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Bulgaria Expat Health Insurance

Located in southeastern Europe and in the northeastern portion of the Balkan peninsula, Bulgaria is a small country but spans 13 centuries of history. With a population of just about 7.1 million and a landmass of only 111,000 square kilometers, Bulgaria is working hard to maximize its tourist draw in order to boost its economy. With a moderate climate, majestic mountain ranges, gently rolling hills, and a glistening stretch of coastline on the Black Sea, along with ancient architecture and Eastern European culture to experience, Bulgaria offers numerous summer and winter attractions for any traveler's tastes. Political reformation took place in 1989, and the new, democratic government set their sights on rebuilding Bulgaria as a forward looking nation and pursued acceptance into the European Union, a goal finally realized in 2007, though with conditions. Poverty, a broken economy, rampant corruption, organized crime, poor food safety, an utterly disorganized government and triple digit inflation have made forward movement difficult in Bulgaria. Nevertheless, some progress has been made and efforts are still underway.

Bulgaria Healthcare System

Historically, health conditions in Bulgaria have been considered very poor, with health care facilities and practitioners mostly made up of holdovers from the Eastern Bloc communist regime. Starting in 1992, governmental attention was given to the health care system and a new, decentralized national health insurance plan was devised. The aim is to provide efficient and affordable health care to all through Bulgaria's National Health Program.

Bulgaria's health system is overseen by the Ministry of Health and governed by 28 autonomous sub-committees, one in each region of the country. Their goal is to provide efficient and affordable health care to all through a socialized health care program. The solution decided upon was to privatize the medical industry, but maintain strict managerial privileges by the government to set pricing, quality of care standards, and maintain availability. Formerly state owned facilities were turned over to local regional administrators or private operating groups to free up the national government from the labor of operation, essentially creating a public-private health sector. Doctors, clinics and hospitals can then contract with the Ministry of Health to be a part of the health care network at prearranged rates. Fully private hospitals, clinics, and specialist's offices are available as well, and being outside of the Bulgarian health care network, they are free to set their own rates but do not qualify for insurance reimbursement and are thus less popular with the general public. Bulgarian hospitals and clinics are usually not up to the same standards as their western European counterparts, but most procedures are available and thanks to foreign states and aid groups, better equipment and more experienced staff are now becoming common, some specialized services are yet unavailable however. Private hospitals and clinics tend to offer more modern amenities and better bedside manner, but at a higher price. There is still general complaint amongst Bulgarians that the system is faulted, primarily due to some of the population not qualifying for medical insurance coverage and that the health care system doesn't have sufficient capacity either in staff, facilities, or management to handle the demand, as well as lower than acceptable standards of care due to lack of competition.

Bulgarian Health Insurance Concerns

Bulgaria's medical insurance system is still evolving, but a compulsory medical insurance initiative is in place to offer coverage to most Bulgarians. The Bulgaria Health Insurance Act of 1998 outlines a plan to provide health coverage to all its citizens and permanent residents, ensuring free and available medical care for all, and regulating operation of facilities, thus mandating higher standards of care.

To date most Bulgarians feel it has not yet succeeded in these efforts. All employees and most low income are covered by the scheme, however about 20 percent of Bulgarians are not covered under the system, mostly self employed workers who do not remit taxes. The biggest problem in Bulgaria is poverty, as of 2006 approximately 32 percent of the population of Bulgaria survived on less than €2.65 per day, the figure which marks the worldwide poverty line according to the World Bank Poverty Assessment. This leaves little tax money to be put toward health care and puts a large percentage of insured on the low income list for free health care. Traditionally, the lowest income population place the highest demand on any health care system, thus causing it to be overworked and underfunded. The Bulgarian Health Insurance System receives funding from a 6 percent tax on all employees’ income which is intended to be used to provide all covered by the system with equal care. A copay of 1 percent of the minimum monthly salary, adjusted annually for inflation but approximately €1.20 for 2010, is to be paid at the time of treatment by all insured, and 2 percent of the total cost of treatment is paid per night of stay in hospital. The low intake of funds and high payout for coverage by the government has resulted in a system that is perennially cash strapped, causing Bulgaria to rely heavily on foreign loans and financial aid to keep the health system solvent.

Private insurance is now legalized in Bulgaria, known locally as Voluntary Health Insurance (VHI), and Bulgarian health insurance can now be purchased as a supplement to cover non-insured treatments or purchased as total risk health insurance, and is able to be used at private health facilities within the respective networks. This private third party insurance is available domestically and internationally and is a good choice for traveler's and non-permanent residents who will not be covered under Bulgaria's national medical insurance program.

Bulgaria Travel Insurance Information

Regularly required prescription medications should be brought for the full extent of the stay as some are difficult to find and will usually require prescription for refill should you run out. As all medical treatment received by non-residents, except some critical care, will need to be paid for in full by the private individual or his care provider, it is therefore recommended that visitors purchase comprehensive traveler's health insurance for the period they will be staying in Bulgaria. This is not strictly a bad thing, because while the medical facilities in Bulgaria are not always on par with more developed countries, many treatments, both dental and medical, are available at acceptable standards and for much lower rates than other parts of Europe and the most of the rest of the developed world. This has resulted in a growing medical tourism industry, in which visitors can couple their visit to Bulgaria on holiday with receipt of non-critical medical treatment. A traveler's Bulgarian health insurance package can help to offset some of the cost and is commonly accepted by both public and private health care providers. Some research will be required to ensure the care desired and provider are within the policy limits. Be aware, drinking tap water should be avoided and it is advisable to make sure that all normal vaccinations are up to date prior to travel to Bulgaria, it is also advisable to receive inoculation for hepatitis A and B and tuberculosis.

Bulgaria Expat Health Insurance

No matter where you travel or live, it is wise to make sure that you and your family are protected in case of emergency. Global Health Insurance has agents who will, completely free of charge, help you select the right medical coverage to fit any budget, trip plans, or destination. While in Bulgaria, expat health insurance can provide you high benefit levels, ensuring you access to quality care internationally and within Bulgaria. Expat health insurance policies we work with can provide a number of optional benefits, including but not limited to maternity, dental, emergency medical evacuation and repatriation. Whether you will be traveling to Bulgaria on holiday or making a long-term relocation, or plan to visit anywhere else around the world, Global Health Insurance has coverage that can be tailored to fit your needs.