Author
According to the Hungarian Health Act,[1] beneficiaries of international protection fall under the same category as Hungarian nationals. However, for the first 6 months after granting of status, they are entitled to health services under the same conditions as asylum seekers. Therefore, the asylum authority funds the health care expenses of the beneficiaries for 6 months, if they are in need and cannot establish other health insurance format. However, as per the Menedék Association’s experience, in practice this is not always accepted by the health care service providers. Menedék Association points out that the fact that beneficiaries of international protection cannot obtain their social security cards within 6 months after receiving their statuses still posed a difficulty in accessing health care services as providers were not aware of the relating legislation and of the fact that these beneficiaries are entitled to be provided.[2] The Evangelical Lutheran Church (Diakonia) also reported of such difficulties occurring in 2023.[3] Diakonia did not provide such information for 2024 or 2025.
Since 2018 the card is delivered by post which makes it longer than receiving it in person and thus extends the duration of the procedure and delays the start of the employment. As per the Evangelical Lutheran Church, since the issuance of the health insurance card lasts so long, it is not requested immediately upon the granting of the status in Vámosszabadi, but only after the person establishes their domicile out of the reception facility. The possibility to obtain the health insurance card is further hindered by the difficulties arising with regard to the issuance of the identification and address card (see section above on Residence permit), as without those the application for the health insurance card cannot be initiated.
In practice, similarly to asylum seekers (see Health Care), beneficiaries of international protection face significant barriers regarding access to health care. Barriers mainly stem from language difficulties, i.e. the lack of interpreters or the lack of basic English spoken by the doctor. NGOs’ assistance is the only available solution for that. The obstacles, furthermore, might stem from administrative difficulties or simply from lack of awareness of the law.[4]
The Cordelia Foundation is the only organisation that specifically focuses on bio-psycho-social support provision among people with international status (see above under Reception Conditions). Next Step reported in 2021 that people with international protection status and other vulnerable migrants with traumatic experiences might have more significant difficulties concentrating on and fully committing to long-term and more complex courses organised by the NGO. Therefore, Next Step offered mental health assistance to its community members throughout 2022 too.[5] No similar activity was reported for 2023, 2024 or 2025.
JRS reports that their beneficiaries reported limited and inconsistent access to health services. For example, what constitutes “emergency care” often appears to be fluid and largely depends on the discretion or judgement of individual health providers. Financial burdens and long waiting times are particularly severe for those seeking treatment for chronic conditions such as cancer. Language barriers remain a challenge for many, with many refugees relying on interpreters for medical consultations, but telephone translation services are often inadequate or unavailable. Another difficulty during medical consultations is that many doctors, despite the fact that them and the patient speak excellent English, are unwilling to communicate with the patient in this common language during a treatment or examination.[6]
[1] Section 3(s) Act CLIV of 1997 on Health Care.
[2] Information received from Menedék Association by the HHC on 28 February 2023.
[3] Information received from the Evangelical Lutheran Diakonia by the HHC on 24 February 2024.
[4] Practice-informed observation by the HHC, January 2024.
[5] Information received from Next Step Hungary Association by the HHC on 6 February 2023.
[6] Information received from the Jesuit Refugee Service by the HHC on 28 February 2025.