Poland will restrict free medical care for Ukrainians from March 5, 2026: who will lose their right to treatment

Poland is changing the rules for access to free medical care for Ukrainians with UKR status. Find out who will be able to receive free treatment after March 5, 2026, and who will have to take out medical insurance

An insurance policy is a guarantee of your safety and peaceful stay outside Ukraine

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From March 5, 2026, changes in access to medical services will come into force for Ukrainians who arrived in Poland after the start of the full-scale invasion by the russian federation. Free medical care will only be available to certain categories of citizens. This was reported by inpoland.net.pl.

What will change for Ukrainians with UKR status

Most Ukrainians with UKR status will be able to receive medical services in Poland only if they pay health insurance contributions.

The National Health Fund of Poland (NFZ) emphasized that access to the full range of medical services is possible only with the appropriate form of insurance — compulsory or voluntary.

Thus, automatic access to public healthcare without insurance coverage will be significantly limited.

Who will retain the right to free treatment

The following categories of Ukrainian citizens will be entitled to free medical services without additional conditions:

● adults who have been victims of torture or rape;

● children and adolescents;

● pregnant women;

● women after childbirth;

● persons with a certificate of residence in a collective accommodation facility.

For these groups, access to medical care will remain free of charge regardless of insurance coverage.

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What medical services will be canceled

The changes provide for the cancellation of a number of free medical services for Ukrainians, in particular: infertility treatment and cataract removal. At the same time, access to other services will now be linked to the availability of medical insurance.

How access to healthcare has changed in the past

After the start of the full-scale war, Poland passed a special law which, among other things, guaranteed Ukrainian refugees the right to legal residence and medical care without compulsory medical insurance.

However, over the past few months, access to a wide range of services has been gradually restricted.

In particular, as of September 30, 2025, adult Ukrainians without medical insurance lost their right to reimbursement for medication and dental treatment. Despite this, they retained the ability to receive:

● primary medical care;

● specialized outpatient care;

● inpatient treatment.

From March 5, 2026, this range of free services will also be revised.

The new rules mean that for most Ukrainians with UKR status, having medical insurance will become a key condition for accessing public healthcare.

Those who are planning to travel to Poland or are already there should check their insurance status and legal residence conditions in advance. Ukrainians should also take care of medical insurance for short-term trips or temporary stays abroad. You can purchase an insurance policy for traveling abroad online at Visit Ukraine — this allows you to minimize the risk of medical expenses in case of unforeseen situations.

We remind you! The Polish Border Guard has the right to check that everyone crossing the border has sufficient funds. Financial requirements vary depending on citizenship and the planned length of stay. Read more about the minimum amounts required to enter Poland in 2026.

Photo: freepik

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