GovWire

You need to register with your local Health Insurance House (CAS in Romanian) to access state healthcare in Romania.

You have to pay to use parts of the state healthcare system, although some parts are free.

UK nationals usually access the Romanian healthcare system in one of these ways:

• paying social security contributions
• using a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) for temporary stays when studying, or as a posted (detached) worker
• registering a UK-issued S1 form with CAS (see UK-funded healthcare: getting and using an S1 form in Romania below)
• paying for private health insurance

Healthcare if you live and work in Romania

If you are planning on moving to Romania, see the guidance on Living in Romania for more information about visa and residency requirements.

You must show proof of healthcare cover:

• before you can register as a resident
• when you apply for a visa

For details about the healthcare cover required for residency applications, contact local authorities in Romania or the appropriate Romanian embassy or consulate in the UK.

You must register as a resident in Romania if youre living there for more than 3 months.

To access state healthcare, most people need to be making social security contributions and register with CAS.

Some people can register with CAS without making social security contributions, including:

• children under 18
• students aged 18 to 26 with no income (if theyre a registered Romanian resident)
• disabled people who have a certificate of proof
• pregnant women who earn below the Romanian minimum wage

Your dependants (for example, a husband or wife with no income) are entitled to register with CAS through your social security contributions.

You may be entitled to a Romanian EHIC for travel, including visits to the UK.

You may also have the right to apply for a UK S1 if you start drawing a UK State Pension (see UK-funded healthcare: getting and using an S1 form in Romania below).

How to register for healthcare

You must be a resident of Romania to register for state healthcare.

If youre employed, your employer will register you with CAS. Your social security contributions will come out of your salary before youre paid.

If youre self-employed, you need to give a tax declaration to the tax authorities (Agen?ia Na?ional? de Administrare Fiscal? (ANAF)) and arrange to make social security contributions. Then register with CAS.

If you are not working and you are not someones dependant, you need register with the tax authorities (ANAF) and arrange to make social security contributions. Then register with CAS.

Once CAS has confirmed your application, youll get a health card (Card Na?ional de Asigur?ri de S?n?tate) in the post.

To register with a GP, go to your nearest CAS office. Theres a CAS office in the main city of each county.

How much youll pay

You have to pay to use parts of the state healthcare system in Romania, although some parts are free.

Charges are usually between 10% and 80% of the cost of treatment.

For prescription medicines, the minimum youll pay is 10% of the cost. The maximum youll pay is the full cost.

GP appointments and A&E visits are both free of charge.

If youre hospitalised because a doctor says you need to go to hospital, you may be charged around 2.50 euros when youre discharged.

Dental care is not usually free, and most dentists have private practices. You can get emergency free dental care at some health centres and state hospitals.

If your UK employer has sent you to Romania temporarily (posted workers)

A posted worker, also known as a detached worker, is someone employed or self-employed in the UK, but temporarily sent to a European Economic Area (EEA) country.

UK posted workers can access healthcare in Romania using an EHIC, GHIC or S1 form.

HMRC has a helpline for National Insurance enquiries from non-UK residents. They can answer questions about posted worker status and explain which documents you will need to get healthcare while posted.

UK-funded healthcare: getting and using using an S1 form in Romania

Theres different guidance if you have an S1 as a posted worker (see If your UK employer has sent you to Romania temporarily (posted workers) above).

You may be entitled to state healthcare paid for by the UK if youre a resident in Romania and receive a UK State Pension or an exportable benefit. See Planning your healthcare abroad on the NHS website for more information about eligibility.

You may also be entitled to an S1 form if youre a frontier worker (someone who works in one state and lives in another). You must contact HMRC National Insurance enquiries to find out if youre eligible.

Once you have an S1 form, you must register it on the Romanian system.

This will mean you and your dependants will be entitled to healthcare in Romania on the same basis as a Romanian citizen.

Youll also get:

• a UK-issued EHIC or GHIC for travel
• planned treatments in other EU countries

Dependants and family members may be classified differently in Romania than the UK.

Check with the local authorities when you register your S1 form.

If youre entitled to an S1 form as a dependant of a State Pensioner, your health cover will be cancelled once you begin claiming your UK State Pension.

You will be sent a new S1 form to your registered address from NHS Overseas Healthcare Services. You must register this form to ensure continuation of healthcare cover.

You are responsible for informing NHS Overseas Healthcare Services if you change your address or your circumstances change.

How to get an S1 form

If you have a UK State Pension or another qualifying exportable benefit, you must request an application form by phone from NHS Overseas Healthcare Services (see contact details above).

How to use an S1 form in Romania

You must register as a resident before registering your S1.

You must register your S1 form with CAS in your local area. There is a CAS office in the main city of each county.

Once registered, you can present the S1 form to medical service providers in Romanias health insurance system when you need medical support.