Citizens of the Republic of Serbia exercise their health insurance rights based on validated health cards.
The National Health Insurance Fund of the Republic of Serbia is a national, public and non-profit organization ensuring the exercise of health insurance rights. The Health Insurance Fund is financed by payment of health insurance contributions. In this way, citizens of the Republic of Serbia finance their healthcare by mediation of the Serbian Health Insurance Fund.
All citizens generating income (salaries, pensions, fees…) are legally bound to pay health insurance contributions. Health insurance contributions for citizens who do not generate income and who cannot be insured as family members of persons generating income are paid from the budget of the Republic of Serbia.
The Serbian healthcare system is based on the principles of equality and solidarity. Citizens pay health insurance contributions by per cent and in proportion to their income and financial capacity, while healthcare services are used according to their needs.
Rights, obligations and responsibility of the National Health Insurance Fund are governed by the Law on Health Insurance and the Articles of Association of the National Health Insurance Fund of the Republic of Serbia.
The Fund’s Bodies are:
- Management Board,
- Supervisory Board,
- Director General.
All the activities of the Serbian Health Insurance Fund are conducted in its organizational units:
- Headquarters,
- Provincial Health Insurance Fund,
- Fund’s branch offices and sub-branch offices.
Compulsory Health Insurance Coverage includes:
1. health insurance in case of illness and injury not related to work;
2. health insurance in case of work-related injury or occupational disease.
Rights under compulsory health insurance coverage include:
1. right to healthcare,
2. right to salary reimbursement during temporary work disability (salary reimbursement)
3. right to reimbursement of travel costs related to use of healthcare services (travel costs reimbursement).