To obtain treatment, you must first register your S1 document.
If we have already issued a paper document or sent it electronically to an institution of the country concerned, contact that institution to determine how your S1 document is to be registered. Once you have registered, you will receive a country specific document to produce at the healthcare facility.
If you want to change the institution in your country of residence where you register your S1 document, apply for a new document. At the same time as issuing the paper S1 document, the provincial branch of the National Health Fund informs the institution of your place of residence, which you indicate in the application for the S1 document, about your entitlement.
Each Member State determines the procedure for registration of the S1 document independently. The institution may refuse to register the document if it finds that you are not entitled to the benefit in question. This will happen, for example, when:
- you are working or conducting an economic activity in that country,
- you are not proven to be a permanent resident of that country,
- the person named as a family member does not fulfil the conditions to be entitled to health insurance.
You can only obtain treatment in a public healthcare facility. If you are confused about where to apply, please see thedetails of treatment in the countries of residence. You will also find contact details for the local authority that will help you.
How to obtain health insurance under the S1 document for your family members who change their place of residence with you
The institution registering the S1 document issued to you as the main insured person decides who will be entitled to treatment in the country of residence as a family member.
Each EU/EFTA Member State determines the definition of a family member independently. It may therefore turn out that in your country of residence, health insurance is not available to a person who, according to Polish law, may be insured as a family member, e.g. parents or children over 18 years of age who continue their education.
How to obtain an S1 document for family members
You do not have to make an additional application for S1 documents for the family members you are moving with. To ensure that they have access to healthcare, report to your country of residence, when registering your S1 document, that you also want to register entitlements for your family members. Provide their details including their PESEL.
The institution of the place of residence will check which of the persons you have indicated meets the conditions to be reported as a family member. It will then apply to the National Health Fund to issue documents that will confirm the health insurance of these persons.
If the institution refuses to apply to the National Health Fund, contact us as soon as possible.
Please note. We can only confirm the entitlement of your family members if they are reported to your insurance. You report them to the Social Insurance Institution through your contribution payer, who pays the health insurance contributions on your behalf. This is either:
- your employer – if you are an employee,
- the Social Insurance Institution – if it pays you a pension,
- you or your accountant – if you are self-employed.
How to obtain health insurance under the S1 document for your family members who change their place of residence without you
If a person who is reported by you for insurance in Poland moves to another EU or EFTA Member State, they must apply for the S1 themselves (see ‘How to obtain the S1 document’ for details).
The institution registering the S1 document issued to the main insured person decides who will be entitled to treatment in the country of residence as a family member.
Each EU/EFTA Member State determines the definition of a family member independently. It may therefore turn out that in the country of residence, health insurance is not available to a person who, according to Polish law, may be insured as a family member, e.g. parents or children over 18 years of age who continue their education.
Please note. We can only confirm the entitlement of your family members if they are reported to your insurance. You report them to the Social Insurance Institution through your contribution payer, who pays the health insurance contributions on your behalf. This is either:
- your employer – if you are an employee,
- the Social Insurance Institution – if it pays you a pension,
- you or your accountant – if you are self-employed.
Please note. If parents live in different EU/EFTA countries and have their own insurance titles, they cannot independently choose their child's country of insurance. Child should be reported for health insurance by the parent with which their child lives. We will issue an S1 document for a child living in another EU/EFTA country only if neither parent has their own title of insurance in that country. If they have such a title, we will refuse to issue an S1 document. Then it will be necessary to report the child for insurance in the country where the child lives.
