NFZ President Filip Nowak has maintained the position that the period of treatment under the special act is not a period of insurance, so Ukrainians wishing to insure themselves voluntarily must pay an additional fee. The Fund does allow waiving this fee or paying it in instalments, but only upon application and in justified cases.
Until 5 March 2026, refugees from Ukraine with UKR status used healthcare services in Poland under the so-called special act. After it was phased out, some of them lost the right to free treatment. As “Rzeczpospolita” reports, people who wanted to voluntarily pay contributions were told at the NFZ that a contract was not possible without a one-off additional fee of approx. PLN 17–18 thousand.
Where the Additional Fee Comes From
Under the Act on healthcare services, a person applying for voluntary insurance after a break in contribution payments must pay an additional fee. For a break of 3 months to one year, this is 20% of the income adopted as the contribution basis, and for a break longer than 10 years, 200%. The NFZ treated the period of using services under the special act as a break in insurance, which, according to rp.pl, meant applying the maximum rates.
Interventions by the Commissioner for Human Rights
The matter was reported to the Commissioner for Human Rights (RPO) by a non-governmental organisation. Commissioner Marcin Wiącek asked the Fund’s president, among other things, whether the period with UKR status should not exempt people from the fee, and whether this group could be released so that they pay only current contributions. According to Forsal.pl, the RPO sent its first letter on 3 April 2026.
In September, Deputy Commissioner Adam Krzywoń wrote again. He asked about the consistency of practices across regional branches, the possibility of reducing or waiving the fee, and guidelines for the branches.
What the NFZ Replied
President Filip Nowak’s reply, dated 2 October according to Forsal.pl, maintains the earlier position. He stated that Ukrainian citizens covered by the special act were persons entitled to benefits, not insured persons. He also invoked EU law, which in his view treats such assistance as social and medical benefits that do not count toward insurance service. The NFZ therefore sees no grounds to waive the fee for the entire group.
The Fund does, however, point to an individual route. According to the reply quoted by rp.pl, the Fund “may waive the fee or spread it into monthly instalments, but not more than 12 instalments”. Regional branches were reminded of Article 68(11) of the Act and NFZ President’s Order No. 150/2020/GPF, which list material, family and health situation, and other circumstances of difficult life situations as grounds for exemption.
What This Means for People with UKR Status
- Those wishing to insure themselves voluntarily must expect an additional fee of approx. PLN 17–18 thousand, charged when the contract is concluded.
- An application can be submitted to the director of the regional NFZ branch for a waiver of the fee or for spreading it over a maximum of 12 monthly instalments.
- The application should describe the material, family or health situation. Decisions are made individually, and a waiver is not guaranteed.
- Applications can be submitted by people with UKR status living in Poland.
As of publication, the RPO has not announced any further steps in this matter.
