Woody

I'm planning a trip to Prague. The U.S. State Department website shows the entry requirements for the Czech Republic, including proof of travel/health insurance:

<< The Czech Government requires that you have proof of finances to pay for your stay and for you to have travel/health insurance and is requiring proof of medical insurance for travelers to the Czech Republic. Minimum coverage of the insurance has to be at least $35,000. >>

<< According to the Czech Government, a health insurance card or an internationally recognized credit card with health insurance included will generally be accepted as proof of insurance to enter the Republic. >>

I have a health insurance card from work, but it does not show the coverage limits. Is that sufficient, or do I need something else?

To those who have visited Prague: Do they check for health insurance? If so, where?

Thanks.
Woody

kappa

Never.

Been there 5 times, last was 3 weeks ago.

I am from Switzelrand if it matters but I don't think so. And as far as I have read Prague related posts here yours is the first time that have asked this question.

LowCountryIslander

I was visited Prague in September and I was not asked to present proof of travel/health insurance. I disembarked the plane, picked up my luggage went through passport contol/customs/immigration and left the airport in under 1 hour. I travel with a USA passport.

Have a great time in Prague...it's a beautiful city!

alanRow

It's unlikely that your work insurance will cover you abroad and whilst the bills if you do need medical treatment won't be US levels it will still make a big dent in your bank balance especially if you have to be repatriated back to the US.

Travelling without medical insurance is foolish

Giovanna

We visited Prague about three years ago and I came across the same requirement you did in my research. I contacted our health insurance carrier and asked if we'd be covered overseas and we are. They sent me written proof of our coverage. However, just like the others, we were never asked for it when entering the country, but I was glad to have it just in case.

Prague is an absolutely wonderful city. Enjoy your stay.

nytraveler

When you enter the country they won;t ask anything like this of regular tourists. It's in place for them to be able to weed out young peple they think are coming to stay illegally, work for cash under the table and would be a burden on the economy.

If you're really concerned you need to find out if your plan will cover you outside the US (many HMOs don;t and Medicare doesn;t). Or make sure your trip insurance also covers medical costs.

Christina

I agree with nytraveler. We had a long thread/discussion on this when they first posted this info on their Embassy websites, and I even called the Czech Embassy. The couldn't really explain it very well when I asked some specific questions (and I work in health insurance) as to how this would be regulated or implemented, which didn't surprise me. They were clueless over the fact that an insurance card doesn't even prove you have insurance as there is no expiration date, nor does it show anything about coverage.

Anyway, in theory it is a regulation, but I was just there a couple months ago and wasn't asked anything about it, nor was anyone else in the immigration line (I arrived by plane). I had even bought travel insurance, so did have coverage and proof of it, but no one asked about it.

My regular employee insurance does cover me abroad, and I work in the industry and don't agree with alan that it is very unlikely that an employee policy does. Many of them do if they are regular fee-for-service private policies.

IN practicality, since you have an insurance card, I think you are fine, as I was told that showing an insurance card is adequate for them (even though I know that doesn't prove anything). If you really don't have coverage abroad, you might want to get a travel insurance policy that includes it, they aren't too expensive for basic limits.

floydvic

I don't carry health insurance. Haven't been to Prague but have been over most of europe and never asked about such silliness. Personally think insurance companies are scum of the earth.

alanRow

floydvic I take it you don't have car or house insurance either

FainaAgain

Floyd, yes, IF you never use them. If you do, you are glad to have them.

ira

>It's unlikely that your work insurance will cover you abroad ...<

Mine does.

Ask your insurance carrier if you are covered outside the US, Woody.

Woody

Thank you all for the input.

I reviewed my insurance Summary of Benefits, and my plan "covers emergency and urgently needed care throught the world."

The Schedule of Benefits shows coverage limits that are many, many times the minimum coverage apparently required by the Czech Government.

I also called the insurer and they explained the reimbursement procedure for a medical emergency when abroad. They also are sending me a Travel Kit with foreign contact information.

So, just to be safe, I'll bring photocopies of the insurance information to Prague -- though I probably won't need to show any of it.

Woody

RufusTFirefly

My insurance also covers us overseas. The insurance company website lets you search for partner hospitals and doctors (by specialty) by country and city. They also provide toll free and collect phone numbers to use.

flanneruk

The US State Department has got it wrong.

The Czech government does not have the legal right to create such a requirement for "all travellers" as the site alleges. Trying to do so would contravene its treaty obligations - which in this case overide the national government's wishes.

It does have the right to create this requirement for travellers who do not have citizenship of an EU country, and nytraveler has it more or less right.

Non-EU citizens (and this is aimed more at Ukrainians than backpacking Australians) must have medical insurance. In practice though middle-aged Swiss or Americans (and actually most youthful nezedders and Japanese) pass through immigration unmolested.

GeorgeScott

Thanks for sharing

GeorgeScott

It is really helpful for me.

WoinParis

I never showed anything. I am European.
I had such a requirement to go to Russia for work. Had to prove my employer was insuring me and basically would pay for my debts.
But it was to get the visa. Once you have it no more prob.

DebitNM

10 year old thread.

FWIW- we went to Prague in 2014. We are US citizens. We did not have to provide health insurance coverage.

nytraveler

While that rule is on the books it's really there as a way to prevent impecunious young people from trying to enter the country and stay long past their allowable date and become a charge on the local public service system. Those are the only people they would ask to provide coverage.