Sanatorium – a stay for health reasons

The National Health Fund can send you to a sanatorium once every year and a half. You can also purchase a private stay in a health resort.

A stay financed by the National Health Fund

Any referral to a health resort from the Fund must be issued by a doctor who has a contract with the National Health Fund, and who knows the patient’s medical history. It must be submitted to the provincial branch of the National Health Fund, in person or by registered letter; it can be also submitted by the doctor. You need to attach to the referral your current medical examinations results such as, among others, blood count, urinalysis, chest X-ray, EKG.

The referral is then verified by a specialist in balaneutics, climatology and physical medicine or medical rehabilitation, working for the provincial department of the National Health Fund, and on this basis he or she decides within a period of 30 days whether the request is justified. The doctor also decides about the type and place of health resort.

If the National Health Fund gives a positive answer, the patient goes on a waiting list for the sanatorium. Depending on the disease and the type of treatment, waiting time varies from a few months to over a year. The waiting list can be checked on the internet website of the National Health Fund. The National Health Fund sends the patient confirmation of the referral at least 14 days prior the departure.

Health resort or sanatorium?

Depending on the place where health services are provided and the duration of the treatment, patients may be referred for spa treatment to a health resort for adults - 21 days, to a spa sanatorium for adults - 21 days, to a health resort for children aged from 3 to 18 years - 27 days, to a spa sanatorium for children aged 3 to 6 years with the carer - 21 days, to a spa sanatorium for children aged 7 to 18 years - 21 days, for rehabilitation for adults in a spa sanatorium - 28 days, for rehabilitation for adults in a spa sanatorium - 28 days. And spa out-patient treatment for adults and children is from 6 to 18 days.

Depending on the type of facility and the type of treatment you are referred for, you will be entitled to sick leave or will need to take annual leave.

If an employed person stays at a health resort, he or she will receive medical leave. On the other hand, you need to take annual leave for a stay in a spa sanatorium.

Not everything is free

If you are going to a sanatorium, you must remember that the National Health Fund does not cover the full costs. You must therefore take into account the extra cost, which is relatively small; its rate depends on the standard of the room and is determined by the Minister of Health. For example, an additional charge for a three-week stay in a single room with bathroom is approximately PLN 700. On the other hand, a stay in a dormitory-type room, without bathroom, costs approximately PLN 200. Prices also vary depending on the time of the year – in the so-called “season", which is between May and September, the charges are slightly higher.

The Fund covers the costs of three treatments a day, in the case of medical therapy, and four, in the case of rehabilitation. The patient may also purchase additional treatments after consultation with the doctor.

In the case of out-patient care in a sanatorium, the National Health Fund covers the costs of treatments, but the patient needs to pay for the accommodations and meals. The National Health Fund does not cover the cost of transport to the sanatorium, the stay of the carer, or the cost of resort taxes.