Country guide — Europe

Expat insurance and health insurance in Hungary

Quiet residential street in the Buda Castle district, Budapest, Hungary

In short

In Hungary there is no mandatory private health insurance as such: what is mandatory for any employee or self-employed person working in Hungary is affiliation to the public scheme run by the National Health Insurance Fund (NEAK, Nemzeti Egészségbiztosítási Alapkezelő). An employee contributes 18.5% of gross salary as the overall social contribution (including a health insurance share), withheld by the employer, who in turn pays a 13% social tax; both are collected by the NAV tax administration. For a temporary, non-salaried stay, only the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC, called the EU-Kártya in Hungary) gives access to contracted care on the same terms as a local insured person. The public system remains generally of good standard but relies on a highly developed private sector, particularly for dental care in Budapest, which has become, since the 1990s, one of Europe's leading destinations for dental medical tourism. Without NEAK or EHIC affiliation, care is billed at the full rate by the facility, with no assistance from the French embassy.

Source : France Diplomatie — Hungary, Health

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Key figures

2,400 French nationals registered with the consular register in 2025 (+1.57% year-on-year), a moderate increase.
Life expectancy at birth: 76.72 years in 2024 (World Bank).
Health spending: 6.37% of GDP in 2023, the latest available figure (World Bank).
Mandatory overall social contribution for an employee: 18.5% of gross salary (including a health insurance share), plus 13% social tax paid by the employer.

Local healthcare system

Hungary’s healthcare system falls under the Ministry of Human Resources (Emberi Erőforrások Minisztériuma), which sets the legal framework, while the National Health Insurance Fund (NEAK, Nemzeti Egészségbiztosítási Alapkezelő) manages the financing of care, maintains the register of covered persons and sets reimbursement rates. Automatically covered are employees and self-employed people in work, retirees, full-time students under certain conditions, children under 18 residing in Hungary and certain welfare beneficiaries. An adult who has resided in Hungary for at least a year without professional activity or an equivalent status must, to keep their cover, pay a flat-rate health contribution (egészségügyi szolgáltatási járulék) set by the NAV tax administration, whose monthly amount changes each year (11,800 forints in 2025, 12,300 forints from 2026).

The basket of care funded by NEAK covers diagnostic tests, part of dental care, surgical treatment, rehabilitation, palliative care, maternal and child follow-up, and vaccinations. Prescribed medicines are reimbursed at between 25% and 90% of the reference price depending on the list, with a minimum co-payment reduced to 300 forints for serious or chronic conditions covered at the full rate. Patients choose a contracted GP (changeable once a year), who refers them to specialists; excess charges apply when care is sought outside this pathway. The private sector, growing since the opening-up of the 1990s, has developed particularly strongly in dental care in Budapest, which has become one of Europe’s leading medical tourism destinations, as well as in networks of international clinics aimed at expatriates.

Legal and visa obligations

EU citizen: no visa required, entry with a valid passport or identity card, free movement for a stay of less than 3 months.
Stay of more than 90 days: apply for a residence card (registration card, regisztrációs kártya) no later than the 93^rd day of presence, with the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing (Országos Idegenrendészeti Főigazgatóság); the municipality of residence then issues an address card (lakcímkártya), required for most local administrative procedures.
NEAK affiliation: mandatory for any employee from the start of work in Hungary, with the employer registering the employee with the NAV tax administration and withholding the overall social contribution of 18.5% of gross salary. A self-employed person registers and contributes directly with the NAV, on their declared income, with a minimum calculation base.
Without NEAK or EHIC affiliation: care is billed at the full rate by the facility, public or private, the rate varying by facility and not publicly disclosed in a uniform way.
Student: the EHIC is enough for a temporary stay (such as an Erasmus exchange); beyond that, local affiliation or supplementary student insurance remains advisable during the administrative transition period.
Seconded employee: for up to 24 months (extendable), stays affiliated to the French scheme via form A1, exempt from NEAK affiliation.
Retiree: form S1 from their French pension fund before departure, for cover under the Hungarian system with no new contribution of their own.

No individual fine is provided for as such in case of failure to affiliate, but the employer has a legal obligation to register their employee with the NAV; for the expatriate themselves, the risk remains primarily financial, with no assistance from the French embassy in the event of uncovered care.

Cost of some medical procedures

Orders of magnitude from specialised sources, not official fee schedules.

Cost of some medical procedures in Hungary, public and private sector
Procedure	Public sector	Private sector
Contracted GP consultation, NEAK-affiliated patient	Covered (funded by the contribution)	—
Emergency visit, NEAK-affiliated patient	Covered	—
Hospitalisation, NEAK-affiliated patient	Covered, excluding optional services (private room in particular)	—
Medicines on the NEAK list, affiliated patient	Reimbursement of 25% to 90% depending on the list; minimum co-payment of 300 HUF for serious or chronic conditions covered at the full rate	—
Consultation without NEAK or EHIC affiliation	Full rate billed by the facility, not publicly disclosed in a uniform way	—
Dental care at a private clinic geared toward medical tourism (Budapest)	—	Rate varies by facility, not publicly disclosed

Social security agreements with France

As Hungary has been an EU member since 2004, there is no standard bilateral agreement with France: coordination operates through the EU regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009, as with other member states.

Temporary stay: the EHIC (called the EU-Kártya in Hungary, to be requested from the French health fund before departure) gives entitlement to the same cover as a local insured person with NEAK-contracted providers, with no upfront payment beyond the local co-payment; if the card is forgotten or lost, a provisional replacement certificate (PRC), valid for 3 months, gives the same rights.
Secondment: form A1, staying on the French scheme for up to 24 months (extendable), exemption from NEAK affiliation.
Long-term move: direct NEAK affiliation via the NAV (by the employer for an employee, directly for a self-employed person); form S1 for a retiree, covered by the Hungarian system with no new contribution of their own.
The EHIC/EU-Kártya covers neither repatriation, nor planned care, nor a long-term move; on return, a stay not covered in advance may be reimbursed retroactively via form S3125, based on Hungarian or French rates.

Which insurance for my profile

General matrix — does not recommend any specific product or insurer.

Which insurance by profile, for Hungary
Profile	Regulatory constraint	Points of attention
Working holiday visa	Not applicable (France-Hungary = EU free movement)	—
Student	EHIC/EU-Kártya for a temporary stay (such as an Erasmus exchange)	Beyond that, local affiliation should be considered; supplementary student insurance recommended during the transition
Seconded employee	Staying on the French scheme via form A1, for up to 24 months	Exemption from NEAK affiliation; supplementary cover useful for quick access to care and the private sector during the secondment
Local employee / settled resident	Mandatory NEAK affiliation from the start of work (overall social contribution of 18.5% of gross salary, withheld by the employer)	Choosing a contracted GP should be done quickly; arrange interim cover during the administrative delay and for access to the private sector
Self-employed / freelance	Direct affiliation and contribution with the NAV, on declared income (minimum calculation base)	Check the calculation method with the NAV before settling, as the precise arrangements are not disclosed uniformly
Retiree (form S1)	Covered by the Hungarian system, with no new contribution of their own	Noticeable public/private disparities, particularly for non-emergency adult dental care; private supplementary cover sometimes sought in Budapest

Hospitals and care network

Budapest: Semmelweis Egyetem Klinikai Központ (Semmelweis University Clinical Centre), the country's leading university hospital, with a dedicated office for international patients.
Debrecen: Debreceni Egyetem Klinikai Központ (University of Debrecen Clinical Centre), the leading university hospital in the east of the country, with more than 2,700 beds.
Szeged: Szegedi Tudományegyetem Szent-Györgyi Albert Klinikai Központ (University of Szeged Szent-Györgyi Albert Clinical Centre), the leading university hospital in the south of the country.

Practical steps

Before departure: notify French agencies of your departure (CPAM, CAF, France Travail, pension funds).
Seconded employee: request form A1 from your French health fund before departure.
Retiree: request form S1 from your pension fund before departure.
Before departure: request the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from your French health fund to cover the transition period.
On arrival, for a stay of more than 90 days: apply for the registration card (regisztrációs kártya) with the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policing, no later than the 93^rd day, then the address card (lakcímkártya) from the municipality of residence.
Employee: check with your employer that you are registered with the NAV and affiliated to NEAK from the start of the employment contract.
Self-employed: register and contribute directly with the NAV, on declared income.
Without professional activity after a year of residence: check your eligibility for the flat-rate health contribution (egészségügyi szolgáltatási járulék) with the NAV.
Register with the roll of French nationals living abroad (French Embassy in Budapest).

Frequently asked questions

Is it mandatory to take out private health insurance to settle in Hungary?

Not a standard private insurance policy, but affiliation to the public scheme run by NEAK is mandatory for any employee or self-employed person working in Hungary, funded by an overall social contribution of 18.5% of gross salary on the employee side, plus 13% social tax paid by the employer.

Is the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) enough to settle long-term in Hungary?

No. It gives entitlement to the same cover as a local insured person for a temporary stay, but a long-term move requires NEAK affiliation via the NAV, or the transfer of rights via form S1 for a retiree.

What is the risk without NEAK or EHIC affiliation if care is needed?

Care is billed at the full rate by the facility, public or private, without access to the contracted rate reserved for affiliated persons. No individual fine is provided for as such, but the full financial risk remains, with no assistance from the French embassy.

Why is Budapest known for dental medical tourism?

Since the opening-up of the 1990s, a private dental sector has developed strongly in Budapest, with specialised clinics attracting patients from across Europe, including France. These private treatments remain payable by the patient or their supplementary insurance, at rates that vary by facility and are not publicly disclosed.

Must an employee seconded from France affiliate to NEAK?

No, if they hold form A1 confirming they stay on the French scheme, for a period not exceeding 24 months (extendable under conditions). They remain exempt from NEAK affiliation during this period.

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Written by Expavy

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