Health insurance, doctors, medicines and getting treatment abroad.
The right to NFZ expires 30 days after losing eligibility, and living in the USA generally places you outside the system; voluntary insurance from October 2026 costs 844.77 PLN per month, only for residents of Poland, with an additional fee up to 18,772.56 PLN; EKUZ, S1, children with Polish citizenship, and what awaits the uninsured in the hospital.
The European Health Insurance Card for Poles – what it covers, how to obtain it in 5 minutes, and where it is valid.
The NHS (National Health Service) provides free healthcare for UK residents (UK citizens, settled status, work visa, student visa after paying the IHS Immigration Health Surcharge ~£1,035/year).
How much you pay for an ambulance with private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid; the No Surprises Act protects insured individuals during air transport but not for ground ambulances; how to check the bill, appeal, negotiate, and where to file a complaint.
How Medicare works: parts A, B, C, and D, eligibility, when to enroll (7-month period around the 65th birthday, not the fall open enrollment period), costs for 2026 (part B $202.90, deductibles $283 and $1736), and penalties for late enrollment.
How to find a Polish-speaking doctor in NYC – search engines, Polish clinics, accepted insurances, FQHC.
How the Irish healthcare system works: ordinarily resident status, paid GP visits, medical card and GP visit card, €80 limit on medications (DPS), €100 fee in the emergency department, private insurance and LCR surcharge, as well as NFZ, EKUZ, and S1. Status as of October 2026.
This guide explains how to register with a Belgian health fund, the costs of visiting a doctor, how to reduce expenses with DMG and BIM status, where to call at night (1733), and how to access healthcare in Belgium with a Polish EKUZ.
How the French healthcare system works: registration with CPAM and PUMa, carte Vitale, médecin traitant, reimbursements and deductions from October 1, 2026, mutuelle, C2S, Mon soutien psy, emergency numbers, and EKUZ for visitors.
Dutch health insurance in 2026: the obligation of basisverzekering within 4 months, eigen risico of €385, zorgtoeslag, huisarts and referrals, policies from employment agencies, CAK penalties, delegation with A1, S1, EKUZ, and NFZ, along with a flowchart to help check your situation.
Mandatory health insurance in Switzerland: 3 months to obtain coverage, deductible of 300–2500 CHF, out-of-pocket expenses up to 700 CHF, premiums for 2027, PRAXIS and TEL_DIG models, dentist, psychotherapy, cross-border workers, and the right to choose, delegation with A1, NFZ, and EKUZ, with a flowchart to help check your situation.
How Austrian health insurance works: e-card, Kassenarzt vs. Wahlarzt, referrals, Rezeptgebühr of 7.55 euros in 2026, hospital, dentist, psychotherapy, family co-insurance, and what happens to NFZ after moving.
Real prices for 2026 from official price lists: specialist 330–360 PLN, health check-up package from 319 PLN, crown from ~2000 PLN, implant with crown 5000–7300 PLN – compared to prices in the USA. How to plan treatment in 2–3 weeks (implants = two trips), verify doctors (NIL register) and clinics (RPWDL), settle with HSA, and be honest about guarantees and complications upon return.
How to assist parents in Poland from abroad: authorization in IKP, ordering prescriptions, central e-registration, and the new shared e-prescription starting July 1, 2026. Why you cannot fill a Polish prescription in the USA (cross-border only works in 10 EU countries), annual prescriptions, medications for seniors 65+, prescription machines, and affordable vaccinations in pharmacies (including Shingrix).
An ambulance is free for everyone, but SOR and hospitals will bill the uninsured; this guide explains when to call 112, when to go to SOR, and when to seek night and holiday care.
The right to NFZ expires 30 days after losing eligibility, and living in the USA generally places you outside the system; voluntary insurance from October 2026 costs 844.77 PLN per month, only for residents of Poland, with an additional fee up to 18,772.56 PLN; EKUZ, S1, children with Polish citizenship, and what awaits the uninsured in the hospital.
Learn how the medical interpreter system works in the USA, when to use a certified translator, and the differences between family and professional translation.
Learn about your rights as a patient with limited English proficiency and how to request the presence of a qualified translator in a hospital, as well as why a family member cannot fulfill this role in medical decision-making.
Learn about your rights to free translation services in hospitals in the USA, as facilities are required by law to provide access to translators to ensure effective communication in your language.
Enroll in Medicare without penalty during the 7-month period around your 65th birthday, within 8 months after ending employment with insurance (COBRA does not count), and during the window from January 1 to March 31. Penalties for 2026: 10% for Part B for each full 12 months, and 1% for Part D starting from $38.99 per month.
Part A covers hospital services, Part B covers doctors and outpatient care, Part C includes Medicare Advantage plans instead of A and B, and Part D covers prescription drugs, with amounts for 2026: Part B premium $202.90, Part B deductible $283, Part A deductible $1736, and drug spending limit $2100, along with enrollment deadlines and common mistakes.
How Medicare works: parts A, B, C, and D, eligibility, when to enroll (7-month period around the 65th birthday, not the fall open enrollment period), costs for 2026 (part B $202.90, deductibles $283 and $1736), and penalties for late enrollment.
The NHS (National Health Service) provides free healthcare for UK residents (UK citizens, settled status, work visa, student visa after paying the IHS Immigration Health Surcharge ~£1,035/year).
Chicago has one of the largest Polish-speaking medical communities in the USA, concentrated in Polish hubs such as Avondale/Jackowo, Niles, Park Ridge, Norridge, and Schaumburg.
Medical bills in the USA are often SIGNIFICANTLY NEGOTIABLE, with the first question always being to request an ITEMIZED BILL (line item for each procedure with CPT codes).
The Polish community in the USA often faces the challenge of caring for elderly parents, with Medicaid Home and Community-Based Services (HCBS) waiver being the best option for low-income families, allowing for a paid family caregiver in several states.
This article explains the differences between independent living, assisted living, memory care, and nursing homes, what Medicare covers (up to 100 days of rehabilitation in SNF), when Medicaid helps, how the 5-year gift rule works, spousal protection in 2026, and home care in NY and NJ.
The Polish community in the USA has access to Polish-speaking psychologists and psychotherapists, primarily in Chicago, NYC/NJ, Boston, Detroit, and through telehealth nationwide.
How much you pay for an ambulance with private insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid; the No Surprises Act protects insured individuals during air transport but not for ground ambulances; how to check the bill, appeal, negotiate, and where to file a complaint.
Who will pay for pregnancy and childbirth: Medicaid for pregnant women, Emergency Medicaid, changes for immigrants from October 1, 2026, and 'public charge'; plus child citizenship following the Supreme Court ruling on June 30, 2026, and new regulations from August, SSN, and Polish documents.