Healthcare Reimbursement in Hungary: Who Reimburses What Depending on Your Situation

As France and Hungary are members of the European Union, their social security schemes are coordinated by Regulation (EC) 883/2004: no bilateral agreement needs to be consulted, and a worker falls under the legislation of a single country, in principle that of their place of activity. The carte Vitale does not work at a Hungarian doctor. Proof of rights is the TAJ number for a resident insured person, the EHIC (European Health Insurance Card, CEAM in French, called EU-Kártya in Hungary) for a temporary stay, or a portable form (A1, S1) for a lasting stay. The EHIC entitles you to necessary care from public system providers, on the same terms as Hungarian insured people; it covers neither rescue and repatriation, nor private care, nor planned treatment (europa.eu).

The most frequent situations are the employee on a local contract, the seconded employee, the self-employed person, the retiree and the person without an occupation, to which are added the student, the family, the CFE member, the first-euro policyholder and the tourist. The notions of reimbursement base and out-of-pocket cost help you compare cover. How the care network works is described in the guide to the Hungarian healthcare system.

The locally employed worker is declared by their employer and insured by the NEAK, funded by the 18.5% social contribution on gross salary (CLEISS). In the event of sick leave, the employer pays 70% of gross salary for a maximum of 15 days a year, then health insurance takes over at 50% or 60% of the average daily gross income (CLEISS, page of 2022). GP consultations, specialist care on referral and hospital stays are covered. See the glossary entry on the local contract.

The seconded employee sent by a French employer remains attached to French social security, with the A1 form valid for a maximum of 24 months, which the employer obtains before departure (europa.eu). The EHIC guarantees direct access to providers in the State of secondment; sick leave is sent to the French fund within 48 hours; if the family lives in Hungary, it asks the French fund for the S1 document (CLEISS). Costs advanced can be reimbursed on return with form S3125, at Hungarian or French rates, without exceeding the actual expense. See secondment versus expatriation and the glossary entry on the seconded employee.

The self-employed person settled in Hungary pays an 18.5% social contribution on declared income, with a minimum base equal to the monthly minimum wage, or 322,800 HUF (CLEISS, page updated on 21 May 2026), and falls under the NAV. The NAV counts sole traders and company partners among the insured. Contributions are detailed in the page on working in Hungary.

The retiree who receives only a French pension, settles permanently or for more than six months a year in a State of the Union and carries out no activity there asks their pension fund for the S1 form; no contribution to the local scheme is withheld. If tax residence is outside France, a health contribution of 3.2% on the basic pension and 4.2% on the supplementary pension is levied on general scheme pensions, and 7.1% on those of self-employed workers; without tax residence outside France, the CSG, CRDS and CASA (French social levies) apply (CLEISS). Dependants may have their own S1. See the guide to the S1 form: how to use it and the page on retiring in Hungary.

The student on a temporary stay receives necessary care with the EHIC. For a stay of more than three months, registration with the OIF (the National Directorate-General for Aliens Policy) requires proof of enrolment and of health insurance or the means to pay for care. See student insurance abroad.

The spouse and children: the NAV recognises the right to care of minors, Hungarian or not, who live in Hungary. The NAV lists do not mention the spouse among dependants: with no activity or other status, they fall under the flat-rate health fee, or under a European document issued by the French fund if the couple’s situation allows. See expat family insurance.

The person without an occupation who stays for more than three months shows, for the registration of their stay, sufficient resources and comprehensive health insurance or the means to pay for care (OIF). If they are a resident with no right to care on another basis, the NAV claims the flat-rate fee of 12,300 HUF a month, or 410 HUF a day in an incomplete month, before the 12th of the following month; beyond six months of arrears, the TAJ number is invalidated. Bridging cover protects them while the affiliation is being processed.

The CFE member contributes to a voluntary social protection body for French nationals abroad, which offers sickness-maternity-invalidity insurance, work accident insurance and retirement insurance. It is added to the Hungarian scheme of an employee or a self-employed person, and serves as a support for stays in France and the return. Enrolment conditions and waiting periods should be checked with the body. See the guide to CFE reimbursements.

International health insurance with first-euro cover reimburses actual costs within its ceilings, after any deductible, waiting periods and exclusions. It opens access to private providers, which the EHIC does not cover, with direct payment depending on the contract, and may include repatriation.

The tourist presents their EHIC to professionals affiliated to the public system: the system works on a third-party payment basis and the patient pays only the amount usually required of Hungarian insured people; consultations are covered, emergency dental care carries no co-payment, and costs that are not covered are claimed back on return with form S3125 (CLEISS). Travel insurance that covers hospitalisation, repatriation and rescue usefully complements the EHIC. See long-stay travel insurance.

An expat who returns contacts the health insurance fund they belonged to before leaving to reopen their rights. With no activity on arrival, they generally show stable residence in France; with an employment contract, affiliation takes place without delay. A retiree holding an S1 can return to be treated in France whatever the reason (CLEISS). CFE members check with the body the conditions for resuming with no waiting period. See the guide to reducing the waiting period and the page on returning to France.

• Consultation: the contracted GP is funded by the NEAK; a specialist is accessible on referral, except in an emergency and for certain specialties. The EHIC gives the same rights for necessary care. A private provider without a contract is paid at the full rate, with reimbursement depending on the contract for international insurance.
• Hospital stay: it requires a referral outside emergencies and is generally covered in full, except for optional services; emergency care is accessible to anyone, whatever their insurance status (CLEISS).
• Medicines: the NEAK reimburses between 25% and 90% of the reference price depending on the list; the co-payment is reduced to 300 HUF for serious or chronic illnesses covered in full (CLEISS).
• Dental: care is free for people under 18, students, people over 62 and pregnant women; for other insured people, emergencies and dental surgery are covered, and a co-payment applies to prostheses and orthodontic appliances (CLEISS, page of 2022).
• Optical: the official sources consulted do not describe general cover of glasses for adults; international contracts set a ceiling per period.
• Maternity: leave lasts 24 weeks (four before the birth and twenty after, or twenty-four after), with an allowance of 100% of the average daily gross income, with no cap, on condition of 365 days of insurance over two years (CLEISS). A CFE or international contract generally provides seniority conditions for maternity.

The reimbursement guide and the page on expat health insurance give benchmarks; Expavy helps you weigh these options against your situation.