What are the health care expenses in Bulgaria?

Bulgaria has a universal health care system that provides basic health care services to all citizens and permanent residents. The system is funded through mandatory health insurance contributions from employees, employers, and the state budget.

The basic health insurance package covers a wide range of services, including:

- Primary care services, such as doctor's visits, preventive care, and laboratory tests

- Hospitalization

- Specialist care

- Emergency medical care

- Dental care

- Pharmaceutical care

- Rehabilitation services

The cost of health care in Bulgaria is relatively low compared to other European countries. The average monthly health insurance contribution for an employee is around 8% of their gross salary. Employers also contribute 8% of their employees' gross salaries to the health insurance fund.

In addition to the mandatory health insurance contributions, patients may also have to pay co-payments for some services, such as hospital stays and specialist consultations. The co-payments are usually a small percentage of the total cost of the service.

For those who cannot afford to pay the co-payments, there are a number of social assistance programs that can provide financial assistance. These programs are means-tested, and the amount of assistance provided depends on the patient's income and assets.

Overall, Bulgaria has a relatively affordable and accessible health care system. The system provides basic health care services to all citizens and permanent residents, and the cost of health care is relatively low.