Healthcare

The availability of healthcare services in Latvia is regulated by the Medical Treatment Act. It states that state-funded healthcare services may be also received by third country nationals with the permanent residence permits in Latvia. It is possible to receive the state-funded healthcare services only in those medical institutions that have an agreement with the National Health Service (NHS). Information on these medical institutions is available at the Internet site of the NHS. If you wish to check whether a particular medical institution has an agreement with the NHS, we advise you to contact the NHS.

In accordance with the Healthcare Financing Law, not only foreigners having a permanent residence permits in Latvia, but also employed third country nationals (persons socially insured for health insurance in accordance with the law “On State Social Insurance”) are entitled to receive healthcare services within the scope of mandatory state health insurance.

Spouses of third country nationals having a temporary residence permit are entitled to received such services, if they rear children aged up to seven years or at least three children aged below 15.

If an employed third country national wishes to receive such healthcare services, he or she should first submit an application to the National Health Service requesting to include him or her in their register of recipients of healthcare services.
 
If you are a spouse of a Latvian citizen or a Latvian non-citizen with a temporary residence permit, you can receive care services for pregnant women and assistance in childbirth free of charge.

EMERGENCY CARE

Receiving of emergency medical care is available to everyone in situations where the person’s health and life are under a threat. For third country nationals who are staying in Latvia with a temporary residence permit the emergency care is covered by the health insurance policy. The only exception is Ukrainian citizens and pensioners of the Russian Federation who may receive the emergency medical care free of charge under an agreement stipulated in an intergovernmental treaty.
 
To call for the emergency care in Latvia you have to call 113 or 112. It might be necessary to produce the health insurance policy in order to receive the emergency care therefore it is advisable that you always carry it with you.

PRIMARY HEALTHCARE

The permanent residents of Latvian, including foreigners with permanent residence permits, may enjoy healthcare services at a lower cost, provided the specialist physician is visited with a referral from the general practitioner. If you have a referral from the general practitioner or another specialist physician you can receive a state-funded consultancy from the specialist physician or diagnostic examination and pay only the patient fee. If you have a temporary residence permit the state does not ensure state-funded healthcare services for you and you have to cover the full cost of the visit to the specialist yourself or by means of your health insurance.
 
Registration with a general practitioner is not compulsory because primary healthcare services may be received from all physicians who provide the primary healthcare services. If you decide to register with a general practitioner you can do so both at the doctor’s office or at home if the doctor has arrived for a home visit. If you pay for healthcare services privately or through an insurance company you can choose freely the doctor and the medical institution where to receive healthcare services. Furthermore, you can also visit a specialist physician at once, without a referral from the general practitioner. The fee for the service in the case of a private visit may differ with different institutions and also for the services provided by different specialists (on average 20 – 60 EUR).

HEALTH INSURANCE POLICY

The Latvian laws state that foreigners may arrive and stay in Latvia if they have a valid health insurance policy that guarantees coverage of costs related to healthcare in Latvia. You have to produce your health insurance policy in order to receive the temporary residence permit. The term of validity of the policy should not be shorter that the foreigner’s expected period of stay in Latvia and it should guarantee at least the following healthcare services:

  • emergency medical care;
  • treatment of a critical condition that is threatening to life and health at hospital;
  • transporting to the nearest medical treatment institution in both of the abovementioned cases;
  • transporting to return to the country of origin in the event of a severe illness or death.

Health insurance of a private individual may be a solution for receiving of more advantageous healthcare services. However, it should be taken into account that different insurance companies may have different insurance conditions and offer different coverage of the costs of healthcare services. It is possible that healthcare services that are not covered by one insurer are covered fully or partly by another insurer. Therefore we advise that you contact several insurance companies before purchasing your health insurance policy in order to find the insurance conditions that suit you best. You should also find out at the insurance company what you have to do when you wish to use your policy.

In accordance with the Healthcare Financing Law, not only foreigners having a permanent residence permits in Latvia, but also employed third country nationals (persons socially insured for health insurance in accordance with the law “On State Social Insurance”) are entitled to receive healthcare services within the scope of mandatory state health insurance.

Spouses of third country nationals having a temporary residence permit are entitled to received such services, if they rear children aged up to seven years or at least three children aged below 15.

If an employed third country national wishes to receive such healthcare services, he or she should first submit an application to the National Health Service requesting to include him or her in their register of recipients of healthcare services.

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Consultations for third-country nationals in Riga
+371 26959706 (I-V 9:00-17:00)


+371 26959706 (Whatsapp)

Raina Boulevard 15, Riga, LV-1050
Consultations for third-country nationals in the Regions
Kurzeme: Liepaja, Rožu Street 6, tel. 29570364
Zemgale: Jelgava, Skolotāju Street 8, tel. 25915300
Latgale: Daugavpils, Ģimnāzijas Street 11, tel. 29557630
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