Health insurance in Poland for foreigners: NFZ voluntary cover
Short answer: If you live in Poland and are not insured through work or family, you can sign a voluntary NFZ contract; the monthly contribution was 835.04 zł in the second quarter of 2026.
Many newcomers to Poland assume that private insurance is the only way to see a doctor. It is not. If you work on an employment contract, you are covered by the National Health Fund (NFZ) automatically. If you do not work, or you work for yourself and are not otherwise covered, you can join NFZ voluntarily. This guide explains who qualifies, what the voluntary insurance costs in 2026, and the traps to avoid.
How most people get covered
Most people in Poland are insured through compulsory insurance, which is tied to work, business activity, or being a family member of someone insured. The health contribution is 9% of the contribution base. If you have an employment contract, your employer registers you with ZUS and the contribution is deducted from your pay. For the calculation of what that does to your salary, see our [take-home pay calculator](/tools/take-home-pay-calculator).
If you lose your coverage, for instance when a contract ends, or you never had it, you can arrange voluntary insurance. The NFZ explains that a person covered voluntarily is entitled to use health services on the same principles as a person with compulsory insurance.
Who can take voluntary NFZ insurance
The conditions are set in the Act of 27 August 2004 on healthcare services financed from public funds. According to the Lublin branch of NFZ, you can sign a voluntary contract if you live in Poland, are not subject to compulsory insurance, are not insured as a family member, and fit one of the listed groups. The groups that matter most to foreigners are:
- A foreigner living in Poland on a work visa, a temporary residence permit (with one exception for a specific article of the Act on Foreigners), a permanent residence permit, an EU long-term resident permit, a humanitarian residence permit or a tolerated stay.
- A foreigner with refugee status, subsidiary protection or temporary protection in Poland.
- A non-EU, non-EFTA and non-UK student, doctoral student or graduate in a compulsory adaptation period.
- A foreigner attending a Polish language course or a preparatory course for studies in Polish.
- A volunteer registered for insurance by a public benefit or volunteer organisation.
Citizens of Poland, other EU or EFTA states and the UK can also join if they are not covered by universal insurance in their own country. Because the list has exceptions, the safe step is to ask your regional NFZ branch which basis applies to you.
What it costs in 2026
The voluntary contribution is 9% of the declared monthly income, and the base cannot be lower than a statutory figure. The NFZ branch in Łódź published its information sheet for the second quarter of 2026: the monthly contribution was 835.04 zł, based on 9,278.19 zł. NFZ notes that the amount changes every quarter, so check the figure for the current quarter before you plan a budget. It is a monthly, indivisible amount, so you pay the full month even if you only need cover for part of it.
You pay the contribution into your individual ZUS account for each calendar month by the 20th day of the following month. For example, April is due by 20 May. After each payment, you submit a DRA form to the ZUS office for your place of residence. You can get your individual ZUS account number from the eskladka.pl website.
The gap fee
If more than three months pass between the end of your previous insurance title and your application, NFZ asks for an additional fee before it signs the contract, and your coverage starts no earlier than the day you pay it. The sheet lists the fee as a share of the contribution base, shown here with the Q2 2026 amounts:
- 3 months to 1 year without insurance: 20%, which was 1,855.64 zł.
- 1 to 2 years: 50%, 4,639.10 zł.
- 2 to 5 years: 100%, 9,278.19 zł.
- 5 to 10 years: 150%, 13,917.29 zł.
- over 10 years: 200%, 18,556.38 zł.
This is the main reason not to wait. A short gap between jobs costs nothing extra if you act inside three months.
How to sign the contract
You sign a voluntary contract at the NFZ regional branch for your place of residence. According to the Lublin branch you can do it in person or by post, but you cannot sign it by email. Each branch lists its own required documents on its website, so check what yours asks for before you go.
Family members
When you sign, you must register family members who are not insured on another basis, and this does not raise your contribution. NFZ defines family members as your spouse, your children (up to 18, or up to 26 if they study, and without an age limit if certified as severely disabled), and an ascendant who shares your household.
Proof of insurance and ending the contract
Your proof of entitlement is your copy of the contract with proof that you paid the last month's contribution. Family members use the contract, the ZUS ZCNA form listing them, and the proof of payment. The contract has no end date. It ends when you ask for it in writing, after a month of unpaid contributions, or when you obtain compulsory insurance, for example by starting a job.
EHIC holders
Temporary visitors from EU countries are different. According to the Ministry of Health, NFZ covers the cost of treatment of a foreigner who shows a European Health Insurance Card (EKUZ) or the equivalent certificate. That does not replace insurance if you live in Poland.
Frequently asked questions
Is NFZ voluntary insurance cheaper than private insurance?
It depends on what you need. In the second quarter of 2026 the NFZ contribution was 835.04 zł a month, with access to the public system on the same terms as other insured people. Private plans have their own prices and rules, so compare them directly.
Can I sign the NFZ contract by email?
No. The Lublin branch says the contract is signed in person at a branch or by post, not by email.
What happens if I wait more than three months?
You must pay an additional fee before the contract is signed, and your insurance starts no earlier than the day of payment. The Q2 2026 fee for a gap of 3 months to a year was 1,855.64 zł.
Do my spouse and children pay extra?
No. Family members not insured on another basis are registered under your contract without a higher contribution.
When is the contribution due?
By the 20th of the following month, paid to your individual ZUS account.
Sources
* Photo: Jacek Halicki (stethoscope, CC BY-SA 4.0) and Karbik (clinic building, CC BY-SA 4.0), Wikimedia Commons.
