How can you get health insurance if you are not in work in 2025?

In 2025, more and more people are asking themselves how to obtain health insurance without being in employment – especially in a market where forms of employment are becoming increasingly flexible, and contracts for specific tasks or project-based work are now the norm. However, not having a job does not automatically mean a lack of health cover. The system in Poland guarantees several ways of obtaining insurance, which allow for legal access to medical services, even if you are not in full-time employment or running your own business. In this article, I have compiled the experiences of practitioners and the current procedures recommended by specialists from Firma dla Każdego and industry advisers.

When do you lose your entitlement to health insurance after leaving a job?

Experience shows that many people are unaware that their entitlement to healthcare benefits does not expire on the day their employment contract is terminated or their business ceases trading. According to the regulations, insurance cover continues for a further 30 days from the moment you lose your entitlement to insurance. It is worth using this time to sort out the necessary formalities: registering with the jobcentre, applying for voluntary insurance with the National Health Fund (NFZ), or joining the insurance scheme as a family member. This is crucial, as using the public healthcare system beyond this period without registering with the scheme means you will have to cover the full cost of treatment out of your own pocket.

What are the main options for obtaining health insurance whilst unemployed?

In Poland, an unemployed person can choose from several options to ensure they do not fall out of the healthcare system. The most important of these are:

• Registering as unemployed with the District Labour Office
• Taking out a voluntary health insurance policy with the National Health Fund (NFZ)
• Registering for insurance as a family member of an insured person
• Obtaining a decision on entitlement to social assistance benefits (e.g. from the Municipal Social Welfare Centre (MOPS) or the local authority) in the case of low income
• Taking out private health insurance

Each of these options differs in terms of formalities, costs and the scope of cover. Experts from Firma dla Każdego recommend choosing a solution tailored to your own circumstances: your employment status, family situation and plans for the future.

When is it worth registering with the jobcentre as unemployed?

For most people who suddenly lose their job, the simplest way to obtain health insurance is to register with the District Job Centre (PUP) as unemployed. The formalities are relatively straightforward: you’ll need your identity card, documents confirming your most recent insurance status (e.g. a certificate of employment) and to complete the relevant application forms. Once you have registered, the employment office automatically enrols you in the National Health Fund (NFZ) and pays your contribution – you do not need to do this yourself. Even if you are not entitled to unemployment benefit, your health cover begins on the first day of registration.

Under the Act of 27 August 2004 on healthcare services financed from public funds, your status as an unemployed person entitles you to all the benefits to which employed people are entitled. In practice, this means access to GPs, hospital treatment, and the option to obtain a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

How do you obtain voluntary health insurance with the National Health Fund (NFZ)?

If you do not wish to, or are unable to, register with the jobcentre – for example, because you do not meet the statutory requirements or are running an unregistered business – you can take out a voluntary health insurance policy with the National Health Fund (NFZ). This solution is most commonly chosen by freelancers, contractors working under specific-task contracts, and people who have opted for alternative ways of running a business, such as through a business incubator scheme.

Formally, the whole process works as follows: you submit an application to the provincial branch of the National Health Fund, attaching proof of identity, a document confirming the expiry of your previous insurance (e.g. an employment certificate, a decision to remove the business from the CEIDG) and, where applicable, confirmation of payment of the additional fee for the gap in insurance cover. The contract is concluded for an indefinite period, and you pay the contribution (9% of the average wage in the enterprise sector) directly to ZUS. The contribution rate is updated quarterly by the Central Statistical Office (GUS) – in 2025, it amounts to a minimum of 665.80 zł per month.

If there has been a gap of more than 3 months between successive periods of insurance cover, the National Health Fund (NFZ) charges an additional fee, the amount of which increases with the length of the gap and may range from 20 per cent to 200 per cent of the contribution assessment base (i.e. from approx. PLN 1,770 to over PLN 17,700 for a period of more than 10 years without insurance). However, in exceptional circumstances, the branch director may allow the fee to be paid in instalments or waive it altogether.

Who can register you for health insurance as a family member?

Not everyone needs to go through formal procedures at government offices or the National Health Fund (NFZ). If your spouse, parent or other close relative is eligible for insurance in their own right (e.g. they are in full-time employment, are self-employed, or are a pensioner), they may register you under their insurance as a family member. This applies to:

• A spouse
• Children under the age of 18 (or under 26 if they are in full-time education)
• Grandchildren
• Parents and grandparents living in the same household

The procedure is simple: you just need to notify your employer or the Social Insurance Institution (ZUS) (in the case of a pensioner) within 7 days of losing your previous entitlement to insurance. There are no additional costs involved, and health cover takes effect from the date of notification.

It is worth remembering that registering a family member for insurance is not a one-off process – the procedure must be repeated whenever the insured person changes jobs or a child finishes their education. Experience shows that many people lose their health cover precisely because they fail to fulfil this obligation.

How does voluntary health insurance work in the context of freelance work and the incubator model?

Freelancers, those working under specific-task contracts and anyone without a traditional basis for insurance often face a choice: to pay high health insurance contributions to ZUS themselves, or to opt for alternative ways of running a business. In practice, at Firmy dla Każdego, clients opt to operate under the legal personality of a business incubator – this allows them to avoid the obligation to pay the ‘high ZUS contributions’ at the outset, whilst health insurance contributions are settled on the basis of civil law contracts concluded with the foundation.

This solution ensures full legal compliance and security, and the monthly subscription fee at the incubator (usually 300–400 zł) already covers accounting services and tax returns. For those testing out a business idea, foreign nationals or those in debt, the Foundation’s model enables entry into the market without the risk of losing health cover, with a minimum of red tape. More information on such practices and benefits can be found at firmadlakazdego.pl.

How do you qualify for healthcare benefits through social assistance?

For people who are not covered by any form of insurance and who are in a difficult financial situation, the law provides for the possibility of obtaining a decision entitling them to free healthcare services. You can apply for such a decision at a social welfare centre or your local council if:

• You are not subject to compulsory health insurance
• You are not a family member of an insured person
• You have not taken out voluntary health insurance
• You meet the income criterion: 701 zł per month for a single-person household or 528 zł per person in a family

Once your application has been approved, you are entitled to benefits for the period specified in the decision (usually 90 days), and the procedure is free of charge.

How does the process work and what documents are required for voluntary health insurance?

If you choose the voluntary health insurance option with the National Health Fund (NFZ), you will need:

• An identity card or other form of identification
• An application for voluntary health insurance (form available on the NFZ website)
• A document confirming the expiry of your previous insurance cover (e.g. an employment certificate, a decision on the cessation of business activity, a decision on the loss of unemployed status)
• Confirmation of payment of the additional fee (if there has been a gap of more than 3 months)
• ZUS form ZZA (application for health insurance) with code 24 10 XX
• ZUS form ZCNA, if you are registering family members

Once you have submitted the documents and signed the contract, you must register with ZUS within 7 days. You pay your contributions by the 15th day of the following month. If the contract is terminated, you have 7 days to deregister with ZUS.

How much will voluntary health insurance cost in 2025?

The amount of the contribution for voluntary health insurance with the National Health Fund (NFZ) is determined on the basis of the average wage in the enterprise sector (as published by the Central Statistical Office (GUS)). In 2025, the minimum monthly contribution is 665.80 PLN. This contribution amounts to 9 per cent of the assessment base. In the event of long gaps in cover, an additional charge must be taken into account, which can amount to as much as 17,700 zł for a period of over 10 years without paying contributions.

As the experience of Firma dla Każdego shows, those using the business incubator avoid these fees from the outset – accounting and payroll services are included in the subscription, and there is no risk of sudden costs arising from a gap in insurance cover. This is a significant help for freelancers and those testing the waters of self-employment.

Is private health insurance a viable alternative?

The market for private health insurance policies in Poland is growing very rapidly. Policies offered by LUX MED, Medicover, TU Zdrowie and Allianz cost between 40 and 160 zł a month, whilst premium packages can cost over 200 zł. Private healthcare provides quick access to specialist doctors, diagnostic tests and rehabilitation, but it does not replace public cover in the event of serious accidents or hospital treatment. Experts from Firma dla Każdego emphasise that a private policy is a good supplement, but does not exempt you from the obligation to pay health insurance contributions to the National Health Fund (NFZ) if you are eligible for public health insurance.

How can you check your health insurance status?

You can easily check your insurance status online – via the eWUŚ system (Electronic Verification of Beneficiaries’ Entitlements) at any clinic or hospital, or independently via the PUE ZUS (ZUS Electronic Services Platform) or the Online Patient Account (IKP). You will need a trusted profile or online banking. It is worth checking regularly that your contributions are being paid, to avoid any problems accessing benefits should the need arise.

What are the consequences of not having health insurance?

In Poland, there is no penalty simply for not having health insurance if you are not legally obliged to have it. However, should you require treatment under the National Health Fund (NFZ), you will have to pay for every service out of your own pocket. For example, one day’s hospitalisation costs around 1,000 zł, whilst a surgical procedure can cost as much as several thousand zł. Furthermore, if you decide to take out voluntary insurance after a break in cover, you face the risk of a high surcharge for a break in your premium payments.

Exceptions apply in specific circumstances: children under the age of 18, pregnant women, those receiving social assistance, or holders of the Polish Card in emergency situations. In practice, ensuring the continuity of your health insurance is a key element of financial security.

How do you obtain health insurance abroad, and what is the EHIC?

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows you to access public healthcare services in European Union countries, EFTA countries, as well as Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein. The EHIC is free of charge and can be obtained after registering with the National Health Fund (NFZ). The card entitles you to medically necessary treatment whilst abroad, but it does not cover the costs of private treatment or medical transport back to Poland. It is therefore recommended that you take out additional travel insurance for the duration of your trip outside the EU.

Frequently asked questions about health insurance for the unemployed

Does a contract for specific work provide health insurance?

Yes, if it is your sole source of income – the employer pays contributions to ZUS, which entitles you to NFZ benefits. A contract for specific work does not provide this entitlement – in this case, you must arrange voluntary insurance or be registered by a family member.

Can you have both public and private health insurance at the same time?

Yes, the two systems are not mutually exclusive. A private policy is purely supplementary – it does not exempt you from the obligation to pay contributions to the National Health Fund (NFZ) if you are entitled to public health insurance.

How long do I retain cover after losing my job?

You are entitled to benefits for 30 days from the date your contract ends. During this time, it is advisable to arrange a new basis for insurance to avoid any gap in cover.

Can a child, student or person with a disability be registered for insurance?

Yes, children under the age of 18, students under the age of 26 (if they do not have their own entitlement to insurance) and people with disabilities, regardless of age, can be registered by their parents or legal guardians. In practice, registration is carried out via ZUS or the employer.

What solutions do practitioners and experts recommend?

The experience of Firma dla Każdego shows that the most important thing is to act quickly and ensure the continuity of insurance cover – regardless of the chosen form. For freelancers and those testing their own business model, a business incubator is the safest option – it does not require business registration, and the foundation handles all the paperwork and accounting. On the other hand, those planning a longer break from work should consider registering with the jobcentre or signing a contract with the National Health Fund (NFZ) in good time.

If in doubt, it is always worth consulting the specialists at Firma dla Każdego or visiting firmadlakazdego.pl, where you will find up-to-date guidance and legal and accounting support.