Going to hospital in Poland – what to do in case of emergency

There are three ways to get to the hospital. No more, no less:

1. Involuntary – the least pleasant way and let us hope the least frequent way. If you have an accident or you feel really, really bad (remember rule number two from the beginning?) then you get transported by the ambulance, straight to the hospital. If you have a medical insurance – you don’t have to worry about a thing as everything is covered. In case you don’t have any ID with you so you cannot prove you’re insured or you just are unconscious while transported to the hospital you need to provide the insurance in 30 days from the date of the admission. If you don’t do it, you will have to pay for the treatment.

2. Voluntary – after the consultation with your family doctor or the specialist, you can get the referral to the hospital – for surgery for example. Once more, you have to provide your insurance at the day of the admission or within 30 days from it to not pay for anything. The good news is that you can only bring your ID with you together with the referral and the hospital should be able to confirm that you are eligible for the free treatment. The bad news is that it might take a while before you will get admitted, the lines to the specialists working at hospitals or the (wolne terminy) for the surgery or examinations might be later than sooner.

3. Private – if you can afford spending money but not spending time on the examination or surgery you can go to the private clinic or hospital and get things done immediately. The only thing is that you will have to pay for that. How much? It’s hard to say as it depends on the clinic/hospital.

In case of emergency

If you feel or you look like you need to call for emergency don’t waste time! Do it! All you have to do is to call 999 and tell the dispatcher several information regarding your current situation, location and your personal information. Of course, if you don’t have enough strength to do it or you’re unconscious – your friends should do it for you! After the call is done, the ambulance should be with you as soon as it’s possible and you will be taken to the hospital. We can’t say how serious your illness or injury is and for how long you will have to spend in the hospital, but we can say one thing for sure – you will have to confirm that you hold health insurance within 30 days from the hospital admission. Otherwise, you will have to pay for the treatment.