The Law on Amendments to the Law on Compulsory Health Insurance was published in the Official Gazette No. 33/23 and took effect on April 1, 2023.
What does the Law propose?
The Law proposes the following:
- Introducing a new basis for acquiring insured status in mandatory health insurance for individuals whose employment in institutions, bodies, offices, and agencies of the European Union has ceased,
- Regulating the adoption of healthcare measures from mandatory health insurance
- Preventive healthcare,
- Increasing the amount of co-payment for certain healthcare services and the maximum amount of participation by insured persons in healthcare costs,
- Regulating the list of expensive drugs and introducing a treatment outcome registry,
- Compensation of wages due to temporary incapacity for work for insured persons who meet the conditions for retirement,
- Control of temporary incapacity,
- Financing sources for mandatory health insurance.
Sick leave compensation for insured persons over 65 years old
Amendments to the Law on Compulsory Health Insurance introduced a new provision for insured persons over 65. Namely, until March 31, 2023, insured persons over 65 who were still employed did not have the right to sick leave compensation covered by the Croatian Institute for Health Insurance (HZZO).
Instead, they received sick leave compensation from their employers — a similar situation applied to self-employed insured persons. Tradesmen and individuals engaged in freelance work over 65 years old did not have the right to sick leave compensation covered by HZZO, and their obligation to pay contributions was suspended from the 43rd day of sick leave.
Changes have occurred with amendments to the Law on Compulsory Health Insurance. The age threshold for entitlement to compensation covered by HZZO has been raised to 70 years and requires a minimum of 15 years of pensionable service. Insured persons over 65 years old now have the right to sick leave compensation covered by HZZO from the 43rd day of sick leave, and in the case of occupational injury, from the first day of incapacity for work. This change also applies to insured persons on sick leave when the amendments were enacted. Raising the age threshold for entitlement to sick leave compensation covered by HZZO could encourage employers to retain employees for a more extended period.
