Medical assistance abroad for refugees: what can you expect?

Medical care for refugees abroad in 2025: which services are free, what you will have to pay for and why it is important to have medical insurance for Ukrainians abroad. Find out the conditions of medicine for Ukrainians in the EU in different countries, the rights of refugees and the rules for obtaining insurance

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Moving to another country is always associated with many issues, and one of the most important among them is medicine for Ukrainians in the EU. Refugees who have received temporary protection have the right to basic services, but treatment for refugees often has limitations. In this article, we will consider which medical services are provided to refugees for free, when they have to pay, and why health insurance for Ukrainians abroad remains important even with temporary protection status.

Read here whether it is mandatory to have insurance to leave Ukraine in 2025.

Find the answer to the question of whether they can be denied entry to the EU if they do not have insurance in this article.

Are you planning a trip abroad?

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Who can receive medical care abroad?

Medical care for refugees abroad is provided to those who are officially registered in the country of residence.

The temporary protection program is a special legal mechanism that allows Ukrainian citizens to legally stay in EU countries, enjoy basic rights (housing, education, medicine) and receive assistance.

The main countries where this program is currently in effect: Poland, Germany, Czech Republic, Italy, Spain, France, Austria, etc.

To be eligible for legalization on the basis of temporary protection, Ukrainians must meet the following conditions:

- Have Ukrainian citizenship.

- Permanently resided in Ukraine until February 24, 2022 and left due to the war.

The program also applies to family members of Ukrainian citizens and foreigners who had a residence permit in Ukraine and who cannot safely return to their country due to real danger.

Having received temporary protection status, Ukrainians have the right to use the state healthcare system, i.e. to consult general practitioners, receive emergency care and undergo basic examinations.

Refugee rights in Europe provide access to the most necessary, however, the level and conditions of service provision may vary depending on the country.

When you can not take out insurance when traveling abroad, what risks the lack of a policy entails and why it is worth taking care of protection in advance, read our material.

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What medical services are free for Ukrainians with temporary protection status?

Free medicine in the EU for Ukrainian refugees includes:

- Emergency care (ambulance, urgent operations, hospitalization in case of life-threatening conditions);

- Consultations of a general practitioner;

- Basic medicines included in national programs;

- Medical care for children and pregnant women;

- Vaccinations.

Assistance to Ukrainians in the EU may also include psychological support and integration programs, but does not always cover narrow-profile treatment or expensive medicines.

When will you have to pay: what restrictions are there?

Not all services are available for free. Even with temporary protection, you cannot always count on full coverage of costs.

Conditions of medical care for holders of temporary protection in different countries

Poland

Poland has provided Ukrainians with free access to medical care at all levels:

- basic medical care - visits to family doctors, ambulance calls;

- specialized outpatient care;

- diagnostic tests (by doctor's referral);

- inpatient treatment;

- psychiatric treatment;

- rehabilitation (except resorts);

- dental services (treatment of acute pain).

Do they require insurance upon entry to Poland? The current rules in 2025 in our previous article.

Germany

Ukrainians in Germany receive all the necessary medical care. They are given access to the full range of benefits and services offered by compulsory health insurance. The attending physician determines in each specific case the exact amount of necessary benefits and services.

Slovakia

Ukrainians with temporary protection status in Slovakia can receive free of charge necessary medical care in the amount determined by the VSZP insurance. This includes not only emergency care, consultations with a general practitioner, including preventive measures and vaccinations, and medical care recommended by a doctor during an examination.

Also free of charge care related to the treatment of chronic diseases (such as dialysis, oxygen therapy, chemotherapy, specific asthma treatment, echocardiography in the case of chronic autoimmune diseases), if the failure to provide care may lead to a deterioration in the person's condition and if such care is free of charge for citizens of Slovakia.

Czech Republic

Ukrainians who have received temporary protection in the Czech Republic are entitled to the same free services within the framework of the state health insurance program as Czech citizens.

State insurance in the Czech Republic covers almost all medical cases, as well as partially or fully the costs of medicines.

Austria has abolished compulsory health insurance for Ukrainians: a detailed guide to healthcare in the country is here.

France

After receiving temporary protection, Ukrainians in France receive Assurance Maladie insurance as part of the universal health protection system (Puma) and supplementary solidarity health insurance (CSS). It covers all necessary treatment, medicines in pharmacies, examinations, dental services, costs for glasses, dentures, hearing aids and medical equipment, psychological and medical support, and a medical examination.

However, when making an appointment with a doctor, you need to check his “secteur” — the principle of reimbursement of the specialist’s work: at established insurance rates or at prices set by the doctor himself. The services of doctors in “secteur 1” are fully covered by insurance, while the situation may be different for “secteur 2”.

Italy

Italy has a universal medical access system, under which all people in the country have access to necessary medical services free of charge or without excessive financial burden.

The country has a state health insurance program that covers some services, and a private one that may cover most services, but the exact list depends on the insurance conditions. For temporary migrants from Ukraine, state health insurance in Italy is available free of charge.

Hungary

After obtaining the status of a person in need of temporary protection in Hungary, Ukrainians can count on access to free medical services for six months. The list of services includes: medical screenings and examinations, general medicine and specialized care in emergency cases.

Spain

The Spanish health care system is very similar to the Ukrainian one. Here, too, it all starts with choosing a district doctor who:

- provides primary medical care,

- writes prescriptions for medications,

- writes appointments for tests,

- refers to specialists.

Prescription drugs are much cheaper at a pharmacy than without it. Usually, you can get an appointment with a local doctor within 24 hours of making an appointment.

The Spanish healthcare system guarantees free basic (with a route starting from the local doctor) and emergency medical care. Only dentistry and high-class surgical interventions are subject to a fee.

As we can see, in most EU countries the principle applies: basic and emergency care for Ukrainian refugees is free, but there are limitations and exceptions. Free medical services for refugees usually include:

- primary care from a family doctor;

- emergency treatment in case of a life-threatening situation;

- prevention, vaccination, treatment of children and pregnant women;

- treatment of chronic diseases if ignoring them threatens health;

- partially covered medications.

However, the following remain paid or partially paid:

- dentistry (except for the treatment of acute pain, which is often covered by the state);

- complex diagnostic procedures (MRI, CT, specialized tests);

- expensive medications that are not included in national programs;

- high-class surgery, aesthetic and elective surgeries;

- services of doctors in private clinics or those who work outside the state tariff grid (for example, in France - “secteur 2” doctors).

That is, although assistance to Ukrainians in the EU provides wide access to medicine, it is impossible to completely avoid costs. Each national insurance system determines its own list of coverage, and it often does not include expensive treatment.

That is why insurance for Ukrainian refugees remains a key protection tool. Medical insurance abroad allows you to cover the “gray areas” – those costs that are not covered by the state system: hospitalization, expensive treatment, purchase of medicines or consultations with narrow specialists.

The link tells you how to arrange insurance for a child to travel abroad.

Why is insurance important even if you have temporary protection status?

Having temporary protection does open up access to the EU healthcare system. But this does not mean that treatment for refugees will always be completely free. Most countries cover only basic needs, and additional costs are borne by the patient himself.

Here it is worth drawing an analogy: when applying for a visa or residence permit in any European country, insurance is a mandatory requirement. This is logical, because no one can guarantee that you will not encounter unforeseen medical expenses. The same situation applies to temporary protection: the state provides basic assistance, but everything that goes beyond its scope, you will have to pay for yourself.

That is why medical insurance abroad is not a formality, but real protection against financial risks. It:

- covers treatment and examinations in private clinics;

- compensates for the costs of medicines and hospitalization;

- is valid when traveling between EU countries;

- expands basic state guarantees.

If you are planning a trip or are already abroad, apply for insurance for Ukrainians from Visit Ukraine. This is a fast and reliable way to protect yourself and your family in any EU country. You can apply for medical insurance at Visit Ukraine online in a few minutes.

Medical insurance abroad will help you avoid unnecessary financial risks. The policy will cover not only consultations and treatment, but also a wider range of services, including medical treatment or hospitalization.

Take care of your safety with Visit Ukraine insurance, and for those who travel by their own car, it is also important to have a green card for a car abroad, which guarantees financial protection in the event of an accident.

Let us remind you! Are you going to Europe by your own car? Without the right insurance, the road can turn into fines and problems. We have already talked about car insurance in Europe for Ukrainians in 2025 and how to get a policy profitably.

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