Will there be no more free treatment for Ukrainians in Poland? A new bill in the Sejm

A new bill has been proposed in Poland that could cancel free medical care for Ukrainian refugees if they do not pay health insurance premiums. Find out more about the reasons for this initiative, how it will affect Ukrainian citizens, and what arguments the authors of the project give
Poland, a country that has been actively supporting Ukrainian refugees during the war, is now preparing for important changes in the healthcare system for Ukrainian citizens.
In particular, a new bill is being proposed that changes the conditions for providing free medical care for Ukrainians, in particular, stipulating that only those Ukrainian citizens who pay health insurance premiums in Poland will be eligible for free treatment.
Polish Sejm receives draft law on denial of free medical care to refugees from Ukraine: details
Since the beginning of the war in Ukraine, Poland has provided free medical care to its citizens.
This became possible thanks to a special law that allows Ukrainian citizens legally residing in Poland to receive medical services free of charge. However, now there is a new initiative from the Confederation party that proposes to change this approach.
The new draft law stipulates that free medical care for Ukrainian refugees in Poland will be provided only if they pay health insurance premiums in the country.
These changes are aimed at equalizing the rights of Ukrainian citizens with Polish citizens and other foreigners residing in Poland who are obliged to pay health insurance premiums in order to access medical services.
Why was the update necessary?
The idea to change the healthcare policy came about because of certain inequalities that arose between Ukrainian refugees and Polish citizens.
For three years after the start of the war in Ukraine, Ukrainian citizens received preferential access to medical services.
At the same time, Poles had to pay health insurance premiums to receive such services, which created a certain imbalance.
Representatives of the Confederation believe that this leads to a privileged position for Ukrainian citizens, and therefore propose to reconsider this issue.
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Will Ukrainian refugees be left without medical care?
If the draft law is passed, Ukrainian refugees who do not work or do not pay health insurance in Poland will no longer be able to receive free medical care.
This will apply to those who do not participate in the health insurance system due to unofficial work or lack of formalized labor relations in Poland.
However, those who are employed and pay health insurance premiums will be able to continue to use medical services free of charge.
The draft law has been submitted to the Sejm and is now pending consideration. If adopted, the amendments will come into force 30 days after the resolution is passed. This will mean significant changes for refugees from Ukraine who are used to free medical care in Poland.
At the same time, the draft law is justified as an attempt to make the healthcare system in Poland more equitable, despite the fact that Poles are obliged to pay health insurance premiums to receive medical services.
The bill is part of a broader political initiative that includes changes to the 800+ assistance program proposed by presidential candidate Rafał Trzaskowski. He also advocates that benefit payments should be linked to the fact of employment and payment of taxes in Poland.
This approach aims to ensure that assistance is available only to those who contribute to the Polish economy.
The draft law provoked different reactions among politicians and the public. On the one hand, representatives of the Confederation and some conservative politicians support the idea of equal conditions for all Polish citizens.
They believe that changes in healthcare policy are necessary to avoid inequality between Ukrainians and Poles.
On the other hand, critics believe that this could create additional difficulties for Ukrainian refugees, who are already in difficult conditions due to the war.
Protect yourself and your loved ones abroad!
Medical treatment abroad can be expensive, and even the simplest medical services can sometimes cost a lot of money. To avoid unnecessary expenses and get the help you need without delay, take out a health insurance policy now. This is a guarantee that you will receive quality support in case of unforeseen circumstances.
We remind you! Thousands of Ukrainians have moved to Poland in recent years, boosting the economy and promoting cultural exchange. Now that the number of Ukrainian citizens in this country has reached hundreds of thousands, Ukrainians are building their own communities. We explained why Poland sees this as a problem.
Photo: gettyimages.com
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