Hungary · Healthcare system

The Hungarian Healthcare System: NEAK Insurance, TAJ Card, GP, Hospitals, Emergencies and Access for a French National

Key points

Hungary funds its care through compulsory social insurance: the National Health Insurance Fund (NEAK) pays providers, and the tax authority NAV collects contributions. The employee pays 18.5% of gross salary as the social contribution, and their right to care is proved by the TAJ social security number. The patient registers with a general practitioner, who refers them to specialists and the hospital. A person who loses their right to care, with no other status, pays a flat-rate fee of 12,300 HUF a month. 112 is the European emergency number.

18.5% of gross salary: employee's social contribution, withheld by the employer and collected by the NAV (CLEISS, the French liaison centre for international social security, rates in force on 1 January 2026).
12,300 HUF a month, or 410 HUF a day in an incomplete month: flat-rate fee for a person with no right to care, payable before the 12th of the following month (NAV, 2026).
6 times the monthly fee: arrears threshold beyond which the TAJ number is invalidated until the debt is paid (NAV).
45 days: length of time the right to care continues after the end of a job of at least 45 days (NAV).
25% to 90% of the reference price: reimbursement of medicines depending on the list, with a 300 HUF co-payment for serious or chronic illnesses (CLEISS).
Once a year: maximum frequency for changing GP (CLEISS).

Get a health insurance quote for Hungary Full country guide: Hungary

Compulsory Social Insurance: The NEAK, the NAV and the TAJ Number

According to CLEISS, the Hungarian system rests on a compulsory social insurance funded by contributions and taxation, with a mix of public and private providers. The National Health Insurance Fund (NEAK) funds the system and regulates tariffs; the State runs the university hospitals and national institutes, the counties the large general hospitals, and the municipalities primary care (CLEISS, 2021 data). The NAV, the tax administration, collects social contributions.

Contribution: employees and self-employed people pay 18.5% as an overall social contribution; the employer also pays the 13% social tax. The amounts and minimum bases are in the page on working in Hungary.
TAJ number: the social security number (tajszám) links the insured person to the system; the NEAK invalidates it in the event of large arrears on the health fee (NAV).

The Hungary country page brings together costs and coordination agreements.

Who Is Insured: Employee, Self-Employed, Person Without an Occupation, Retiree

The NAV counts among the insured people on an employment contract, full-time or part-time, self-employed people, recipients of job-seeker allowances and people working under a service contract when the minimum income is reached. Retirees who receive a pension in their own right, recipients of maternity allowances and full-time students under certain conditions are also entitled to care. A foreigner covered by European Regulations 883/2004 and 987/2009 is entitled to care, which covers holders of a European document (NAV, leaflet of 9 January 2026).

Person with no activity or other status: a resident who is not insured and has no right to care on another basis pays the health fee (egészségügyi szolgáltatási járulék): 12,300 HUF a month, 410 HUF a day for an incomplete month, payable before the 12th of the following month. The NAV registers them automatically since 1 July 2020 from NEAK data and informs them; an online declaration or form T1011U is needed if registration has not taken place (NAV).
Continuation of rights: after a job ends, the right to care continues for 45 days if the job had lasted at least 45 days, or for a period equal to the job if it had lasted less; the fee runs from the following day.
Arrears: beyond six times the monthly fee, the NEAK invalidates the TAJ and free care is no longer accessible until payment; payment in instalments or a reduction may be requested from the NAV.
Insurance abroad: a person who becomes insured in another State of the Union can request retroactive cancellation of the fee with a certificate from the foreign fund.

A retiree registers their S1 form to access care; see the page on retiring in Hungary. The situations by status are detailed in the page on healthcare reimbursement in Hungary.

General Practitioner, Specialists and Referral

Patients freely choose a general practitioner from the public sector or from the contracted private sector; registration is compulsory and a change is possible once a year (CLEISS). Specialist care is fully covered on referral from the doctor; direct access is possible in an emergency and for certain specialties. Hospital admission requires a referral, with no free choice of hospital outside emergencies.

Routine consultation: the contracted GP provides consultations, prevention and referral to specialists.
Private provider: a private practice without a contract with the NEAK is paid at the full rate; the list of contracted providers can be requested from the NEAK or the GP.
Proof of rights: the patient presents their TAJ number; a European patient passing through presents the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC, CEAM in French), called EU-Kártya in Hungary (CLEISS).

Hospitals and Emergencies: 112 and Emergency Services

112 is the European emergency number, free in all States of the Union (Your Europe). According to CLEISS, emergency care is provided by the State and anyone is entitled to it, regardless of citizenship and insurance status. Hospitals are divided into county hospitals, municipal hospitals and State university hospitals. Planned hospital admission is on referral; optional services remain at the patient’s expense (CLEISS, page of 2022).

Travel insurance and repatriation: France Diplomatie, the French foreign ministry, recommends insurance that covers hospital stays and medical repatriation; the page on repatriation and assistance presents these guarantees.
French embassy: it is at Kossuth Lajos tér 13-15 in Budapest (+36 1 374 11 00).

Medicines, Dental Care and Co-Payments

Medicines are sold in private and hospital pharmacies; prices are negotiable but limited to the wholesale rate. The NEAK reimburses between 25% and 90% of the reference price depending on the list; the co-payment is reduced to a flat 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; check with the NEAK before any purchase.
Maternity: pregnancy and childbirth care fall under health benefits; the daily maternity allowance reaches 100% of the average daily gross income for 24 weeks (CLEISS).

Health Risks and Vaccinations

France Diplomatie asks people to be up to date with the French vaccination schedule, in particular for diphtheria, tetanus, polio, whooping cough and measles. Depending on the length and conditions of the stay, hepatitis A, rabies for young children in rural areas and tick-borne encephalitis for stays in forested areas may justify vaccination (updated 15 September 2026).

Tick-borne encephalitis and Lyme disease: they are transmitted by tick bite, mainly in spring and summer; the counties of Zala, Somogy, Vas and Nógrád and the Lake Balaton area are particularly affected. Covering, light-coloured clothing, skin repellents and checking your skin after an outing in the countryside limit the risk.
Other risks: France Diplomatie also cites hepatitis A, typhoid fever and rabies.
Before a temporary stay: the EHIC makes access to care easier; it is requested from your fund before departure.

Accessing Care as a French National: Benchmarks by Situation

A person on a temporary stay (tourist, student, temporarily seconded employee) receives necessary care from public system providers with the EHIC, paying only the amount usually required of Hungarian insured people (CLEISS). A local employee is declared by their employer, a self-employed person contributes directly, a retiree registers their S1 and a seconded employee keeps the French scheme with the A1 form.

To complement these rights with first-euro cover, direct payment or access to private providers, Expavy helps you compare the options based on your situation, with the page on expat health insurance.

Where to Get Treated Depending on the Need

Need	Where to go	Prior referral
Routine consultation	Contracted GP, chosen by registration	No; change of doctor possible once a year
Specialist	Contracted specialist	Yes, on referral; direct access in an emergency and for certain specialties
Emergency	Call 112; hospital emergency department	No; right to emergency care whatever the insurance status
Planned hospital stay	County, municipal or university hospital	Yes, referral; no free choice of hospital outside emergencies
Reimbursed medicines	Pharmacy	Prescription; reimbursement of 25% to 90% depending on the list

Sources: CLEISS (2021 page), NAV. Rules change; the NEAK publishes updates.

Frequently asked questions

Is the Hungarian healthcare system public or private?

It rests on a compulsory social insurance funded by contributions and taxation, with a mix of public and private providers. The NEAK funds and regulates tariffs; the patient chooses a GP from the public sector or the contracted private sector.

Can a French national join the Hungarian healthcare system?

Yes. An employee is declared by their employer, a self-employed person contributes directly, a retiree registers their S1 form. A foreigner covered by European regulations is entitled to care; a person with no other status pays the flat-rate fee of 12,300 HUF a month.

What is the TAJ number?

It is the Hungarian social security number, which links the insured person to the system. The NEAK invalidates it if arrears on the health fee exceed six times the monthly fee; it becomes valid again after the debt is paid.

How much does the health fee cost in Hungary?

12,300 HUF a month since 1 January 2026, and 410 HUF a day for an incomplete month, payable before the 12th of the following month. It applies to a person who is not insured and has no right to care on another basis.

Which number should you call in an emergency in Hungary?

112, the European emergency number, free in all States of the Union. The French embassy in Budapest can be reached on +36 1 374 11 00.

How are medicines reimbursed in Hungary?

The NEAK reimburses between 25% and 90% of the reference price depending on the list. For serious or chronic illnesses covered in full, the co-payment is reduced to a flat 300 HUF.

Is dental care covered in Hungary?

It 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.

Should you get vaccinated against ticks in Hungary?

France Diplomatie cites tick-borne encephalitis among the vaccinations to consider for stays in forested areas. The counties of Zala, Somogy, Vas and Nógrád and Lake Balaton are particularly affected, mainly in spring and summer.