Where to go if you have health problems? What should you check regarding your insurance? Are you covered in case of travelling abroad? If you are disabled, there is a great app which can help you.

What is the structure of the healthcare system in Hungary briefly? 

The settlements in Hungary are divided into smaller areas. Each area has a GP. It is recommended to go to the family doctor assigned to the person territorially, but there is a free choice of doctor in Hungary. In the evening, during the night each bigger area has a GP in charge that you can contact. In case of emergency people can call the on-duty care (the GP in charge) or the ambulance or visit the nearest hospital's Emergency Departament. You can check here the list of the nightshifts and the list of the hospitals:

On-duty cares: https://www.ugyelet.hu/en/orvosi-ugyeletek

Hospitals in Hungary (Emergency Department): https://www.hospitalsworldguide.com/hospitals-in-hungary/

The GP has to give a referral to the patient to be accepted by a specialist in a state hospital. Without a referral you can only be accepted and examined by a specialist in the private care system.

If I have a chronic disease?

If you have a chronic disease you know about, you should bring with you the medication needed for your treatment and the documents in English proving your current disease.

If I have an accident? 

In case of a serious accident contact the emergency number. In case of a less serious accident check the First Aid App or contact a doctor.

In case of a pregnancy „accident”, you should be aware that in Hungary, abortions are performed only in very justified cases (health reasons)

There are currently two emergency contraceptive pills on the market in Hungary. In one case, the pill should be taken within 72 hours after intercourse, while the other type of pill should be taken within 120 hours. It is important to note here that the effectiveness of a 72-hour tablet decreases with time, so it is advisable to obtain it as soon as possible.

Emergency contraceptive pills should only be prescribed by a GP or gynecologist, so visit one as soon as possible if you need such a medication. The post-event tablet pill can also be prescribed by the GP from the on-duty care, if no other doctor is available. If your gynecologist or GP has prescribed a post-event tablet pill, it can be purchased with a prescription from any pharmacy.

You should be aware that the distribution of abortion pills in Hungary is illegal.

If I have a less serious disease, symptoms? 

If you don't want to visit a doctor, because you don't have serious symptoms, you can check some „self help online guides”: https://www.nhsinform.scot/self-help-guides

If your symptoms get worse, consult a physician.

If I need a surgery?

Befora having the surgery you should check, if your insurance covers it or not. Usually insurances are covering the one-day interventions.

What should I check regarding my insurance? 

You should check:

number of your insurance contract

the validity: time and place (if you can use only in Hungary or in EU or EEA or world-wide)

the amount of the insurance limit

what is the insurance exactly covering: one day intervention, dental treatment, physiotherapy, medication etc.

who should you contact, if you are sick

do you have to pay on the spot and send the invoices, documents to the insurance company, or you don't have to pay, just send the documentation

what kind of documents does the insurance company need

within how many days do you have to send the documentation and in which form (email, fax, mail)

If I will be travelling, am I covered? 

Before you are travelling check your insurance, if it's valid only in Hungary or outside Hungary too.

Some bank companies are providing free travel insurance with their embossed cards automatically. The insurance is valid abroad for occasional trips of usually up to 30 or 60  days. The services are covering:

Health insurance (eg accident, illness, emergency dental care, repatriation of corpses)

Travel assistance and insurance (eg patient transport, patient visits, travel expenses, early travel arrangements, extension of stay abroad)

Accident insurance (eg accidental death, accident-related expenses, funeral expenses)

Baggage insurance, baggage delay, canceled flight, legal protection

Legal aid assistance and insurance (personal liability insurance, lawyer's fees, security deposit)

As a conclusion it is worth to choose a bank which is providing automatically with its' cards travel insurance too. In Hungary Erste Bank, Raiffeisen Bank, K&H are some of the banks providing travel insurance.

If I am disabled? 

There is a large database for people living with disabilities. Unfortunately it is reachable only in Hungarian language. But if you have any questions, you need detailed information, please contact us, and we will help you, if you are living with disabilities and you want to study in Hungary.

You can find information for people with disabilities here:

https://www.efiportal.hu/

A great, unique app is the Route4u: Route4u is a route planner (territory of Hungary) to provide personalized door-to-door navigation for wheelchair, stroller, or any other rolling device using sidewalk and pedestrian crossing data as well as public transportation information. The unique app displays also accessibility information about shops, cafes, restaurants and public buildings in terms of accessibility and whether they have an accessible restroom.