VERIFIED CONTENTAuthor: Dominika Wilk
In order to take advantage of a cheaper stay in a sanatorium under the National He alth Fund, you must obtain an appropriate referral and perform a number of indicated tests. Find out what the tests are and what conditions must be met in order to be able to leave at the expense of the National He alth Fund.
Who can go to a sanatorium under the National He alth Fund?
Any person (including a child) can go to the sanatorium at the expense of the National He alth Fund who receives an appropriate referral from a family doctor or a doctor of a specific specialization (they must work in a facility that has a signed contract with the National He alth Fund) and whose he alth condition indicates the need for rehabilitation and improving he alth in sanatorium conditions.
In order to be able to obtain a referral, 12 months must pass from the patient's last stay in the sanatorium (counted from the end of the last stay). Usually, the NFZ admits a stay in a sanatorium every 18 months, considering that it is a sufficient period of time for the patient to have a chance to improve the functioning of the body and regenerate strength.
What information should be on the referral?
The referral is a document, therefore it must contain the patient's exact personal data:
- name,
- surname,
- pesel,
- home address,
- and in the case of children, also the type of school and class.
There must also be a general description of the patient's ailments and - in the case of children: information about past vaccinations.
In addition, the National He alth Fund also states how many sanatorium stays the patient has participated in the last three years and whether oncological treatment has taken place in the last 5 years.
The doctor referring to the sanatorium also publishes information about:
- weight,
- patient's height
- and the general assessment of the state of the body, which is collected during the physical examination.
He also assesses the patient's fitness and determines whether he will be able to walk / operate independently, or whether he will need additional care during the stay. The doctor also enters the results of the tests that the patient must obligatorily perform before coming to him for an appointment.
Determines what is the basic disease of the patient related to the need to stay in a sanatorium and meansit with the appropriate symbol ICD-10. It also provides information on comorbidities.
What tests should be performed when applying for a stay in a sanatorium under the National He alth Fund?
The basic tests that the patient must perform before going to the doctor who completes the referral are:
- morphology,
- OB,
- general urine test,
- Chest X-ray,
- EKG,
- stool test for parasites (only for children).
In addition, the patient can perform other specialized tests on his own and bring the results for the qualifying appointment. They will be taken into account by the doctor, and their copies, if the specialist determines such a need, will be attached to the referring document.
How to provide a referral for spa treatment?
A referral for spa treatment should be sent by post within 30 days of receiving it. You can also deliver them in person or through the doctor referring you to the sanatorium. If the referral is not delivered within these 30 days, it will become invalid.
The document referring to the spa stay must be submitted to the appropriate branch of the National He alth Fund, competent for the given place of residence.
How long does it take to process the application and who does it depend on?
When an application for referral of a given patient to a sanatorium is received by the appropriate branch of the National He alth Fund, it is considered by a specialist in balneology and physical medicine or medical rehabilitation. It is he who decides whether there is a need for a spa stay for a given person, and if so, he or she determines the best place to rest.
Depending on the ailment, it can be mountainous, coastal, submontane or lowland.
The time for considering the application is 30 days from the date of receipt of the application by the NHF branch. During this time, the person concerned receives information that he or she is qualified for a sanatorium stay or that his application has been rejected.
How long does it take to be allocated a sanatorium?
The average waiting time at a sanatorium is 5 months. This is counted from the date of receipt of the application by the NHF branch, and not the date of submission of the referral. The average sanatorium stay lasts 21 days, and the payment for it is partial.
Most of the costs are covered by the National He alth Fund, e.g. for procedures performed in a sanatorium, but the costs for food and accommodation are borne by the patient (their amount is determined by the Ministry of He alth). The National He alth Fund does not cover travel costs or additional medical treatments, which are decided by patients.
Referral to a sanatorium and COVID-19 test
Due to the changing procedures in the pandemic,Before arriving at the sanatorium, you must perform a diagnostic test for SARS-CoV-2. This study is financed by the National He alth Fund.
To do it, first contact the sanatorium you want to contact by phone and leave your telephone number. This provides feedback on the test results. Then, 3-4 days before departure at the earliest, you have to go to the sanatorium to the point where the smears take place and undergo an examination there.
No other documents are needed, e.g. a separate referral for a test from a GP. A negative test gives you the opportunity to take advantage of a sanatorium stay on the set date.
Important information is thatif someone is vaccinated with two doses of the COVID-19 vaccine, they do not have to undergo the SARS-CoV-2 test .