Anyone who wants to emigrate to Croatia will sooner or later ask themselves: How does healthcare actually work there? We also had to deal with this question. There are a few things to consider, but don’t worry – we’ll take you step by step.

 

Statutory health insurance in Croatia

Just like in Germany, health insurance is mandatory in Croatia, especially for obtaining a temporary residence permit. But how do you register with the HZZO (the Croatian public health insurance)? Two requirements must be met:

 

◉ 1. Main residence in Croatia: (Don’t forget the deregistration certificate from Germany!)

◉ 2. Proof of deregistration from your German health insurance company

 

That sounds feasible, doesn’t it? But what if, like us, you’re moving around the country with a caravan and don’t have a permanent residence? In this case, you can theoretically stay with your German health insurance company, but the benefits will be adjusted to the Croatian level. With a German contribution rate, this can quickly become expensive. You can find all information about deregistration in Germany here Deregister from Germany?

 

International health insurance as an alternative

Long-term international health insurance can be a good solution if you want to remain flexible for the time being. We also opted for this option and took out cover for a year. Why? Because we want to decide where exactly our new place of residence will be during this period.

🌟 Our advantages Tips 🌟

◉ Flexible contract term (between one and five years)

◉ One-off payment of the premium, no monthly stress

◉ Cost transparency, particularly helpful without a regular income

 

We don’t yet know whether the insurance really delivers what it promises. But we’ll keep you up to date here.

 

Medical care in Croatia

Medical care in Croatia is solid. There are hospitals, outpatient clinics and pharmacies (recognizable by the green cross) in every larger town. Although the buildings do not always look modern from the outside, the treatment is generally good.

 

Renowned hospitals in Croatia

In addition to the impressive university hospital in Zagreb, there are other renowned clinics:

Quelle: wikipedia.org

◉ KBC Rijeka
◉ KBC Split
◉ KBC Osijek

The care corresponds to a good European standard. In an emergency, however, you should make sure that the doctor treating you has a contract with the Croatian HZZO in order to avoid high private bills.

 

Health tourism in Croatia

Croatia is becoming increasingly popular for health tourism, especially in areas such as dentistry, ophthalmology and even plastic surgery. Why? The costs are lower, but the quality is comparable to that in Germany. Croatia is particularly worth a look for minor procedures.

 

A natural advantage: living by the sea

For allergy sufferers or people with respiratory diseases, life on the Croatian coast is a real plus. The sea air contains salt, which soothes the airways, and the wind blows pollen inland – ideal for taking a deep breath.

 

Important facts about healthcare in Croatia

 

Health	Unit	Year	Croatia	Germany
Hospital beds	per 100,000 inhabitants	2021	567.5	776.0
Deaths due to cancer	per 100,000 inhabitants	2020	303.9	240.3
Healthy life years, age 65 (female)	expected years	2021	5.2	11.4
Healthy life years, age 65 (male)	expected years	2021	5.1	10.2

 

Medication: How it works in Croatia

The Croatian health insurance company HZZO maintains two lists of medicines:

 

◉ 1. Osnovna lista lijekova: (Full assumption of costs by the HZZO.)

◉ 2. Dopunska lista Partial cost coverage, the rest is to be paid privately.

An exciting system in Croatia is the e-recept: here the doctor prescribes medication directly electronically. The data is stored on your insurance card and you can redeem it at any pharmacy. No paper, less effort – it’s modern and practical!

 

Our conclusion on healthcare in Croatia

Healthcare in Croatia is solid, if not perfect – but where is it? With the right insurance and a little planning, you can take advantage of medical services with peace of mind. Whether statutory health insurance, international health insurance or the e-recept system – Croatia offers a wide range of options that meet the needs of expats.

 

We hope these tips help you make the most of your expat life! Do you have personal experiences or additional tips to share? Feel free to leave us a comment! We’d love to hear from you and support you on your expat adventure. Don’t forget to share this post with others who could benefit from these tips, and stay tuned for more insights and inspiration about living as an expat.

Your Steffi & Marius