Hidden perks of your Czech health insurance

If you live and work in Brno as an expat, you’re likely part of the Czech public health insurance system. You’re entitled to annual financial bonuses that many expats completely miss out on.

What can you get reimbursed for?

Czech health insurance companies don’t just cover you when you’re sick. They also reward you for prevention and active living. Every insurer has a “prevention fund” (fond prevence) with hundreds or even thousands of crowns waiting for you.

You can typically claim contributions for:

• Sports and physical activities: If you pay for a gym membership, fitness classes, swimming, or dance lessons, your insurer can cover part of the cost.
• Children’s extracurriculars: Autumn means kids are back in school and enrolled in various after-school sports, football clubs, or gymnastics. Parents have already paid these fees, so now’s the time to get some of that money back through your insurer’s dedicated bonuses for kids’ sports.
• Vaccinations: You can get contributions for vaccines that aren’t fully covered by standard insurance for both adults and children. This includes the seasonal flu vaccine, Hepatitis A, and tick-borne encephalitis.
• Physical and mental well-being: Health insurance goes beyond the physical body. Many insurers contribute to physiotherapy sessions to manage physical strain or back pain. They also offer psychotherapy and psychosocial support to look after your mental health. These therapy benefits are accessible to both adults and children, usually from 7 years of age.
• Special diets and medical aids: If you have specific health conditions, you can often claim allowances for specialised medical diets (such as gluten-free products for coeliac disease or nutrition for diabetes), as well as various medical devices and aids.
• Pregnancy and maternity: There are generous packages tailored specifically for pregnant women and mothers after childbirth.
• Blood donors: If you’re a voluntary, unpaid blood, plasma, or bone marrow donor, insurers offer generous bonus programmes. For example, VZP gives active donors up to 3,000 CZK for rehabilitation or spa treatments (like massages or swimming) and an extra 1,000 CZK for dental hygiene.

The golden rule: don’t skip your general check-ups

Between managing your career, taking care of your family, and dealing with everyday life in a foreign country, it’s easy to put yourself last. We often forget to look after our own health until something goes wrong.

Taking care of yourself is vital, and your insurance company wants to encourage you to do so. For many insurers, adult contributions from the prevention fund are strictly conditional on attending your routine general check-ups.

In the Czech Republic, you’re entitled to a free general preventative check-up (preventivní prohlídka) with your GP every two years. It costs you nothing, takes little time, and serves as your ticket to unlocking hundreds of crowns in extra bonuses. Take this as a friendly reminder to schedule your appointment and put your health first.

How to check your specific benefits and deadlines

The exact amount of money you can get back, and the final date to apply, depend entirely on your health insurance company.

For example, VZP, the largest insurer in the country, offers a large prevention fund, and their deadline is 31 December. The best part for expats is that you don’t need to stand in long queues or practise your Czech at an office. You can apply for all rewards completely online through the Moje VZP mobile app or web portal. You simply upload a photo or scan of your payment receipt, fill out a quick form, and the money’s sent directly to your bank account.

If you’re with another insurer (such as OZP, ZP MV ČR, or ČPZP), check their official website under sections named “Benefity“, “Klub pevného zdraví“, or “Preventivní programy“. Most insurance companies accept applications until 31 December, but a few close them on 30 November. Most of them now offer English interfaces or user-friendly apps to handle claims digitally.

Do not wait until the last minute

Even if your deadline’s the end of December, don’t leave it for the holiday rush.

Gather your receipts from this year, whether it’s your child’s football club invoice or your own gym pass receipt. Log in to your insurer’s portal and submit your applications soon. It takes just a few minutes, and it’s a great way to boost your budget ahead of the festive season.