Rehabilitation

Patients perform water aerobics exercises under the guidance of a rehabilitation instructor

Usually, a rehabilitation doctor decides which procedures you need. In some cases, rehabilitation may also be prescribed by a doctor of another specialty, such as a neurologist.

The Health Insurance Fund will pay for rehabilitation if:

you have health insurance,
rehabilitation is medically indicated,
you have a referral letter to see a rehabilitation doctor.

Rehabilitation is reimbursed only in medical institutions that have a contract with the Health Insurance Fund. The Health Insurance Fund does not reimburse the relaxation or wellness services offered by sanatoriums, as they do not have a license to provide inpatient rehabilitation.

Similarly, only those rehabilitation services that are included in the Health Insurance Fund's list of health services(Opens in new tab) are reimbursed, and only under the conditions specified in the list. For some services, you must have a specific diagnosis or condition in order to receive the service at the expense of the Health Insurance Fund.

If you are a victim of repression or have been diagnosed with a disability, it is also worth inquiring about rehabilitation services from the Social Insurance Board(Opens in new tab).

Ambulatory rehabilitation
The Health Insurance Fund pays for a number of rehabilitation services that you can receive by appointment:
physiotherapy (including in a pool), also as a group service,
occupational therapy, also as a group service,
massage sessions (for patients with moderate or severe paralysis),
therapeutic swimming sessions (for patients with mobility disorders or children with mobility impairments),
mud therapy sessions (for patients with rheumatoid polyarthritis, Bechterew's disease, and joint stiffness),
cold chamber therapy and speleotherapy (for patients with chronic bronchitis or bronchial asthma),
personality assessment,
cognitive function assessment,
psychotherapy sessions,
speech therapy assessments.
Stationary rehabilitation
Stationary rehabilitation means that the patient receives the service while hospitalized.
This is usually necessary after a serious illness, surgery, or trauma, and in certain cases also after a chronic illness and its exacerbation.
The Health Insurance Fund covers the costs of procedures and examinations, including the costs of adults:
for days spent in hospital with a child under the age of 8;
for days spent in hospital with a child under the age of 16 with a severe or profound mobility or combined disability.
There are four types of inpatient rehabilitation:
Intensive functional rehabilitation;
Functional rehabilitation;
Functional support rehabilitation for adults;
Functional support rehabilitation for children.

Types of stationary rehabilitation

Intensive functional rehabilitation

Intended for people with severe injuries immediately after they occur.

The Health Insurance Fund covers the full cost.

It is provided for up to 18 months after an acute illness, trauma, or surgery that has resulted in severe or moderate movement and/or transfer function impairment, as well as at least two severe or moderate functional impairments from the following list:

speech impairment,
swallowing impairment,
memory and/or cognitive impairment,
bladder and/or bowel impairment,
activity and participation impairment due to hand motor impairment.

The Health Insurance Fund covers the full cost.

speech impairment,
swallowing impairment,
memory and/or cognitive impairment,
bladder and/or bowel impairment,
activity and participation impairment due to hand motor impairment.

Functional rehabilitation

Intended for patients undergoing hospital treatment within one year of the injury.

Provided for up to 12 months after acute illness, trauma, or surgery resulting in severe or moderate functional impairment requiring inpatient rehabilitation.

The Health Insurance Fund covers 100% of the cost of the bed day; the medical institution may additionally charge the patient a bed day fee (up to €2.50 per day).

Provided for up to 12 months after acute illness, trauma, or surgery resulting in severe or moderate functional impairment requiring inpatient rehabilitation.

The Health Insurance Fund covers 100% of the cost of the bed day; the medical institution may additionally charge the patient a bed day fee (up to €2.50 per day).

Function-supporting rehabilitation

Intended for adults with chronic diseases.

It is provided to persons aged 19 and older with the following chronic diseases and their exacerbations:

sequelae of diseases, injuries, and operations of the musculoskeletal system with moderate or severe mobility impairment;
moderate or severe mobility impairment due to soft tissue adhesions;
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with respiratory failure;
nerve and muscle diseases with moderate or severe functional impairment or muscle atrophy due to central or peripheral paralysis;
complicated type 1 diabetes with moderate or severe functional impairment due to polyneuropathy;
medical conditions accompanied by severe balance disorders and/or ataxia.

The Health Insurance Fund covers 100% of the cost of a bed day; the medical institution may additionally charge the patient a bed day fee (up to €2.50 per day).

It is provided to persons aged 19 and older with the following chronic diseases and their exacerbations:

sequelae of diseases, injuries, and operations of the musculoskeletal system with moderate or severe mobility impairment;
moderate or severe mobility impairment due to soft tissue adhesions;
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with respiratory failure;
nerve and muscle diseases with moderate or severe functional impairment or muscle atrophy due to central or peripheral paralysis;
complicated type 1 diabetes with moderate or severe functional impairment due to polyneuropathy;
medical conditions accompanied by severe balance disorders and/or ataxia.

The Health Insurance Fund covers 100% of the cost of a bed day; the medical institution may additionally charge the patient a bed day fee (up to €2.50 per day).

Functional support rehabilitation for children

Intended for children with chronic illnesses.

It is provided to children under the age of 19 with the following chronic medical conditions and their exacerbations:

post-operative conditions, injuries and operations of the musculoskeletal system with moderate or severe mobility impairment;
moderate or severe mobility impairment due to soft tissue adhesions;
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with respiratory failure;
nerve and muscle diseases with moderate or severe functional impairment or muscle atrophy due to central or peripheral paralysis;
complicated type 1 diabetes with moderate or severe functional impairment due to polyneuropathy;
medical conditions accompanied by severe balance disorders and/or ataxia.

The Health Insurance Fund covers 100% of the cost of a bed day; the medical institution may additionally charge the patient a bed day fee (up to €2.50 per day).

It is provided to children under the age of 19 with the following chronic medical conditions and their exacerbations:

post-operative conditions, injuries and operations of the musculoskeletal system with moderate or severe mobility impairment;
moderate or severe mobility impairment due to soft tissue adhesions;
chronic obstructive pulmonary disease with respiratory failure;
nerve and muscle diseases with moderate or severe functional impairment or muscle atrophy due to central or peripheral paralysis;
complicated type 1 diabetes with moderate or severe functional impairment due to polyneuropathy;
medical conditions accompanied by severe balance disorders and/or ataxia.

The Health Insurance Fund covers 100% of the cost of a bed day; the medical institution may additionally charge the patient a bed day fee (up to €2.50 per day).

Ambulatory rehabilitation

Stationary rehabilitation

Types of stationary rehabilitation