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23-11-2021

Relevant: on health insurance upon returning to Lithuania

Iliustracija

Laura Nakrošienė, Advisor of the Population service division (PSD) of Panevėžys Territorial Health Insurance Fund (THIF), took place at the Welcome to Panevėžys: Documents to Have Upon Return event, which was recently held online. She consulted Lithuanians living abroad and other participants on things to know on the compulsory health insurance (CHI) upon returning to Lithuania.

The event, organised by Panevėžys Development Agency, was also attended by representatives of other institutions – Renkuosi Lietuvą (I Choose Lithuania) Migration Information Centre, Employment Service, and Panevėžys City Municipality. The goal of the initiative is to gather Panevėžys citizens living abroad and keep in touch, providing relevant information.

‘We are pleased that Panevėžys THIF could contribute to the initiative and advise on the relevant topic of the CHI. Acquiring this insurance will guarantee that your treatment, health care, examinations, medicine, and medical rehabilitation are covered from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF) funds. In other words, CHI guarantees free treatment.’ said Nakrošienė, at the beginning of the presentation on health insurance.

The representative of health insurance funds noted that you can’t purchase the insurance only if you’re sick. She says that the title of the insurance itself suggests that it’s compulsory. All permanent residents of Lithuania must be covered by the CHI. Returnees often make a mistake. For example, they return and begin to settle, but forget to declare their return to Lithuania. In some cases, returnees register with the Employment Services or make the CHI payments and then get confused why they have not been covered yet. Upon consulting the Health Insurance Board, they are informed that returnees that have not declared their return are still regarded as living abroad and the CHI does not apply to them.

The PSD Advisor noted that declaring one’s place of residence is among the top priorities that should be checked off upon returning from abroad. The place of residence can be declared at the office of the municipality or elderate administration or via the E-Government Gateway.

According to Nakrošienė, all returnees become insurable, i.e. acquire the right to be insured with the CHI as of the date they declare their place of residence. It is only then that they can be insured according to a certain insurance programme in order to obtain health care services, covered from the CHIF. Health insurance funds offer consultations on health insurance by phone or e-mail – not only upon return to Lithuania. People can do it as soon as they start planning. Should they decide to apply for the CHI after their return, it would be best to do that several days after the declaration of the place of residence.

Attendees of the event were explained about the opportunities of being insured in Lithuania. First of all, CHI may be covered by the employer (as of the first day of employment and the size of the CHI payments depends on the size of the salary). There is no need to submit any additional documents to health insurance funds as it receive the data on the insurance coverage from Sodra automatically.

Self-employed residents must make CHI payments to Sodra’s banking account individually. Payments for the current month must be made until the end of the month. Upon failure to make the payment on time, the CHI is suspended and continues only upon covering the debt for the previous month and the payment for the current month. It is crucial to make the payments with the appropriate payment code.

The presentation also included a discussion on the groups of people that are covered by the state, also insurance for parents raising children. It was noted that upon returning to Lithuania, returnees must also register at a primary health care institution and mental health centre of their choice. And, most importantly, the chosen institution must have an agreement with the THIF.  

Since lots of relevant information is available on the website of the THIF at www.ligoniukasa.lrv.lt, the PSD advisor invited to take a look and demonstrated how to find various application forms, the list of e-services, and the needed treatment institution or service in the available list of treatment institutions and their services. Participants of the event were also shown how to log on and fill the application for the European Health Insurance Card or download the Provisional Replacement Certificate to a mobile phone.  

While answering questions, the representative of Panevėžys THIF emphasized that the choice of a family clinic or a primary health care centre must not necessarily depend on the place of residence. She also explained how long it usually takes to get a free access to medical services since the declaration of the place of residence and getting the CHI, and answered questions on the procedures to be taken by pregnant returnees that do not work and would like to obtain a state-funded CHI.

Nakrošienė also encouraged to inquire instead of guessing, because guessing may lead to inaccurate or outdated conclusions. According to the expert, it’s best to ask and look for more information, while health insurance funds are ready to help and give advice.

The video of the Welcome to Panevėžys: Documents to Have Upon Return event is available on Youtube channel of Panevėžys Development Agency.

Panevėžys Territorial Health Insurance Fund

The NHIF invites you:

Your questions are welcome by email [email protected] or phone: local (8 5) 232 2222, international +370 5 232 2222.

Last updated: 17-01-2022

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