What Is the Co-Payment and When Can You Be Legally Charged

Co-payment is a fixed amount of money that insured patients may be asked to pay when receiving certain medical services, in addition to the amounts covered by the National Health Insurance House (CNAS). It is not a fee arbitrarily set by the provider, but is regulated by law and must be clearly displayed in the medical facility.

How the Co-Payment Works

It is provided for in Law no. 95/2006 on healthcare reform and in the CNAS framework contract.

It applies only to inpatient hospital services provided in continuous hospitalization.

It is not charged for family doctor consultations, emergencies, preventive services, or hospitalizations in special cases.

When It Can Be Legally Charged

A healthcare facility may request a co-payment only if:

• it is a public or private hospital contracted with CNAS;
• the patient is insured and admitted in continuous hospitalization;
• the amount is set by internal regulations and complies with legal limits (currently between 5 and 10 lei per discharge);
• the amount is clearly displayed at the reception and in hospital wards.

Who Is Exempt from the Co-Payment

The following patients do not pay the co-payment:

• children up to 18 years old;
• pregnant women and new mothers;
• pensioners with incomes below the legal threshold;
• people with disabilities, war veterans, political detainees, and other special categories expressly provided by law.

What Patients Should Do

Ask for information about the co-payment amount before hospitalization.

Check the hospital’s notice boards and request a receipt after payment.

If you are asked for a co-payment in situations where it is not legal, you can file a complaint with the hospital management or with the County Health Insurance House.