EU Citizens and Health Insurance in the Republic of Croatia

Citizens who receive a pension from an EU Member State are entitled to use health insurance in the Republic of Croatia – thanks to EU regulations on the coordination of social security systems.

These rights are governed by two key regulations:

• Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems

• Regulation (EC) No. 987/2009 (implementing regulation)

According to these regulations:

“A person receiving a pension or pensions under the legislation of one or more Member States who is not entitled to benefits in kind under the legislation of the Member State of residence shall nevertheless receive such benefits for themselves and their family members, to the extent that they would be entitled to them under the legislation of the Member State or at least one of the Member States competent in respect of their pensions.”

In other words – if a pensioner receiving a German pension, for example, is entitled to health insurance in Germany, they may also exercise that right while residing in Croatia.

This entitlement also extends to their family members (e.g. spouse or children).

Temporary stay

This right applies during a temporary stay in the Republic of Croatia – for instance, if you are posted to work in Croatia or wish to spend your retirement period in the country. In such cases, you can access healthcare under the same conditions as insured persons of the Croatian Health Insurance Fund (HZZO) – but at the expense of your foreign health insurance provider.

How to obtain health insurance coverage in Croatia?

To exercise the right to health insurance in the Republic of Croatia, you must first request from your competent health insurance institution in the country from which you receive your pension the issuance of form S1 or its electronic equivalent SED form S072. These documents must then be submitted to the competent regional office of HZZO according to your place of residence in Croatia. Based on the submitted documentation, HZZO will register you as a user of the Croatian healthcare system.

For additional information, you may contact the relevant HZZO office or the health insurance institution in the country from which you receive your pension.