Asylum seekers will no longer be able to benefit from guaranteed health insurance. This means, that for any doctor’s appointment they will have to pay from their own funds. What happened?
Updated 2024-02-28
What happened?
We remind you, that to check the availability of insurance, just go to the search system https://dpsdr.vlk.lt/PublicSearch.aspx. When filling in all the data, it shows a message about the presence or absence of insurance.
Previously We discussed problem of obtaining an insurance number (THAT) for asylum seekers. Then, after receiving a DIK number, applicants were able to receive free medical care, For example, visit a neurologist, psychiatrist, ophthalmologist, etc..
However, in February, many asylum seekers noticed, that their insurance no longer valid. When visiting a doctor, they found out, what's wrong 1 February are not insured and that they will either have to pay for the entire appointment, or refuse it. When checking the information in the search engine, insurance is indicated only in emergency cases:
What law is being referred to??
Having considered legal commentary on the issue of insurance for asylum seekers, noticeably, that they point to the law I-1343 Health Insurance Law of the Republic of Lithuania (6 art. 5 d. 3 p.). It was later referred to by the Health Insurance Fund. It specifically states, What:
6 article. Insured and insured with compulsory health insurance
5. This article is paid for by means of the state budget 1 not specified in the section:
3) foreigners, who submitted a request to grant them asylum in the Republic of Lithuania, foreigners, who have been granted temporary protection in the Republic of Lithuania, and foreigners, entitled to receive temporary protection, until the decision on the granting of temporary protection (non-grant) acceptance, but not longer than the period of temporary protection necessary medical assistance and other necessary personal health care services, without which the patient's health condition could deteriorate as much, that he needs emergency medical services (below are essential services)
3) foreign citizens, applicants for asylum in the Republic of Lithuania, foreign citizens, who have been granted temporary protection in the Republic of Lithuania, and foreign citizens, eligible for temporary protection, before making a decision to provide (failure to provide) temporary protection, but not longer than the period of temporary protection, necessary medical care and other necessary medical services are provided, without which the patient's health condition may deteriorate to such an extent, that he will need emergency medical attention (further – necessary services).
Консультация в State Health Fund
Valstybinė ligonių kasa manages the compulsory health insurance system. At a short consultation at the VLK Vilnius branch, it was necessary to know the following:
- Is this situation due to a system error??
- If not, then for what reason the quality of insurance was changed?
- What medical services are covered by this insurance?
After checking the data, employee reported, that information about the quality of insurance is displayed correctly. However, neither the law, no insurance has changed.
Thus on short oral consultation explained to us, what about asylum seekers there was always insurance, covering only emergency cases.
Official response
To get the most valid information, We will consider a written response.
The State Sick Fund under the Ministry of Health explains, that the displayed insurance validity status in the publicly available application has changed due to the entry into force of the Health Insurance Law of the Republic of Lithuania no. I-1343 2, 5, 6, 8, 9, 9-1, 10, 12, 12-1, 15, 17, 21, 22, 23, 26, 30, 43 of articles and title of chapter II and addition to the law 3-1 Article of Law no. XIV-1942 1, 13, 15, 16, 17 and 19 of the Law on Amendment of Articles (reference to the document: https://www.e-tar.lt/SĐ change), which changed the procedures for the VLK of the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund's budget income and state budget allocations.
We explain, that, in accordance with the Law on Health Insurance 6 of the article 5 part 3 point, foreigners, who submitted a request to grant them asylum in the Republic of Lithuania, necessary medical assistance and other necessary personal health care services are paid for from the state budget, without which the patient's health condition could deteriorate as much, that he needs emergency medical services (below are essential services). In other words, asylum seekers are not obliged to pay compulsory health insurance premiums, however, when they get sick, the necessary services provided are paid for from the state budget.
That is, there is no error, applicants are not required to pay insurance premiums, but they can only receive the most necessary medical services.
What consequences may there be?
If the situation remains the same, then asylum seekers will be deprived of one of the basic social guarantees from a small list. This will especially affect those, whose health has deteriorated due to persecution in the country of origin; as well as those, who is not yet eligible to work, since they will not be able to pay for medical services from their own funds.
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