Health insurance in Hungary: How to choose the right plan

Hungary has a widespread public healthcare system – just like many European countries. It’s mainly funded through social security contributions and general taxation.

If you’re an expat living in or moving to Hungary, you might be wondering if you can access this public system. The answer to this depends on your residency status and where you’re coming from. If you have a social security ID card, or TAJ card (‘Társadalombiztosítási Azonosító Jel’), you can get public healthcare, just like local residents. If you’ve got a residence permit, you don’t automatically qualify and must rely on private insurance instead.

In this piece, we explain everything you need to know about Hungary’s healthcare system and how to get the right coverage for your situation.

Healthcare in Hungary: What you need to know

In Hungary, there is a mixture of both private and public healthcare. While the public system is the default setting, many choose to go private to get shorter wait times, better service, and more choice.

This is because the healthcare system in Hungary is less advanced than many other countries in Europe and the OECD. Life expectancy is 77, four years lower than the OECD average of 81. The country also has fewer doctors and nurses than many similar countries:

• For doctors, there are only 3.6 per 1,000 people in the country, lower than the OECD average of 3.9.
• For nurses, the difference is much starker, with 5.5 per 1,000 people, much lower than the OECD average of 9.2.

This is because healthcare expenditure in the country is comparatively low, at 6.4% of GDP, vs. the EU average of 9.9%. As such, only 41% of the population are satisfied with the availability of quality healthcare in Hungary, much lower than the OECD average of 64%. This leads many citizens and expats to choose private insurance instead, even if they have access to the public system.

Public healthcare in Hungary

Hungary’s public healthcare fund is primarily funded by public health insurance contributions. The system is called the National Health Insurance Fund ('Nemzeti Egészségbiztosítási Alapkezelő’).

If you’re employed by an organization in Hungary, these payments are mandatory. In this case, you’ll be signed up by your employer and payments will be deducted from your salary. You will pay 18.5% of your salary and your employer will contribute 13%. This contribution also covers non-health-related social security contributions (i.e. pensions/unemployment).

If you’re not working, you can choose whether or not to sign up voluntarily. Here, the system is slightly different, because you don’t have a salary. If you’re a Hungarian citizen (‘belföldi’), you’ll pay a flat rate (‘egészségügyi szolgáltatási járulék’) of HUF 12,300 a month (around €40). This also applies to expats with a settlement permit.

Otherwise, expats without a settlement permit have to pay a different, much higher rate. This is calculated as a proportion of the minimum wage: 30% for students and 50% for non-students. The current minimum wage in Hungary is HUF 322,800 a month, making the 30% rate HUF 96,840 (around €300) and the 50% rate HUF 161,400 (around €513).

Since these costs are much higher than the standard voluntary rates, many expats prefer to avoid this option. But this isn’t the only reason. Even after paying these higher rates, you’re still not fully covered. In fact, third-country nationals have to wait 24 months for full coverage to apply. Until that time, you’re generally only entitled to emergency care.

If you’re an expat who isn’t employed, it’s probably wiser to get comprehensive private insurance instead.

Public healthcare for expats in Hungary

In Hungary, there are several situations in which expats are entitled to public healthcare. These apply to many expats, but not everyone:

• Employed by a Hungarian organization: In this case, you are automatically signed up for social security contributions, just like local Hungarians.
• Paying voluntary contributions: You can also opt in to the system using the options we discussed above.
• EU/EEA/Swiss citizen: If you’re from an EEA country or Switzerland, you can access public healthcare during temporary stays using the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
• UK citizen: Temporary travelers from the United Kingdom (UK) can access the public healthcare system under the same terms as EU residents. To do this, you'll need a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).
• Permanent resident: Permanent residents are treated like Hungarian citizens. You are therefore legally required to make social security contributions, and can access the public system. If you’re not employed, you have to make voluntary contributions using the flat rate discussed above.
• S1 form: Hungary also has reciprocal health agreements (RHAs) with certain countries, like the UK. This enables expats to claim public healthcare in Hungary, which mainly applies to non-working retirees. You can claim an S1 form from your home country’s government if this category applies.

One important caveat: A residence permit is not the same thing as permanent residence. If you’re on a residence permit, you’re not automatically entitled to public coverage. Instead, you’ll have to claim by making voluntary contributions, having a valid EHIC/GHIC, or through employment.

In practice, this means there are two groups of expats who aren’t entitled to public healthcare:

• Expats who aren’t employed, don’t have permanent residence, and aren’t from an EU/EEA/UK country or Switzerland.
• Digital nomads who hold a ‘White Card’ – Hungary’s dedicated digital nomad visa. You can only get public coverage by paying higher voluntary contributions. If you choose not to, you’re legally required to have comprehensive private health insurance instead.

Read more: International health insurance for visa seekers: 2026 Guide

Private healthcare: What are your main options?

If you’re an expat, you may require private insurance, depending on your situation. And even if you’re entitled to public treatment, private insurance can still be a popular and sensible option. In this section, we’ll explain the two main options.

Before we dive in, there’s one thing you should know about private healthcare. If you’re required to make social security payments (i.e. through employment), you can’t opt out of these. In practice, private insurance can only extend whatever public coverage you may have, not replace it.

Nonetheless, the following private insurance options are popular for both citizens and expats:

Private health insurance in Hungary

This provides access to private healthcare facilities across Hungary. It enables faster access and more choice. You’re also more likely to find English-speaking doctors in the private system.

Some of the most popular private insurers in Hungary include: Generali, Allianz, Union Biztosító, and Medicover.

Undoubtedly, this option offers better healthcare than the public system. But there are still drawbacks. First, policy documentation is likely to be in Hungarian, which isn’t ideal for expats. Private insurers are also free to exclude particular conditions, impose age limits, or charge higher premiums based on age or risk. Most importantly, coverage only applies in Hungary.

Expat health insurance in Hungary

Expat health insurance works exactly like private insurance, with one major difference. The coverage also applies across the whole EU and Schengen area. This is ideal for EU expats, because it means you’re also covered in your home country at the same time. If you’re moving in or out of the country, this option is ideal, because you don’t need to worry about a coverage gap during the transition.

This option also has several benefits that standard private insurance rarely offers. First, emergency repatriation in case of death or emergency is also covered. Applications, claims, and support are also done in English as standard.

As such, this is often the best option for expat retirees and digital nomads who might not otherwise get access to the public system.

Expat health insurance is usually the right option in Hungary for expats – but not always. If you have pre-existing conditions, need coverage outside of Europe, or want a higher coverage limit – international health insurance is likely the best option for you. Check out our full guide to find out more.

Comparison: Health insurance options in Hungary

Here’s a straightforward comparison of the main health insurance options in Hungary:

*Based on Feather’s expat health insurance policy.

The right choice of insurance for you will likely depend on your particular situation. Here are some common examples:

• Employed in Hungary: Social security payments are compulsory and automatic. If you pay in, you’ll get access to public healthcare, regardless of your country of origin. Consider extra private/expat insurance to access faster treatment and portable coverage.
• Digital nomad, White Card: By default, you are not entitled to public coverage. You can opt in using the higher voluntary rate for expats, but this still only provides emergency coverage for the first two years. Expat health insurance is likely the best option. Find out more about the White Card here.
• Self-employed in Hungary: If you’re a permanent resident, you’ll have to sign up for voluntary insurance contributions, which provide public health access. If not, you can choose whether to sign up, or whether to get private insurance instead.
• Student: If you’re from an EU/EEA country, the UK, or Switzerland*,* you can get public healthcare through your EHIC/GHIC. Otherwise, you must sign up for voluntary social security contributions or rely on international/private healthcare instead.
• UK/EU/EEA/Swiss citizen, short stay: You can access necessary care during short trips via the European or Global Health Insurance Cards (EHIC/GHIC).

How to get insured in Hungary

Here’s how to choose and sign up for health insurance in Hungary:

• Before you do anything, you’ll need to get a residence permit (non-EU) or residence certificate (EU). This is not the same thing as permanent residence. You will likely get this as part of the process of moving to the country.
• If you’re employed in Hungary, you don’t have to do anything. You’ll be signed up automatically by your employer and payments will be taken from your salary.
• Otherwise, you’ll need to work out your status next. Are you employed, a permanent resident, EU citizen, or in the insurance gap? These determine your options – see above for more detail.
• If you’re a citizen or permanent resident (‘belföldi’), you’ll need to apply directly in a local government office (‘kormányablak’). You can also do this online via the ‘Ügyfélkapu’ website. You’ll need an ID, residence permit/certificate, and address card to do so.
• You’ll then be issued with a TAJ card, which proves your coverage. From there, you should select a GP, which will be your go-to practice for future healthcare treatment.
• If you’re signing up for expat or private insurance, you can usually do so online. If successful, you should receive claims documentation within a few hours.

Feather: Insurance for expats in Hungary

For most expats in Hungary, private insurance is the safest bet. With an unreliable and underfunded public system, it’s easy to see why.

At Feather, our goal is to make health insurance as easy as possible for expats around the world. That’s why our expat health insurance policies are explicitly designed to be as flexible and straightforward as possible. Here’s what that involves:

• Comprehensive private healthcare coverage across the EU and Schengen, including Hungary
• Applicants accepted up to age 75 – higher than most private insurers
• English-speaking support and documentation
• No contract lock-in, offering flexibility if you’re moving in or out of the country
• Full refund if your visa gets rejected
• No annual deductibles
• Policies start from €72 a month

Ready to start? Check out our full expat health insurance in Hungary policy to find out more.