Treatment abroad - how, when and why! Everything you need to know

There are many different reasons that make patients seek treatment abroad. In some cases, their choice is dictated by the need to undergo a certain treatment, which, however, cannot be carried out anywhere in Bulgaria. There are countries that have far better equipped hospitals and specialised medical teams. They have the ability to successfully perform complex operations, in some cases life-saving operations, which cure or halt the development of rare or acute diseases.

There are also cases where travelling to another country for treatment is the choice of patients because it turns out that they can get the same services at lower prices. In case you need to have surgery abroad, it is advisable to consult at least two different specialists. You should find out in advance all possible information about the upcoming treatment, and if the necessary amount proves to be prohibitive for you - start a charity campaign to raise funds.

If you are in need of treatment abroad, or if your relative is in such a situation, we at the Pavel Andreev Foundation provide you with guidelines that we hope will be useful to you:

Commission for treatment abroad

The Commission for Treatment Abroad is tasked with "providing Bulgarian citizens with medical services outside the scope of compulsory health insurance that are related to payment for treatment of diseases abroad".

It is possible that the Bulgarian Ministry of Health will pay for the treatment of Bulgarian citizens' illnesses abroad. This is done in cases where there are not enough effective means, methods, equipment or specialists in the country to treat a specific disease in the person applying for treatment. The Commission for Treatment Abroad assesses whether the conditions mentioned above are met by carefully examining each individual case. If the Commission approves, the Ministry of Health pays for the treatment of Bulgarian citizens abroad.

Planned treatment in a European Union country

If treatment is planned to take place in an EU country, you are advised to seek detailed information on the possibilities of covering the costs through an insurer or the relevant service. By law, Bulgarian citizens are entitled to treatment in another EU country under the same conditions and at the same cost as for its own citizens.

However, some countries restrict access to some types of healthcare. Check in advance whether there are any restrictions in force by contacting the national contact in the country where you are to receive treatment. It is likely that at least some of your costs will be covered.

To ensure your social security rights, you should always make sure you use the correct form.

Treatments abroad

If you are looking for a medical facility, hospital or other healthcare institution that provides the treatment you need in another EU country, it is necessary to:

• contact your national health insurance fund;
• contact the national contact authority. You can also contact the contact authority of the country where you plan to get treatment;
• seek healthcare providers independently.

Before going abroad for treatment

There are important things you need to do to make your stay abroad for treatment go smoothly. Check with your national contact or the NHIS if the relevant procedures require prior authorisation. Check whether and to what extent your costs will be covered. If the amount you will have to pay on your own is large, you can set up a donation campaign on PavelAndreev.ORG.

Be prepared for the fact that healthcare systems in other EU countries function differently from the healthcare system in our country.

If you need more information about your rights in each individual country, you can check the European Commission's guides to national social security systems.

Specific features of treatment in an EU country

Treatment abroad in some cases requires extensive paperwork. This is the case if you want to take advantage of the possibilities for funding treatment. To do this, you must first check whether your national health system or insurance covers the planned treatment. Next, decide how you intend to have the costs covered. Of course, if there is no one to fund the treatment, you should not despair because you can always set up a charitable cause on our donation site.

Disbursement of funds for treatment can be made in agreement with the terms and reimbursement rates in the country where the treatment will take place. In case you choose this option, you can use public medical services. For this, you will need to ask your national health insurance fund for prior authorisation, known as form S2, to go abroad for treatment.

If national law states that you are entitled to the type of treatment you are applying for, but it cannot be provided within a medically reasonable time, you will also need to obtain authorisation for treatment abroad. However, if you are not automatically entitled to the treatment, the NHIF may refuse to grant it.

If you manage to get an S2 form, then the cost of your treatment will be reimbursed in accordance with the rules in the country where your treatment abroad took place. This is usually dealt with by the relevant institutions in your home country and the country where you were treated. No prepayment is required.

However, if you decide to pay for the treatment in advance, you can ask to be reimbursed. This is done according to the reimbursement rates that apply for the same treatment in the country where you are insured.

It is irrelevant to the funding processes whether the hospital or clinic where you will be treated is private or public.

Take a look at this article 100% transparency of donations to charity campaigns on the PavelAndreev.ORG platform to learn more about us.

Visit PavelAndreev.ORG's causes page to see more examples of how certain donation amounts can help.

Setting up a campaign for treatment abroad through the Pavel Andreev Foundation

If it's important for your health condition that you undergo treatment abroad, but it can't be funded by the state, nor are you able to cover the costs yourself, set up a fundraising campaign on the PavelAndreev.ORG website Many people are willing to help others who are in need. Don't hesitate, the Pavel Andreev Foundation will support your cause.