Healthcare in Bulgaria

9POSTS

7 years ago

My wife and I will be retiring to Europe within the next few years. We love Sofia (wife is Bulgarian, I鈥檓 from the United States), but wanted to know how good is healthcare for older retirees in a city like Sofia?

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hamousher Active member

25POSTS

7 years ago

Hi Jim, on the subject of healthcare, I am also retired, but can't give a fair answer to your question as I have several advantages.聽 As a British citizen we have an arrangement with the Bulgarian National Health System and also as a retired person I get free healthcare the same as a Bulgarian.聽 The only experience I have of the system in Sofia is when I needed to see a consultant last year.聽 The appointment was immediate and faster than the UK.聽 The consultant was very thorough and prescribed some new medication.聽 So I was impressed.聽 I have heard of other people who have had faster and better treatment than in the UK.

2 members reacted to this post

JimAH1152 New member

9POSTS

7 years ago

Thanks! I will keep an open mind about the quality of healthcare there.

Hebburnman New member

6POSTS

7 years ago

Hi hope you don鈥檛 mind me joining in in on your post ,I鈥檓 considering moving to Sofia, and health care is one of the things I鈥檓 concerned about as I have some health issues
I鈥檓 a uk citizen so have some cover but do people take out health cover, just under retirement age just wondering if the cost would be worthwhile expense
Thanks Les

hamousher Active member

25POSTS

7 years ago

Hi Les,聽 There are a number of various factors that will affect you to live in Bulgaria.聽 Basically as a foreigner in the country you will need healthcare insurance as you are below retirement age.聽 The cost of insurance is quite low, but I don't know the specifics if you have health problems.聽 You could make some inquiries before coming to live here.聽 I know on here there is some information on health insurance so check that.聽 My wife says that a monthly premium is around 20 lv per month.聽 Hope this helps but if you need any more info. do ask, as I am a UK citizen and have only lived in Bulgaria since May this year I am well up to date with most of the issues for UK people coming to live here.

Dave

Hebburnman New member

6POSTS

7 years ago

Thanks Dave
I have been checking the NHIF website for information which is based in Sofia so I may call into their office to see what info I can find out about prescriptions etc
I checked out the cigna website for a quote for insurance but it came out at over 拢200 per month, but hopefully I will find something lees costly , it seems from the information I have read that once you reach retirement age you get some form of cover ,but I will have to check if the uks position in EU will have any effect on this
Any Thanks for the reply and good luck for your new life in Bulgaria
Les

Stephen_T Active member

48POSTS

7 years ago

The free healthcare is terrible, the doctors and equipment are from the Soviet era and nobody cares. Anyone young and competent has moved to Europe or to a private hospital. For anything serious you need to pay at a private hospital, I recommend Tokuda, however its expensive (55-100 leva to see a specialist doctor) and if you need to stay and paying out of pocket its about 800-900 leva for three nights. So if you think youll need it, get health insurance, but make sure you check which hospitals they cover!

GinnyHench Active member

79POSTS

7 years ago

Hello- I am also interested in health insurance issues- I am retired and in very good health at present. I have looked at the official websites, but the information is not completely clear to me. Any thoughts or tips?

kojidae Serial expat

588POSTS

7 years ago

I recall the insurance websites being (1) highly inflated and (2) little to no information in English. (But this was five years ago when I was looking).

My recommendation is to get health insurance once you are here, if possible with a Bulgarian speaker. There are more cost effective packages available then what you will be quoted online (for similar coverage). I ended up just getting minimum required coverage (which is basically just expatriation of remains and severe accidents) and paying out of pocket for what I needed for the first five years, and then getting on the national insurance once I could (once you have a permanent residence permit you qualify for national insurance).