In Poland, free medical care for certain categories of Ukrainian refugees may be canceled
After the war, Poland became one of the key places of refuge for Ukrainian refugees. The Polish government has introduced a number of social programs to support new arrivals, including free healthcare. However, over time, the conditions of stay of Ukrainians in the country change, the rules become stricter, and some benefits may be canceled. In 2025, the Polish authorities are considering a draft law that could deprive many Ukrainians of free access to medical services. This issue caused a significant public resonance and heated discussions among politicians and the public.
What will change in the medical care of Ukrainians
The new draft law, submitted to the Diet by the “Confederation” party, envisages changing the current rules for providing medical services to Ukrainians in Poland. About this informs in Roland. The initiators of the bill insist that free medicine should remain available only to those who officially pay insurance premiums. In their opinion, the current situation creates an imbalance between Polish citizens, who pay for health insurance every month, and Ukrainian refugees, who use medical services without additional financial obligations.
If the draft law is adopted, those Ukrainian refugees who do not have an insurance contribution to the health insurance system (NFZ) will be forced to pay for medical services on their own.
So far, the Polish government has not made any official comments on the “Confederation” initiative. At the same time, in previous statements, representatives of the authorities emphasized the importance of supporting refugees who are forced to leave their country due to war.
The bill still has to go through the discussion stage in the Diet. If it is adopted, Ukrainians in Poland who do not pay insurance premiums will lose the opportunity to receive free medical care. Given the active discussion of this issue, the proposed changes may significantly affect the living conditions of many Ukrainian refugees.
Who will be most affected by the changes?
If the innovation is approved, it will first of all affect those Ukrainians who work unofficially or do not have a job at all. Today, many refugees are forced to choose illegal employment due to difficulties with processing documents or the reluctance of employers to officially enter into contracts. If free medicine becomes unavailable, these people will either have to find ways to find legal employment or pay for medical services themselves.
For Ukrainians who have an official job in Poland, the changes will not be noticeable, because their medical expenses are already covered by the paid contributions.
Further development of the situation
The submission of this draft law to the parliament indicates the gradual curtailment of some social guarantees for Ukrainian refugees in Poland. This raises serious concerns among civil society organizations and human rights defenders, who emphasize the importance of maintaining access to medicine for all, regardless of employment status.
If the law enters into force, Ukrainians in Poland will be forced to look for new solutions to provide themselves with medical services. This can be an additional incentive for their integration into the Polish labor market, but at the same time it will complicate the situation for those who, due to circumstances, cannot quickly adapt to new realities.
