Paid treatment in Lithuania

If a person is covered by compulsory health insurance (CHI), he or she is paid by the health insurance fund from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF) for his or her treatment. However, according to the list of paid services described in the legislation, in some cases payment for services in medical institutions is also legalized for patients insured with CHI, so that certain medical services will still have to be paid for.

Meanwhile, if a CHI uninsured person falls ill, he/she will have to pay for each medical service (except for emergency medical care, which is provided free of charge only to permanent residents of Lithuania), at his/her own expense. In order to receive health care services paid for from the CHIF), it is necessary to pay CHI contributions, be insured and apply to a medical institution that has a contract with the territorial health insurance fund.

Payment for health care services is required if the person:

• uninsured CHI;
• applies to a medical institution that has not concluded a contract with the territorial health insurance fund;
• wants to get a specialist consultation but does not have a referral;
• chooses additional services or procedures on its own initiative;
• chooses paid services included in the list of paid health care services approved by the Minister of Health. For example, you will have to pay for the following services: cosmetic surgery and cosmetology procedures, abortion, dental implants, acupuncture and manual therapy, medical examinations when going abroad or to acquire a weapon, obtain a driver's or aviator's license, etc.;
• chooses more expensive services, materials, procedures than reimbursed by the territorial health insurance fund: in this case you will have to pay the difference between their actual prices and free services, materials, procedures (for example, the treating doctor offers newer, more expensive drugs or treatment technologies and the patient agrees).

The person applying for personal health care should find out in advance whether the medical institution has a contract with the territorial health insurance fund, what services are paid for from the CHIF, what premium would have to be paid for more expensive services, materials and procedures. If medical institutions ask the CHI insured person to pay or to pay extra for medical services or to purchase medicines and medical aids during inpatient treatment, it is first necessary to find out why this is required, to request documents proving the legality of the premiums. Meanwhile, the medical institution, in all cases, must provide the person with all the necessary information and explain why, for what and how much he will have to pay.

If a person chooses a paid or partially paid service, all this must be recorded and certified by a doctor in the medical records. Only then must the patient sign an agreement for paid or partially paid services. The service is paid for at the cash desk of the medical institution and a check confirming the payment must be issued. It is important to know that once a medical history confirms their consent to pay for treatment or to purchase medicines or medical aids at their own expense, the patient is no longer entitled to claim compensation from the medical institution. Questions related to paid services should first be clarified in the medical institution - ask the attending physician and the administration.

If the answers or arguments provided are not convincing, it is advisable to consult with the staff of the population service department of the territorial health insurance fund of the place of residence before paying for the services or purchasing the medicines yourself. It is also possible to contact the general information of the health insurance funds by phone 370 5 232 2222 or by e-mail [email protected]

For more information, click here (in Lithuanian).