poland, as a result of which 91 Ukrainian citizens received a decision on forced return.