Background information

With changes to the Law on Health Insurance, the health insurance of an adult Ukrainian citizen is covered by the state for a period of 90 days from the date of temporary protection or from 26 April.

The status of temporary protection granted is certified by an alien registration card issued by the State Agency for Refugees (Art. 41, para. 1, item 5 of the LRA).

Persons granted temporary protection from a vulnerable group shall receive the necessary medical care under the conditions and according to the procedure for Bulgarian citizens.

Vulnerable persons are: minors, unaccompanied minors, disabled persons, elderly persons, pregnant women, single parents with children under the age of majority, victims of trafficking in human beings, persons with severe health problems, persons with mental disorders and persons who have suffered torture, rape or other serious forms of mental, physical or sexual violence.

Content of measure

On 25 July, the term of the health insurance of persons who received temporary protection in Bulgaria before 26 April 2022 expired. After that date, the health insurance must be paid for by the persons with temporary protection themselves. Exceptions are children under 18 and adults – over 63 for women and over 65 for men for whom the health insurance contributions will be at the expense of the state for the entire period of temporary protection.

The health insurance is covered by the state budget for all persons under the age of 18, in full-time education up to the completion of secondary education but not later than the age of 22, in full-time education up to the age of 26 or retired.

The amount of the monthly health contribution is BGN 28.40. The amount is paid by the 25 of the month following the one to which it refers. The health contribution for the month of August 2022 year must be paid by 25 September at the latest.

If the person is employed, they must pay monthly health insurance contributions (8% of the salary). In case of self-employment, the person needs to pay monthly contributions in person. If one is registered as unemployed with the Labour Office and receive unemployment benefit, the health insurance is covered by the state for the period of unemployment benefit.

Use of measure

According to the data of the unified portal "BG for Ukraine", as of July 2022 in Bulgaria there are 87,000 Ukrainians and 39,000 of them are children.

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Local / regional government EU (Council, EC, EP)	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

The social partners are not involved in designing and implementing this registration initiative. The government together with the European Commission initiated and organised the nationwide registration system.

Views and reactions

Confederation of Independent Trade Unions in Bulgaria (CITUB) supports the Resolution on Ukraine, approved at the meeting of the Executive Committee of the European Trade Union Confederation on 16 and 17 March. The Resolution insists for full implementation of the Temporary Protection Directive through solidarity and shared responsibility between EU Member States, guaranteeing the full range of rights, which include equal access to healthcare as the Bulgarian citizens. No other views about the health insurance of Ukrainian refugees in Bulgaria are publicly expressed by social partners.

Sources

• 30 May 2022: Many questions. Why is it so difficult to provide medical care to Ukrainians? (www.svobodnaevropa.bg)
• 11 July 2022: Until when does the state cover the health insurance of persons with temporary protection (ukraine.gov.bg)
• 12 July 2022: The health insurance of Ukrainians, which is covered by the state, is expiring (bnr.bg)
• 10 October 2022: Healthcare for newly recognised refugees and humanitarian status holders (refugee.bg)