A person who pays his health insurance has the right to choose his own personal general practitioner. This is the doctor who monitors the overall state of health, conducts check-ups, places mandatory vaccines, treats minor illnesses (such as influenza), provides the necessary health documentation, maintains a digital profile of patients with the history of their diseases and issues referrals to specialists if necessary.

If you are choosing a GP for the first time, you can do so at any time of the year by visiting the office of your chosen doctor and submitting an application to the Regional Health Insurance Fund. You can fill in the application on the spot or on the Internet, on the  website of the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF).

The choice of GP for children under 18 is made by parents or guardians.

Upon initial selection of a GP, you should be issued a Health Insurance Card. It certifies your registration with a GP and dentist. The health insurance card is issued by the regional Health Insurance Fund.

If you have already been enrolled with a GP during the procedure for granting international protection, after receiving a status you can keep the same doctor or choose a new one. If you decide to change the doctor, you need to fill in and submit an application to the GP of your choice in the periods 1-30 June or 1-31 December.

Registration with a GP can also be made electronically through a special platform of the NHIF through a unique access code received from the National Revenue Agency and a qualified electronic signature. The platform is available here.

Usually, patients choose a doctor near the address where they live.

In case you need the services of a specialized doctor, you need to visit your GP first, who will issue you a referral to a specialist of your choice. In this case, the examination with a specialist will cost you a minimum amount (as much as a visit to a GP). If you choose to go directly to a specialist without referral, you will have to pay between 30 and 70 leva, depending on the type of medical service. In order to pay the reduced amount, it is necessary that the specialist to whom you go with a referral works with the NHIF.

If necessary, your doctor may refer you to hospital treatment. Hospitalization in medical institutions that have a contract with the NHIF is free of charge, except for some additional services of your choice.

Pregnant women are entitled to a range of tests and medical services in childbirth even without having paid their health insurance.

Refugees and persons with humanitarian status without health insurance are entitled to a limited number of hospitalization services, which are paid by the Social Assistance Directorate at their current address. To take advantage of this opportunity, it is necessary to fill in an application that is submitted to the NGA through the director of the hospital.