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05-08-2025

Health insurance: an additional month – the opportunity to receive treatment free of charge and the obligation to take out insurance

Iliustracija

For those who have compulsory health insurance, the state guarantees healthcare and compensates for its costs. In the event of job loss or a change in the form of activity, the state provides each of us with an additional month’s guarantee so that a person’s health insurance and the possibility of free treatment are not drastically interrupted. What is this?

Working without an employment contract requires caution 

An additional month is a period during which a resident is entitled to free medical services for one month after their health insurance expires. This month is an opportunity to receive free treatment on the condition that the person is able to pay this contribution by the end of the same additional month. This is necessary to ensure that compulsory health insurance does not lapse. 

For residents working under an employment contract, monthly contributions are usually paid by the employer, so if the employment situation remains unchanged, the additional month of insurance is not so relevant to them.  

People who have to pay health insurance premiums themselves - for example, those who are self-employed, starting to work under a business license, copyright agreements, or simply not currently working - should be cautious. It is important to remember to take care of your insurance and pay the required premium on time each month to avoid any problems.

Compulsory health insurance must be continuous

Specialists from the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) remind us that the additional month during which medical services are provided free of charge is a transitional period intended to allow residents to settle their compulsory health insurance matters. However, there are cases where this period is misunderstood as an additional benefit, which means that people are in no hurry to take out further insurance.  

“Compulsory health insurance must be continuous. This means that no monthly payment can be missed in order for a person to continue to use healthcare services paid for by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund,” says Sigita Paulauskienė, head of the Panevezys Customers Service Division of the NHIF.  

For example, if a resident terminated their employment on 31 July, they will still be entitled to free healthcare services covered by the fund until 31 August – that is, an additional month. However, it is important to remember that health insurance premiums must be paid before the end of this period. In other words, in order for health insurance to continue, you must either start working, pay the premium yourself, or become insured by the state during the additional month. If you fail to do so, your health insurance will be terminated, and “Sodra” may subsequently recover the missed premium.  

The insurance is renewed after the entire debt has been paid

The additional month is important and beneficial to residents, as it gives them extra time to arrange their compulsory health insurance when various circumstances arise. This month is relevant not only when terminating an employment contract or changing jobs. This may also apply to young adults who have completed or discontinued school or daytime studies if they do not resume their studies, do not find employment, and are not insured by the state.

There are cases when residents do not pay contributions for several months or even years. It is often believed that after a break, compulsory health insurance will come into effect again as soon as the current monthly payment is paid. But this is not true. In cases where payments are not made for a longer period, health insurance becomes effective from the date on which the debt is paid, but for no more than 5 years, and the payment for the current month. 

Find out about your health insurance online 

All residents can check their insurance status on the health insurance fund’s website here. 

You can find out how long your insurance is valid for, learn other important information about compulsory health insurance, and see what medical services you have received and how much they cost by logging into your account on the e-government portal. You can find out how long your insurance is valid for and ask other related questions not only online, but also by visiting the health insurance fund. 

(Freepic photo)

The NHIF invites you:

Last updated: 17-09-2025

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