Healthcare and health insurance in Croatia: Guide for 2026
UPDATED: 7.1.2025.
Croatia has a universal healthcare system providing a form of mandatory public insurance to everyone. The population is covered by basic health insurance called obvezno, as required by law and administered by the Hrvatski zavod za zdravstveno osiguranje – HZZO (Croatian Health Insurance Fund). Optional health insurance called dopunsko and dodatno are also available.
Croatia’s social health insurance system is based on the principles of solidarity and reciprocity, by which people are expected to contribute according to their ability to pay and receive basic health care services according to their needs.
In this post, we cover:
- Types of health insurance in Croatia
- Healthcare system’s administration
- How the healthcare system works
- Croatian healthcare costs
- Who must pay mandatory insurance
- How to get a family doctor
- How to find an English-speaking doctor
- Get personal guidance on Croatia
- Read reviews from our happy clients
The facts are these…
Types of health insurance in Croatia
In Croatia, there are 3 types of health insurance:
- Obvezno – public basic health insurance
- Dopunsko – public or private supplemental health insurance
- Dodatno – private supplemental health insurance
Obvezno health insurance
Obvezno health insurance is the public basic mandatory health insurance in Croatia. It is prescribed by the state agency HZZO and is required for all residents in Croatia unless you are an EU citizen OR permanent EU resident who holds state health insurance in another EU/EEA member state OR a digital nomad. You can view lists of all available inclusions of primary health care in Croatia here.
[Read: How to apply for the digital nomad residence permit in Croatia]
View our obvezno guides:
- Obvezno insurance, what it costs, and what is included
- How third-country citizens can sign up for health insurance in Croatia
- How EU and Croatian citizens can sign up for health insurance in Croatia
Dopunsko health insurance
Dopunsko health insurance is an affordable, optional public or private health insurance supplement. You can get it from either HZZO or a private bank or insurer. It eliminates most co-payments for prescriptions, doctor visits, diagnostic tests, and hospital visits/stays.
[Read: What is dopunsko and why you should have this health insurance]
Dodatno health insurance
Dodatno health insurance is the highest level of health insurance in Croatia. It is private supplemental health insurance only offered by banks and private insurers. This policy covers specialists, additional treatments, preventative care, laboratory tests, and extended hospital visits.
[Read: What is Croatian dodatno health insurance]
Who is in charge of the Croatian healthcare system?
The steward of the health system is the Ministarstvo zdravstva (Ministry of Health), responsible for health policy, planning and evaluation, public health programs, and the regulation of capital investments. The Ministarstvo financija (Ministry of Finance) also is responsible for the planning and management of the government budget. Learn more about Croatian ministries here.
There are hundreds of healthcare institutions in Croatia. Ownership of hospitals is shared between the state and the counties in Croatia. There are also many private practice offices.
Healthcare institutions in Croatia include:
- Klinički bolnički center (clinical hospital centers)
- Klinička bolnica (clinical hospitals) – view a list here
- Klinika (clinics) – view a list here
- Poliklinika (polyclinics) – view a list here
- Opća bolnica (general hospitals) – view a list here
- Specijalna bolnica (special hospitals) – view a list here
- Lječilište (spas) – view a list here
- Dom zdravlja (health centers) – view a list here
- Zavod (departments) – view a list here
- Županijski zavod za hitnu medicinu (county institutes for emergency medicine) – view a list here
[Read: Guide on visiting thermal spas in Croatia]
What is HZZO?
Hrvatski zavod za zdravstveno osiguranje – HZZO (Croatian Health Insurance Fund) is a public institution under the Ministry of Health in charge of all types of health insurance. HZZO has many regional and branch administration offices in Croatia. You must visit HZZO if you have to solve a private administration issue from the field of healthcare, for example, enrollment and termination of health insurance.
When visiting HZZO, usually, you have to go to their administration office according to your Croatian residence address. Every Croatian county has several HZZO administration offices that are usually located in larger cities.
[Read: HZZO’s list of local health insurance offices]
How does the Croatian healthcare system work?
Everyone who lives in Croatia must have a doktor obiteljske medicine or obiteljski liječnik or doktor opće medicine (general practitioner or family doctor) if they intend to use the state health insurance policy. Your family doctor should always be your first stop when seeking medical treatment. When you visit them, they will do an analysis and recommend further treatment, testing, and referrals as needed.
To gain access to a hospital, diagnostic, or polyclinic services, a referral from your family doctor is required. This referral is called uputnica, phonetically pronounced “oo-poot-neat-suh”. It is often called crvena uputnica (red referral) because it is red or e-uputnica or because it is issued in a digital form.
What is an uputnica?
An uputnica is an order of sorts provided by a family doctor used at every level of healthcare for diagnostics such as blood and urine tests, prescriptions, further medical examinations, anesthesia, and surgery. For example, if you have to visit a dermatologist, you must first get an uputnica from your family doctor and then visit a dermatologist.
After your doctor issues an e-uputnica, it will automatically be sent to the next doctor you must visit (a specialist), a laboratory (if you have to do a blood test), or wherever you have to go next. When issuing e-uputnica, your doctor can pick the term of your further examination, or you can do it via the e-Građani.
Once you do the medical examination and get results, they will be automatically sent to your family doctor. You can also view your results via the e-Građani.
Many prescriptions are free, i.e., covered by obvezno, or cost very little, but some common ones are not covered, such as oral contraception. A visit to a doctor that is partnered with HZZO usually costs only a few euros or is free if you have dopunsko. Specialists are not always partnered with HZZO. In some cases, Croatians are willing to pay out of pocket to visit specialists to avoid long waits.
“After months of Dr Googling we were left with some ideas but had no confidence in which process to citizenship to follow and if any of it was right. Actually at the time of our consultation the laws had changed and CAM was already on top of them. We left the consultation with a clear path to citizenship and in-depth explanation of everything we needed to do in SA before leaving. On top of this when moving to a new country you don’t know how people may react or approach you. I was apprehensive about this and CAM melted all of that away. On the facts she was professional and serious but when welcoming us, making jokes and telling us about Croatia she was so warm, kind and lifted all my fears of moving. My heart now completely lies in Croatia and we have within 2 weeks a complete plan and working on all the documents we need to gather. Every country needs an expat Croatia with such high integrity.”~ MaryAnn V., South Africa, January 17, 2024
What are the costs of Croatian health insurance?
Healthcare contributions in Croatia are mandatory for all employed citizens and are paid for by their employers. Dependents of employees obtain their health care coverage through contributions paid for by working members of their families if they meet certain requirements. Self-employed workers in Croatia are obliged to pay health care contributions on their own.
Croatian residents have the option to obtain health services with private health care providers who are not HZZO contracted partners, either through direct payment or through supplemental insurance, which covers the payment.
All residents of Croatia are required to have obvezno insurance through HZZO even if they choose not to use it or if they choose to use private insurance unless they are EU/EEA citizens or permanent residents with state health insurance from another EU/EEA member state.
Health insurance premiums do not vary based on residency status but may change at the prerogative of HZZO. Check out this post to find the premium for your specific situation. For all private doctors, you’ll need to pay out of pocket, and fees can range from less than 100 euros to a few thousand, depending on the specialty and the service.
Who must pay for mandatory health insurance in Croatia?
Since mandatory health insurance is not free of charge, all Croatian citizens and residents are required to participate in health care expenditures. You can learn how to apply for Croatian citizenship here and view residence permits for Croatia here.
However, certain groups of insured people are exempt from healthcare costs, including:
- Children under the age of 18
- Children of dependents who are incapable of living and working independently
- Croatian residents incapable of independent life
- Family members of dead or missing Croatian armed forces members
- Disabled members of the Croatian armed forces
Mandatory health insurance doesn’t cover the costs of elective health care services, including:
- Plastic surgery
- Experimental treatments
- Birth control
- Abortion
- Increased medical expenses due to religious beliefs or any other personal reason
[Read: Birth Control, IUD, abortion, plan B, and plan C in Croatia]
How to get a family doctor in Croatia
Usually, you’ll be assigned to a family doctor according to your address of residence in Croatia. However, you have the right to pick certain doctors on your own, including:
- Family doctor
- Dentist
- Gynecologist (women)
- Pediatrician (parents for their children)
If you are not satisfied with your family doctor or you’d like to change them for another reason, you can do it once a year. Below are the steps for changing your family doctor, which are also valid for changing a dentist, gynecologist, or pediatrician.
1. Find the doctor
Find your new potential family doctor. Croatians usually like to hear the experiences of their friends or relatives before picking the right one. Here are the lists of all doctors in Croatia:
- Family doctors – view a list here
- Dentists – view a list here
- Gynecologists – view a list here
- Pediatricians – view a list here
[Read: List of doctors and doctor offices in English and Croatian]
2. Contact the doctor
Call your desired family doctor to check whether they have a free place for you. You can also explain your personal situation if you think that could help. They mustn’t deny your request if they have free places. If the doctor has a very good reputation, the chances they have free client spots open are low.
3. Fill out the form
You can visit HZZO directly and submit the form there. Fill out the form called Izjava o izboru/promjeni izabranog doktora (Statement on the selection/change of the chosen doctor), available here or at the doctor’s office. Fill out only the part that includes information about you.
Alternatively, you can change your doctor online via the e-Građani platform, where you can select the doctor of your choice and submit the form electronically here.
[Read: e-Građani (e-Citizens) – Online portal for Croatian government services]
4. Visit the doctor
Visit the doctor and bring them the form. They will fill out the rest of the data, verify the form, and send it to the HZZO. If you have submitted the form online, you do not have to bring it to the doctor in person.
5. Wait for the approval
You must wait for the HZZO to make the change. You don’t need to inform your current family doctor about the change; HZZO will do it for you. After your current doctor receives a notification from HZZO, they must deliver your medical documentation to your new doctor within 3 days.
“My husband and I are looking to obtain our Croatian citizenship through heritage. CAM was exceptional and was extremely informative about the process required, timelines, contact people, both in Croatia and at home, lawyers and services offered by Expat in Croatia. She was able to easy our anxiety and we felt that we will have solid support and direction going forward. She was professional and friendly. Thank you CAM for your support.” ~ Carol W., Canada, February 5, 2024
How to find an English-speaking doctor in Croatia
Finding an English-speaking doctor in Croatia who you can communicate with if you don’t speak Croatian can be quite challenging. Most people find it by referral from a friend, colleague, or other English-speaking local. If you are not yet plugged into the local expat community, the easiest way to get a recommendation is to post on one of the many Croatian expat Facebook groups.
[Read: Expat Facebook groups in Croatia]
In addition, the US Embassy in Zagreb has created a list of English-speaking doctors broken down by city, which is available here.
How to look for a doctor and medical practices in Croatia
If you need a cardiologist, you can google “cardiologists in Rijeka”, but you likely won’t get any results since you are searching in English. To search for a doctor more effectively, we have created two lists to help you out. Once you know the Croatian name of the doctor or practice, you can better find the physician you need.
Our first list covers the types of doctors and doctor offices translated into English and Croatian, and you can search and filter it here. The second list covers medical practices and specialties in English and Croatian, and you can search and filter it here.
What if you are a tourist in Croatia?
If you are in Croatia temporarily, your best bet is to visit a poliklinika, a larger practice with doctors from multiple specialties. They are usually not covered by state insurance and are considered private, but you’ll have a better chance of getting an appointment and speaking with someone in English. Agram is one of the biggest in Croatia, but you can just google “poliklinika” for the city you are in to find a list.
[Read: How to get travel insurance in Croatia (putno), which you can use to apply for residence]
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- Our Croatia Restaurant Guide
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Reviews from our happy clients
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Stephen K.
United States
Coaching
The answers that a neurodivergent person needs were presented in a sensitive way. With tension getting worse in my country, that level of care is precious. I recommend this service to friends and family.
Jim S.
United States
Coaching, Introduced to a Professional
Carol Anne and the lawyer have been great to work with. They have been a wealth of information and I am so happy for the introductions. I look forward to a continuing partnership on my citizenship quest!
Grace O.
Australia
Coaching
CAM was amazing – she was really friendly and was so helpful in assisting me in my move to Croatia. She explained everything I needed to prepare for thoroughly, and I felt fully prepared once I arrived. I would highly recommend using Expat in Croatia for a stress-free experience – they know their stuff, and you don’t have to worry about the confusing details!
Patti C.
United States
Coaching
Carol Anne was a huge help today. She was friendly, knowledgeable and communicated everything very clearly. Thank you!
Tamara H.
United States
Coaching, Introduced to a Professional
I wanted to find out more about the process of obtaining Croatian citizenship by descent. Both the Expat in Croatia team and the lawyer they referred were very knowledgeable and professional. I would definitely recommended their services for those pursing Croatian citizenship.
Daniel H.
Australia
Coaching, Professional Assistance
I reached out to Expat Croatia to understand if I could ascertain Croatian citizenship through descent. I had a consultation meeting with CAM who was very lovely and guided me through the process of acquiring citizenship in the event I qualify. She was able to provide me with the necessary steps to take from here and introduced me to Steve, who introduced me to a vetted immigration lawyer who I’m currently working with. The team have been very professional and helpful so far and have a wealth of knowledge and experience behind them so I feel like I’m in safe hands.
Josey K.
United States
Coaching
We so enjoyed meeting CAM and getting an overview of the citizenship application from her. She is warm, knowledgeable and really breaks down the process in a way that is understandable. I highly recommend working with CAM!
Joyce M.
United States
Coaching
I am just starting to pursue citizenship and consulted with Carol Anne, who was terrific! She was well organized and her easy demeanor put me at ease; she answered all my questions, brought up important considerations, and allowed ample time for me to ask questions. I really felt she got to know me, and she was familiar with the island where my grandfather was from. I will definitely feel comfortable reaching out to her in the future. Her advice was clear cut and spot on. Looking forward to the rest of this journey.
Jeff A.
United States
Coaching, Introduced to a Professional
CAM and the lawyer were absolutely phenomenal in our initial meetings. CAM is extremely thorough and kind, and we left with no questions about the process and a much better idea of the process. The lawyer was also very detail-oriented and ensured we understood the process from start to finish, and answered all of our questions and more. We are so grateful for your advice!
Michael K.
United States
Coaching, Introduced to a Professional, Professional Assistance
I did some preliminary research re: Article 11 Croatian citizenship by descent but had many questions and concerns about the process, timelines, expectations, etc. I booked an appointment with CAM and she exceeded all expectations. We made efficient use of our session: CAM outlined the process (both generally and specifically), answered all of my questions, gave me very practical advice, and set realistic expectations. My session with CAM included a consult with an attorney in Croatia that I intend to hire moving forward. I highly recommend CAM and Expat in Croatia to anyone who is considering the exciting prospect of Croatian citizenship!
Katie K.
United States
Coaching, Introduced to a Professional
CAM was so lovely in our meeting! She was professional and personable, and was very thorough in laying out the steps and recommendations. I feel comfortable talking with the people that she put me in contact with, and I know what happens next in the process.
Brigette O.
Canada
Coaching, Introduced to a Professional
Working with Carol Anne was such a pleasure! As anyone who has tried to understand the process of obtaining citizenship in a European country would know, it is very confusing and you don’t know where to even start! Carol Anne explained the process with patience and kindness. She answered all my questions and gave valuable feedback as my situation is more complicated than the average person. I would highly recommend using EXPAT for any citizenship related questions. They have resources that are trustworthy and reliable and I look forward to working with this team throughout the entire process.
Scott D. K.
United States
Coaching
I am so glad I booked a consultation with Expat in Croatia! I am a trying to obtain Croatian citizenship through my wife who is Croatian born because eventually we will retire in Croatia. The process feels overwhelming. Spending 30 minutes in a video call with CAM was time well spent. She was incredibly nice and helpful. The follow up was prompt and detailed. There’s a lot of information to process and understand. I feel confident that I can reach back out if I have questions. Typically my wife and her mother handle all the Croatian paperwork, etc for our family so we weren’t sure we really needed to pay someone to help us but it was worth it to establish a foundational understanding of all the requirements and to have access to their network of professionals. I definitely recommend Expat In Croatia.
Briana M.
United States
Coaching
We recently applied for citizenship by descent (on our own) and plan to move to Croatia in the next few years. We had some general, practical questions about making the move from North America so we could focus and continue our research and planning, and CAM was lovely to talk to and also a great resource and kind of tuned us in to what was possible in advance of a move and what needed to wait until we were there. We sent our main questions in advance, and after our consult were provided with an email with more info pertaining to things we talked about. Most of the info in the email was from their website but their website is extremely extensive and it was great to have all the specifics a click away–it saved a LOT of time and expanded on everything we talked about and then some. CAM is super organized and super friendly and our consult was informative and enjoyable!
Sonia M.
Canada
Coaching
CAM is very personable, knowledgeable, and responsive. For our consultation, she answered all our questions and provided us with a wealth of resources. She drew from her experience as an expat to provide further context for our discussion, which was immensely helpful. We would highly recommend her services. Thank you!
Bianca P.
United Kingdom
Coaching, Introduced to a Professional
Had an excellent consultation with CAM. She answered all my questions and talked me clearly through the process of gaining Croatia citizenship. She was professional and friendly and explained the complete process. She provided all the necessary links shortly after the consultation and put me in touch with necessary legal consultants. I would highly recommend using Expat in Croatia!
Rodey W.
Canada
Coaching, Introduced to a Professional
CAM was super helpful and knowledgeable in helping explore what my options would be for claiming my Croatian citizenship through my family heritage. She was able to share the process in good detail with helpful context. I was then connected with support that has been able to find my great grandparents birth certificates from a small village in the mountains. Well on my way to re-claiming my family heritage. Thanks CAM and team!
JAMES W.
United States
Coaching
It was a real pleasure to meet with CAM. She was very knowledgeable and was able to answer all of my questions. I feel confident moving forward with applying for my Croatian citizenship and am glad I have the team behind me for help along the way.
Patricia V.
United States
Coaching
Carol Anne (CAM) was terrific! She is so knowledgeable, professional, and personable. I now have a good understanding of the process, documentation requirements, and timeframe. I would wholeheartedly recommend Carol Anne / Expat in Croatia to others.
Seth R.
United States
Coaching
CAM was informative, clear, and personable in her communication. She gave solid advice and helped me to feel confident in my ability to trust EXPAT to guide me through this process. She’s a gem.
View our other Croatian healthcare posts
- Birth control, Plan B, Plan C, and abortion availability
- Croatia’s state health care obvezno insurance
- How to donate blood
- How to fill prescriptions
- How to get tested for sexually transmitted diseases
- How to sign up for state health insurance in Croatia
- HZZO list of local health insurance offices
- List of doctors and doctor offices translated into English and Croatian
- List of medical practices and specialties translated into English and Croatian
- What is dodatno health insurance
- What is dopunsko health insurance
Sources:
HZZO
Djelokrug by Ministry of Health
Health Institutions in Croatia
Narodne novine
Please note: Information provided by Expat in Croatia is only for the purposes of guidance. It does not constitute legal or financial advice in any form. Croatian laws and bureaucratic rules often change, and each personal case is individual, so different rules may apply. For legal advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian lawyer. For financial advice, contact us to consult with a licensed Croatian tax advisor or accountant.
