New Rules for Health Insurance and Medical Leave: What Changes Starting August 2025

Starting August 1, 2025, a series of major changes will come into force in the national health insurance system, according to the National Health Insurance House (CNAS). The measures are part of Law no. 141/2025 and aim to ensure the financial sustainability of the system and the continuity of medical services for patients.

Who remains insured without payment

CNAS announces that certain categories of people will continue to benefit from medical services without paying a health contribution. These include:

• Children under 18 and young people up to 26 if they are pupils, students, or PhD candidates;
• Young adults from the child protection system (up to 26 years);
• Pregnant women and new mothers;
• Pensioners with monthly incomes under 3,000 lei;
• Persons with disabilities;
• Oncology patients without income (including those benefiting from national health programs);
• Persons in detention or pre-trial arrest;
• Victims of human trafficking (for up to 12 months);
• Emergency service volunteers;
• Hematopoietic stem cell donors (for 10 years after donation).

Withholding at source for other categories

Pensioners earning over 3,000 lei/month, beneficiaries of special laws (veterans, revolutionaries), registered unemployed individuals, recipients of social aid, and persons on parental leave will be automatically insured through a 10% contribution withheld at source. No action is needed on their part.

What co-insured individuals should know

For the 650,000 co-insured persons, the insured status will be maintained until September 1, 2025. After that, they can remain insured by paying the contribution: 25% (607.5 lei) by the date of submitting the single declaration, and the remaining 75% (1,822.5 lei) by May 25, 2026. The declaration can be submitted either by the supporting person or directly by the co-insured person. The full procedure is detailed in the Medic24 guide.

Monastic personnel and patients with chronic illnesses

Monastic personnel have the same payment option as co-insured individuals starting September 1. Patients with conditions included in national health programs, who have no income, will continue to receive medical services and medication until recovery.

New rules for medical leave

From August 1, 2025, the method for calculating medical leave benefits (code 01 – common illness) will change:

• Up to 7 days – 55% of the calculation base;
• Between 8–14 days – 65%;
• Over 15 days – 75%.

Allowances for certain cardiovascular diseases remain at the current 75% rate.

Important: for illnesses that began before August 1, 2025, the rules valid at the time the first medical certificate was issued will still apply.

Context and purpose of the changes

According to CNAS, these measures aim to ensure the resources needed for patient treatments and the proper functioning of the healthcare system, in the context of budgetary constraints and the need to streamline public spending.