Croatia Health Insurance

The Republic of Croatia is located in Central and South Eastern Europe. Croatia shares its borders with Slovenia, Hungary, Serbia, Bosnia, Montenegro and Herzegovina. Croatia became a de-facto independent sovereign state in 1991 following the collapse of the Soviet Union. However, actual independence was not realized until 1995 following in the wake of the Croatian War of Independence. Today Croatia is a democratic republic where the head of the national government is an elected President.

The capital city is Zagreb and the official language is Croatian. The country is divided into twenty counties and the capital city. The population is estimated to be approximately 4.4 million people. Croatia is hoping to become a member of the European Union in 2013, a process which has taken a lot of time to complete. The country is an emerging and developing high income economy. Croatia’s national resources include oil, coal, iron ore, calcium, asphalt, silica and salt. Tourism has expanded and the economy has rebounded from the Croatian War of Independence. The unemployment rate is estimated to be 17.6 percent.

Croatia is currently ranked as the 18th most popular tourist destination in the world. However, while tourism is a major source of income for the country, the services sector dominates the economy, accounting for 76.6 percent of GDP in 2009 and 64.5 percent of the workforce in 2004. The country also earns income from the industry sector by way of ship building, food processing, information technology, timber, bio chemicals and pharmaceuticals. Tourists are drawn to Croatia’s timeless pleasures, its extensive coastline with many beaches, ancient ruins, great nightlife and pristine forests. The country has been influenced by The Romains, Venetians and Italians who bought a European flavour to the country’s food, style and architecture.

Croatia’s terrain is hilly in the north and flat in the east with many major rivers including the Danube River, which is the second longest river in Europe. Central and southern Croatia contains low mountains and forest highlands. The country is famous for its national parks. It is home to the Plitivice lakes which contains 16 individual lakes with waterfalls and distinctive colours. The weather in Croatia is mixed. The coast experiences dry summers and mild winters. In contrast, other parts of the country have hot summers and cold winters. Most tourists visit Croatia between April and September with July and August being the peak and most expensive months to visit.

Croatia Health Care and Insurance

The medical facilities in Croatia are of a similar standard to those found in Western countries. However, the public medical facilities are facing constraints to their budgets and lack of funding. In 2009 the total expenditure on health care was 7.8 percent of the country’s GDP. Croatia has a large number of private medical and dental facilities. Some dentists in Croatia have been seeing an increase in short term patients coming to Croatia for dental treatment as it is cheaper than in Western countries. Most medical facilities in Croatia expect immediate cash payment for their services and will not accept credit cards.

Some medications are in short supply in public hospitals and clinics but are available in private pharmacies. The pharmacies alternate staying open after hours in the larger cities. Travellers requiring specific medications should bring sufficient supplies with them to Croatia as not all medications available in other countries are available in Croatia.

In the capital city of Zagreb the main medical facility is KBC Hosptial which has two locations (telephone: 238 8888 or 455 2333). The main trauma hospital is Traumatoligja (telephone: 461 0011). A travel clinic is available in Rijeka (telephone: 385 51 213 605). Except in the case of an emergency, patients are seen by a primary health physician who can refer them onto a hospital or specialist if required. Many medical staff in Croatia can speak English which is helpful for tourists.

Travellers with life threatening injuries will need to be transported to a nearby country with more adequate medical facilities. The cost of emergency medical evacuation is very expensive. We recommend that travellers to Croatia purchase medical insurance that includes medical evacuation in the event of an emergency.

The Ministry of Health and Social Welfare is in charge of health care and welfare in Croatia. Basic health insurance is mandatory in Croatia and covers the right to receive health care and financial benefits (such as paid salary during sick and maternity leave) and transport costs via the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance. The monthly contribution to health insurance is approximately 400 Kuna per month and is taken from employees salaries. Some people also take out additional private health insurance to increase the benefits they receive.

Croatia and the United Kingdom have a reciprocal health agreement where UK travellers to Croatia will be given emergency medical treatment but need to contribute 20 percent of the cost. Health insurance can cover the 20 percent out of pocket expense. Some other countries in the European Union also have a similar arrangement with Croatia. These countries include Austria, Belgium, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the Czech Republic, France, Germany, Hungary, Italy, Luxembourg, Macedonia, Montenegro, the Netherlands, Poland, Romania, Serbia, Slovakia and Slovenia. Visitors should check if the country they are from has an agreement with Croatia.

Travellers who are from countries that do not have agreements with Croatia need to bear the cost of medical treatment themselves. It is recommended that they take out medical insurance for Croatia to cover the cost. Foreigners living in Croatia with temporary residence must have health insurance. A residence permit will not be granted unless proof can be given that the foreigner has health insurance.

Croatia Travel Insurance Concerns

Travellers to Croatia are at risk of contracting tick borne encephalitis which can be prevented by receiving a series of three vaccinations. The disease can be contracted in inland Croatia but not along the country’s coastline where most tourists travel to. Travellers are advised to ensure that their childhood vaccinations are updated including measles/mumps and rubella (MMR), diphtheria/pertussis/tetanus and polio. Visitors should also be vaccinated against hepatitis A, hepatitis B and rabies (if they will be spending a great deal of time hiking/camping outdoors).

Croatia is a safe country for tourists to visit as violent crime is rare. Travellers should be careful with their personal belongings especially in public areas, including public transportation, to ensure that they are not victims of theft. Tourists should avoid going to “gentlemen’s clubs” as they may be presented with a large bar bill that they are enforced to pay. ATMs are everywhere and credit cards are frequently accepted in Croatia. This has resulted in traveller’s cheques being less frequently used and the rate that they are exchanged for to be lower.

De mining of the areas in Croatia where the war of independence took place is still ongoing. It is not estimated to be completed until 2018. Mine affected areas are marked with signs in Croatian and the international symbol for mines. Travellers should be cautious when travelling in the former war areas and the Plitvice Lakes National Park.

The emergency telephone number in Croatia is 112. For an ambulance visitors should telephone 94. Water is generally safe to drink in the major cities but should be treated or boiled in rural areas. Travellers in doubt of the safety of the water should not drink it straight from the tap. Bottled water is available for those who prefer it.

Croatia Expat Health Insurance

If you decide to travel to Croatia, we recommend that you purchase medical insurance to cover any accidents that may arise during your stay. The medical facilities in Croatia are not able to provide care for life threatening injuries and medical evacuation maybe necessary which is expensive. While some countries have agreements with Croatia to cover emergency medical care, patients will still need to contribute to the cost of the medical treatment themselves. International Medical insurance for Croatia can provide you with the peace of mind that you and your family will be fully covered. At Expat Medical Insurance we specialise in helping travellers select the right medical insurance option for their specific needs. Please contact us today for a tailored free Expat medical insurance quotation from many of the world’s leading medical insurers.

If you choose to travel to Cote d’Ivoire we recommend that you purchase a medical insurance policy that covers emergency medical evacuation. The medical facilities in the country are limited outside of Abidjan and are experiencing great shortages. At Expat Medical Insurance we can assist you with selecting a medical insurance package that meets you needs and includes such benefits as specialist visits, Doctors visits, hospitalisation, maternity care and emergency medical evacuation. Please contact us today for a no obligation free international medical insurance quotation from the world’s leading medical insurance providers.