Health insurance in Romania for expats

Romania has a combination of public and private healthcare facilities, collectively serving a population of around 19 million people.²

The public healthcare system provides universal coverage funded by social security contributions made by all working people in Romania, and annual fees by others, such as retirees and the self-employed – unless they qualify for an exemption. While services like GP appointments and emergency care are free at the point of use, other services or medications may require a co-payment.³

Other than in cases of emergency, public healthcare in Romania works through local general practitioners, known as 'family doctors', who will refer patients to specialist hospitals and clinics.

There is also a growing number of private healthcare facilities in Romania, predominantly in the capital, Bucharest, and in other major cities. These can provide comprehensive and good-quality care and require out-of-pocket payments for treatment, which you can claim back from your insurance plan if you have one.⁴

The public healthcare system in Romania is affected by a lack of funding and shortages in medical personnel, which lead to problems in delivering timely and effective healthcare.⁵ In practice, this can lead to long waiting times at hospitals and clinics, and outdated equipment and facilities.⁴

The standard of healthcare in Romania can also vary substantially from one part of the country to another. Hospitals, clinics and pharmacies are fewer and further between in smaller towns and rural areas⁶, which can make accessing vital care more difficult and time-consuming process.

On the other hand, private healthcare facilities offer better standards of care, shorter waiting times and generally better facilities. You’ll also find that most private healthcare establishments have plenty of English-speaking staff.⁴

If you have the long-term right to stay in Romania, then your healthcare treatment is the same as Romanian citizens. You’re required to make the same contributions and can access public healthcare facilities in the same way.⁶

As Romania is in the European Union, citizens of other EU countries automatically have the right to live and work in Romania and can immediately gain access to basic healthcare thanks to the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

If your stay in Romania will be a short one, then you’ll need to have some health insurance in place to cover any medical costs you might incur. This also applies if you’ve just moved to the country and need some short-term protection before you register fully for public healthcare and start making the necessary contributions. You may find that you must pay for your care up-front and claim it back later^7, which means an insurance plan with a quick reimbursement process can make a real difference.

What kind of documentation do I need to access healthcare in Romania?

Registering for the healthcare system in Romania works by selecting and signing up with a local ‘family doctor. Once you’ve found one that’s suitable and available, you can make an appointment with them to register, where they’ll also go through your medical history. You’ll need proof of your identity, a Personal Identification Number from the Romanian tax authorities, and a health insurance card that you can obtain from the National Health Insurance House.⁷

If you’re employed in Romania, then the cost of accessing the public healthcare system is automatically deducted from your salary in the form of a social security contribution. This contribution is 10% of your normal salary.⁸ If you don’t have a regular income, then you’re required to pay an annual fee to access the public healthcare system, which is currently 1980 Romanian lei (approx. £340; $450; €390).⁹

Certain groups of people are eligible for public healthcare in Romania without having to pay these fees. These are: under 18s; students between 18 and 26 without any taxable income; pregnant women who don’t earn the monthly minimum wage or more; people with disabilities; and partners of people making contributions, who can officially be registered as co-insured people.⁶

Private healthcare costs come on top of this and are available either on a pay-as-you-go basis or through monthly subscription plans. Taking out a plan represents much better value for money if you’re likely to make regular use of healthcare facilities while you’re in Romania.

Private health insurance is essential if you’re a short-term visitor to Romania and can be extremely helpful if you’re planning a long-term stay. Having access to the private system can substantially improve the access, choice and quality of the care you can receive.

What are the benefits of private health insurance in Romania?

Having private medical insurance in place in Romania means you can benefit from:

• Shorter waiting times: With long waits for treatment often affecting public health facilities in Romania, going private means, you can access the care you need quickly, whenever you need it.
• High-quality care: Private facilities tend to offer more comfortable facilities and a more dedicated standard of care.
• Dental cover: Advanced dental treatments in Romania must be paid for out-of-pocket, but private medical insurance can take care of these potentially expensive costs for you.
• Prescription costs: Availability and quality of prescription medication can be inconsistent in Romania¹⁰, so having cover for your prescription costs can be especially helpful especially if you need to source vital medicine from abroad.
• Evacuation and care abroad: If you have urgent medical needs, which you can’t get treatment for locally, a private medical insurance policy will transfer you out of Romania to another country.
• Peace of mind: Having private cover gives you reassurance you’ll be able to get the care you need.

Would I need dental insurance in Romania?

Yes. The public healthcare system in Romania only covers basic procedures as part of the contributions that you pay. You’ll get routine check-ups, extractions and fillings, but you’ll need to pay for more complex work such as root canals and implants. 

Costs are affordable compared to the amounts you’d pay elsewhere in Europe¹¹, but they can still mount up if you’re paying out-of-pocket, so having dental cover as part of private health insurance in Romania can help you keep dental spending down.

The number for all emergency services in Romania is the pan-European emergency number: 112. By relying on the European system, you should be able to access the help you need in English or another language as required. Romania also has an official emergency app called ‘Apel 112’, which is free to use, and can immediately send location information to the emergency services when a call is made.¹²