A trip to a sanatorium. How to do it - a guide for patients

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Today, the quality of many centers and the services they provide differs significantly from the standards of 20-30 years ago. A trip to a spa for treatment serves various purposes. For some patients, it's a crucial step in their therapy, a continuation of inpatient or outpatient treatment; sometimes, the goal is to regain mobility after an illness or accident, or to facilitate necessary convalescence from an occupational disease.

Patients referred for spa treatment are those who are fit enough to travel to the spa, are independent, and are capable of self-care and using the treatments.

The spa utilizes mineral waters, mud, climatotherapy, hydrotherapy, physical therapy, and kinesiotherapy. Depending on the spa's profile, needs, and recommendations, you can enjoy therapeutic baths and pool exercises, drinking cures and inhalations, showers, Scottish showers, water massages, wraps and compresses, thermotherapy, phototherapy, electrotherapy, ultrasound, magnetotherapy, laser therapy, cryotherapy, therapeutic massage, and individual and group exercise classes.

A stay in a so-called spa hospital lasts 21 days and is free of charge. A child's stay lasts 27 days. A stay in a spa sanatorium lasts 21 days. A child's stay is free of charge, while an adult's stay is partially paid. A stay in a spa hospital for spa rehabilitation lasts 28 days and is free of charge. A stay in a spa sanatorium for spa rehabilitation lasts 28 (twenty-eight) days and is partially paid. Outpatient spa treatment for adults and children lasts from 6 to 18 days.

A referral for spa treatment is issued by a health insurance physician, taking into account the patient's current health status. Contrary to appearances, this is crucial, as spa treatment is a form of stimulus treatment, and some conditions may be exacerbated. A properly and legibly completed referral is sent by the physician or the patient to the provincial branch of the National Health Fund (NFZ) where they currently reside within 30 days of issuance; otherwise, the referral will expire. We speak with a National Health Fund expert about how to obtain a referral and what to do if we are unable to take advantage of the trip.

Can any doctor issue a referral?

After the referral is registered at the National Health Fund branch, it is checked by a specialist in balneoclimatology and physical medicine or medical rehabilitation employed by the Fund, who assesses its advisability and indicates the type and place of spa treatment.

If the specialist determines contraindications or a lack of indications for treatment, they do not confirm the referral. It is then returned to the issuing physician, and the patient receives written notification of this fact. The decision is final and cannot be appealed. If a treatment date is set, the provincial branch of the National Health Fund (NFZ) will deliver a confirmed referral no later than 14 days before the start date. The average waiting time for a referral varies by province. In some regions, the wait for adult sanatorium treatment can be up to four months, such as the Lublin region. On the other hand, waiting times for a sanatorium, for example, in the Małopolska region, can be over a year. In other areas, there are no waiting lists; referrals are processed on an ongoing basis.

What if the patient receives information about the trip after such a long time and suddenly becomes ill, with COVID-19, or something else happens that prevents them from traveling?

If a decision is made to cancel the scheduled date and place of spa treatment, the insured person should immediately return the confirmed referral to the Fund branch.

The basis for considering a withdrawal from treatment is a written justification and documentation. The National Health Fund (NFZ) branch considers withdrawal (with an attached original, confirmed referral for spa treatment) to be justified in documented cases where the reason is a sudden event or illness of the beneficiary (e.g., hospitalization).

Where does the patient then stand in the queue? Is it another two years? How does the National Health Fund (NFZ) then notify the patient so that the referral doesn't go to waste?

If a cancellation is accepted, the National Health Fund (NFZ) branch will set a new date for the referral, within the limits of the Fund's capabilities and in accordance with the original referral receipt date. Experience shows that the first available date can arise quickly, for example, if another patient returns the referral, and we then fill its place. We know from experience that a new available date can be scheduled within three months of the original date. In the absence of written justification or documentation for the cancellation, or if the referral is returned after the scheduled spa treatment date, the NFZ branch will return the referral to the referring physician, notifying the patient that the referral has been processed. The patient is kept informed of every stage of the referral's processing, including the scheduling of a new date for the spa treatment or the return of the referral to the referring physician.

It's always worth asking your doctor whether copies of documents should be attached to the referral. If the referring doctor enters the required test results (blood count, ESR, urinalysis, ECG, X-rays) in Section III of the current referral form, you shouldn't also include test results already included in the referral. If you submit hospitalization records with the referral, photocopies of these documents should be included, the National Health Fund (NFZ) emphasizes.

For adults, it is recommended to receive outpatient and sanatorium spa treatment and rehabilitation at a health resort no more than once every 1.5 years. However, a subsequent referral can be submitted to the provincial branch of the National Health Fund (NFZ) after 12 months from the completion of the previous spa treatment. Employees of facilities that used asbestos in their production, employed on or before September 28, 1997, are entitled to annual spa treatment and are exempt from the spa treatment fee.

The National Health Fund, within the framework of individual forms of treatment, finances the following areas that the healthcare provider is obliged to ensure during the treatment:

• Inpatient spa treatment for children aged 3 to 18 lasts 27 days and is free of charge for the child (the Fund does not cover travel costs to and from the spa treatment). An initial medical examination takes place on the first 24 hours after admission, with weekly check-ups, and a final examination within 24 hours before discharge. The child is provided with the development and ongoing adjustment of their balneological treatment program, daily access to the treating physician, emergency medical interventions, additional specialist medical consultations necessary for the treatment, and 24-hour medical and nursing care. For physiotherapy treatments, the provider must ensure the performance of at least 66 physiotherapy treatments during the billing period (session) – an average of at least 3 treatments per day.

In addition, during the stay, the service provider ensures: implementation of the annual obligation of pre-school and school preparation as well as primary and secondary school education, care and educational care, a common room and play rooms with appropriate equipment.

• Spa treatment for children aged 7 to 18 lasts 21 days and is free of charge for the child (the Fund does not cover travel costs to and from the spa treatment). An initial medical examination takes place on the first 24 hours after admission, a final medical examination within 24 hours before discharge, and follow-up medical examinations at least twice during the stay. The child is provided with the establishment and ongoing adjustment of the balneological treatment program, daily access to the treating physician, emergency medical interventions, 24-hour nursing care, and medical assistance in the event of sudden illness or deterioration of health in the afternoon, evening, and night - on call from a nurse. Regarding physiotherapy treatments, the provider must ensure the performance of at least 54 physiotherapy treatments during the billing period (stay) - an average of at least 3 treatments per day.

In addition, during the stay, the service provider ensures: implementation of compulsory schooling and education in the scope of primary and secondary school, care and educational care in accordance with applicable regulations, a common room and play rooms with appropriate equipment.

• Spa treatment for children aged 3 to 6 years under adult supervision (in the case of children with cerebral palsy or neurological conditions with a similar clinical picture - up to 18 years of age) - lasts 21 days, children aged 3 to 6 years may be referred to spa treatment under the supervision of a legal guardian or alone, the treatment is free of charge only for the child (the Fund does not cover the costs of travel to and from the spa treatment), the guardian covers the costs specified by the service provider for the stay; an initial medical examination takes place on the first 24 hours after admission, a final medical examination within 24 hours before discharge, a follow-up medical examination at least twice during the stay. The child is provided with the establishment and ongoing revision of the balneological treatment program, daily access to the treating physician, emergency medical interventions, 24-hour nursing care, and medical assistance in the event of sudden illness or deterioration of health during the afternoon, evening, and night hours upon nurse's call. Regarding physiotherapy treatments, the provider must ensure the performance of at least 54 physiotherapy treatments per billing period (stay), with an average of at least three treatments per day.

During the stay, the service provider ensures: implementation of the annual obligation of kindergarten, school preparation and primary school education, a common room and playrooms with appropriate equipment.

• Inpatient spa treatment for adults lasts 21 days. The spa hospital stay is free (the Fund does not cover travel costs to and from the spa treatment). On the first 24 hours after admission to the spa treatment, patients undergo an initial medical examination, weekly check-ups, and a final examination within 24 hours before discharge. Established balneological treatment programs are continually revised. Patients are provided with 24-hour medical and nursing care. For physiotherapy treatments, the provider must provide each beneficiary with at least 54 physiotherapy treatments per billing period (stay) – an average of at least 3 physiotherapy treatments per day (including one essential stimulating treatment using natural healing resources) for 6 treatment days per week.

• Adult spa treatment lasts 21 days. The stay at the spa is partially covered by the insured person. (The Fund does not cover travel costs to and from the spa treatment.) Insured persons who have received a referral for spa treatment are partially covered for meals and accommodations. The fee depends on the room standard and the season. An initial medical examination takes place on the first 24 hours after admission, a final medical examination within 24 hours before discharge, and follow-up medical examinations at least twice during the stay. The patient is provided with the establishment and ongoing adjustment of the balneological treatment program, daily access to the treating physician, emergency medical interventions, and 24-hour nursing care – a nurse on duty in the ward. In the scope of physiotherapy treatments, the service provider should ensure that each beneficiary receives at least 54 physiotherapy treatments during the billing period (stay) - on average at least 3 physiotherapy treatments per day (including one basic stimulant treatment using natural medicinal resources) for 6 treatment days per week.

• Spa rehabilitation for adults in a spa hospital lasts 28 days (the Fund does not cover travel costs to and from the spa treatment). On the first 24 hours after admission to spa treatment, patients undergo an initial medical examination, weekly follow-up examinations, and a final examination within 24 hours before discharge. Established balneological treatment programs are continually revised. Patients are provided with: daily access to the treating physician, emergency medical interventions, and 24-hour medical and nursing care. Regarding physiotherapy treatments, the provider must provide each beneficiary with at least 96 physiotherapy treatments during the billing period (stay) – an average of at least 4 physiotherapy treatments per day (including one essential stimulating treatment using natural healing resources) for 6 treatment days per week.

• Spa rehabilitation for adults in a spa sanatorium lasts 28 days. The spa sanatorium stay is partially paid for by the insured person (the Fund does not cover travel costs to and from the spa treatment). Insured individuals who have received a referral for spa sanatorium treatment are partially responsible for the costs of meals and accommodations – the fee depends on the room standard and the season. On the first 24 hours after admission to spa treatment, patients undergo an initial medical examination, with follow-up medical examinations performed at least twice during their stay, and a final examination within 24 hours before discharge. Established balneological treatment programs are continually revised. Patients are provided with: daily access to the treating physician, emergency medical interventions, and 24-hour medical and nursing care. In the scope of physiotherapy treatments, the service provider should ensure that each beneficiary receives at least 96 physiotherapy treatments during the settlement period (stay) - on average at least 4 physiotherapy treatments per day (including one basic stimulus treatment using natural medicinal resources) for 6 treatment days per week.

• Outpatient spa treatment for adults and children – lasts from 6 to 18 days (the decision is left to the insured person). The patient selects the spa treatment date and spa treatment facility (from among providers who have signed a contract with the National Health Fund (NFZ) to provide healthcare services in this area). Insured persons using this form of spa treatment provide their own accommodation and meals. As part of a confirmed referral, the NFZ provides: daily access to the treating physician, emergency medical interventions, development and adjustment of the balneological treatment program, and at least three physiotherapy treatments per day (including one basic stimulating treatment using natural healing resources) for six treatment days per week.

The fee for a stay, depending on the comfort, in single or multi-person rooms, in peak season or off-season, ranges from PLN 10 to PLN 40 per night.

Treatments provided as part of a confirmed outpatient spa treatment are free of charge. However, you must cover the cost of your stay and provide your own accommodation and meals. This means that in this form, in addition to the hospital or spa stay, the National Health Fund will cover the treatments, but not the stay itself.

The National Health Fund does not cover the costs of:

• travel to and from spa treatment;
• partial payment for meals and accommodation in health resorts;
• meals and accommodation while receiving outpatient treatment;
• stay of the patient's guardian;
• additional fees applicable at the location of the plant, e.g. resort fees;
• costs of natural therapy and rehabilitation treatments not related to the underlying disease which is the direct cause of referral to spa treatment.

It is always worth finding out how much such a stay may cost the patient.

Where can I get this information? Such information can always be obtained from a specific healthcare provider.

You can check the status of your referral at any time by using your individual number in the search engine .

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