Health is one of the most valuable assets, yet access to medical care in Poland can be challenging. Many people opt for private treatment to avoid long waiting times in the public healthcare system. However, the costs of private medical services can significantly strain household budgets. How can health insurance help cover these expenses? Let’s take a look at the numbers.
Costs of Private Healthcare in Poland
According to a 2023 report by the Polish Chamber of Insurance (PIU), Poles spent over 60 billion złoty on private treatment. More and more people are choosing to see specialists outside the National Health Fund (NFZ) system, primarily due to long waiting times for services.
Here are examples of private medical service costs in Poland:
- Specialist consultation: 200–400 zł (e.g., cardiologist, neurologist, orthopedist)
- Psychiatric visit: 250–500 zł
- Psychological therapy: 150–300 zł per session
- Laboratory tests: 50–500 zł (e.g., blood count – 30 zł, comprehensive hormonal tests – 300 zł)
- Magnetic resonance imaging (MRI): 600–1500 zł, depending on the body part examined
- Computed tomography (CT): 300–1000 zł
- Stay in a private hospital: from 3000 zł per day for surgical procedures
As you can see, even single visits and tests can involve significant expenses. For many, regular use of private healthcare without insurance is financially unattainable.
Is Health Insurance Worth It?
Private health insurance offers an alternative for those who want to avoid long waiting times and high one-time treatment costs. Depending on the coverage, a policy can include specialist consultations, diagnostic tests, hospital treatment, and rehabilitation.
The average monthly cost of private health insurance in Poland is:
- Basic packages: 50–150 zł (limited access to specialists, basic tests)
- Extended packages: 150–400 zł (wide range of specialists, diagnostics, procedures)
- Premium: 400–1000 zł (full care, surgical procedures, hospitalization)
For comparison, the cost of a single specialist visit at a private facility may equal the monthly premium for health insurance, which covers several such visits per year.
Benefits of Having Health Insurance
- Faster access to doctors – No need to wait months for a consultation.
- Lower treatment costs – Coverage for visits, tests, and procedures.
- Comprehensive diagnostics – Regular preventive check-ups.
- Access to rehabilitation – Insurance often covers physiotherapy and specialist consultations.
- Protection in emergencies – Coverage for hospitalization and surgery costs.
Private healthcare in Poland comes with high costs, but properly chosen insurance can significantly reduce them. More and more people are opting for additional health coverage to ensure quick access to doctors and modern diagnostics. Investing in a health insurance policy is not just about comfort but also long-term savings and security.
