Depending on their countries of origin, foreigners in Bulgaria should be prepared to, on request, show evidence of medical insurance valid in Bulgaria.
Travel/medical insurance should be for at least $5000 and should cover emergency medical expenses, repatriation, transport of mortal remains, funeral and hospitalisation.
If the visitor has insurance of this type, a copy of the policy, with the legible policy number, company name, duration of validity and sum of coverage, or a letter from the insurance company including this data, should be submitted with the visa application.
If the traveller does not have such insurance, a visa application can be made without it, but insurance must be obtained after the consulate has informed the applicant that the visa has been approved. The visa will be issued only after proof of insurance is submitted.
Legal regulations may block the introduction of new rules on health insurance for foreigners on short-term stays in Bulgaria, a check by The Sofia Echo discovered in summer 2005.
In terms of an ordinance approved by the Cabinet on April 28 2005 (Ordinance on the General Conditions, the Minimum Insurance Coverage, Minimum Insurance Premium and the Rules for Mandatory Medical Insurance for Foreigners on Short-term Stay or Transiting through Bulgaria), foreigners that have no medical insurance when seeking to enter Bulgaria will be obliged to sign at the border for insurance covering their stay in the country.
If this mandatory medical insurance expires during the stay, a new policy will have to be taken out for the rest of the period remaining before the foreigner is due to leave the country.
Foreigners transiting through the country or spending up to two weeks here and who have insurance would be eligible for compensation by a Bulgarian insurer for any expenditure they may have made on medical treatment, after a money transfer is made abroad (presumably in their country of origin or where the insurance has been bought). Legislation on health insurance for foreigners, however, has not settled the way such transfers should be made.
The Union of Insured in Bulgaria (UIB), a non-governmental organisation headquartered in the Black Sea city of Bourgas, has advised foreigners to, before leaving their country for Bulgaria, acquaint themselves with alternatives to this form of mandatory insurance. Foreigners in transit have little to no chance of being able to provide a treatment centre and an insurer with all the documents required for claiming compensation. This is a limitation or even a denial of the right to be compensated, the UIB says.
Its specialists believe that if a hospital refuses to issue, or just delays the issuing of, the necessary documents, the insurer could also halt or delay payment of compensation. In such a case, the compensation depends solely on the goodwill or the financial capability of the hospital, which is not a party to the health insurance contract.
In the event that an insurer does not fulfil its obligations, the only way for foreigners to assert their rights would be to go to court. However, the method for seeking compensation in court is not regulated by the ordinance or any other legislation.
The minimum coverage requirement – including primary, hospital and emergency medical services – for foreigners on a short-term stay, or those travelling through Bulgaria, is 12 000 leva as of January 1 2006.
They are also required to have dental insurance that will cover services worth 500 leva.
The ordinance also regulates the subject of insurance, the scope of the insured liability and circumstances in which the insurer would not owe compensation. Minimum insurance coverage and the premium are also envisaged in the document, as well as rules for paying compensation in the event of an accident or if treatment is needed.
The minimum coverage does not include expenses for treatment of chronic diseases, haemodialysis and blood transfusions, planned neurological, cardiological and eye surgery, in-vitro treatment, hospital treatment of cancer patients and people with mental disorders, among others.
The insurance premium payable under the minimum coverage policy depends on the duration of stay in Bulgaria.
The insurance policy issued under this regulation may not be longer than 90 days.
The insured can freely choose the practitioner and hospital on the territory of Bulgaria where they want to get treatment. They have only to inform the insurer within 24 hours of an accident or illness.
The 2005 winter season showed that foreigners coming to Bulgaria’s mountain resorts had already begun seeking alternatives to the mandatory health insurance, preferring to buy “mountain health insurance”.
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Friday, July 04 2008
Expat of the Week
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What`s on in Bulgaria
Cultural Institutes
DANA KYNDROVA, LIBUSI KYNDROVA, OCCUPATION, NORMALISATION, WITHDRAWAL What: A joint exhibition of photographer Dana Kyndrova and her mother, Libusi, remembering the occupation of Czechoslovakia by the troops of the Warsaw Pact forty years ago. When: June 30 to September 19 Where: the Czech Centre, 100 Rakovski Str, Sofia
Art
SUMMERTIME-IV, PART 1 What: General exhibition – Bogomil Arsov, Rosen Rashev, Boiko Kolev, Stelly Grancharov, Dimitar Karatonev. When: June 24 to July 31 Where: Paris Gallery, 8 Paris Str, Sofia
SVETLIN ROUSSEV, THE GLASS PRAYER & THE MASTERS What: Two exhibitions are taking place at the National Gallery for Foreign Art over June-July. The Glass Prayer exhibition presents Svetlin Roussev’s newest works, interpreting the topic of the meaning of life, the mission of every person and his or her respons When: June 14 to July 14 Where: National Gallery for Foreign Art, Sveti Alexander Nevsky Square, 1 Devetnaiseti Fevruari Str, Sofia
7TH LESSEDRA WORLD ART PRINT ANNUAL MINI PRINT 2008 What: This international exhibition/competition aims to show no other art has such big an application in modern society as graphic art. Its goal is to bring together participants and works from all over the world and forge contacts between artists and connoisse When: June 11 to August 31 Where: Lessedra Gallery, 25 Milin Kamuk Str, Sofia
MOMCHIL GEORGIEV, FINE ART What: Momchil Georgiev was born in 1974 in Plovdiv. He graduated with a degree in metal works from the National Academy of Arts, but currently works in the field of fine art. In this new exhibition at Agora Gallery, Georgiev presents his most recent work. His p When: July 9 to 29 Where: Agora Gallery, 3 Udovo Str, Sofia
KIRIL GYULEMETOV – 70 YEARS What: Kiril Gyulemetov (1938–2004) was a graphic. He did etchings, engravings on wood (though more rarely) and lithographies. He drew for more than 45 years – landscapes, people, objects, and ornaments. Fine art he did with oils, and he usually worked with aqua When: June 26 to July 25 Where: Altera Art Centre, 36 Dragan Tsankov Str, Interpred, Sofia
MAYA KOUBRATOVA, TOUCH What: With this exhibition of sculpture the artist aims to share with the viewer moments, moods and sensations all expressed by the frame of the different female figures. Koubratova likes to experiment with materials and to create coloured sculptures that have When: June 9 to July 8 Where: Minerva Gallery, Grand Hotel Sofia, 1 Gourko Str, Sofia
BISSERA VULEVA, SEASONS OF THE YEAR What: The exhibition consists of oil fine art canvases and large format paintings. The seasons of the year are represented as fragments of landscapes, as close-up parts of expectations, hopes and emotions. When: June 10 to July 10 Where: Sofia Press Gallery/Bookstore, 29 Slavyanska Str, Sofia
RADOSTIN DAMASKOV, SCULPTURE What: Radostin Damaskov has a degree in sculpture from the Veliko Turnovo University St St Kiril and Metodii. He has been a member of the Union of Bulgarian Artists since 1987 and has participated in a number of exhibitions in Bulgaria and abroad, as well as i When: July 9 to August 8 Where: Minerva Gallery, Grand Hotel Sofia, 1 Gourko Str, Sofia
ALEXANDER IVANOV, 360 BULGARIA What: Exhibition of 120 photographs of Bulgaria shot by photographer Alexander Ivanov from a paraglider. When: July 31 to August 28, at the entrance of Morskata Gradina (the sea garden), Varna September 5 to October 3, at the Central Square, Knyaz Alexander I Str, Plovdiv Where: Morskata Gradina (the sea garden), Varna and the Central Square, Knyaz Alexander I Str, Plovdiv
ALEC FINLAY, PRAVDOLIUB IVANOV, THOUGHTS WITHIN THOUGHTS What: British artist Alec Finlay and Bulgarian counterpart Pravdoliub Ivanov explore areas of artistic collaboration, cognition, playtime, dialogue and subtle irony through a series of new neon and print installations, sculptures, wall drawings and live perform When: June 21 to July 26 Where: ARC Projects, 4th fl, 90 Vitosha Blvd, Sofia
ANATOLII STANKOULOV What: The exhibition is the latest stop of Anatolii Stankoulov on his trip around Europe over the past year, during which he lived, painted and exhibited his works in Paris, then staged exhibitions in Barcelona and Belgrade. When: July 21 to August 20 Where: Minerva Gallery, Grand Hotel Sofia, 1 Gourko Str, Sofia
SKA FEST What: The first ska fest in the Balkans will be held in Sofia in mid-July with the participation of Bibi Ribozo and the Banditos (Poland), Steff Tej Trio (France), 63 High (Greece), Svetlio & The Legends (Bulgaria), Root Souljah, Senior Buffo & The Synchronizer When: July 19, at 5pm Where: Blue Box Club
Live Music
DEF LEPPARD AND WHITESNAKE AT ARENA MUZIKA 2008 What: What could be a better way to kick-off July's music season! The two musical legends will play for the first time on one stage in Sofia as headliners of the Arena Muzika festival. It will be Whitesnake’s fourth visit to Bulgaria, but a country debut for De When: July 4 Where: Sofia’s Akademik stadium
Kalikara Rock Fest 2008 What: Manowar, Holyhell, Sixth Sense, Alice Cooper, Slayer and In Flames will be performing one after another for three consecutive days When: July 5 - 7
Lenny Kravitz When: July 27 Where: Sofia
piano concert of Petar Andonov What: piano concert of Petar Andonov, free entrance When: July 4 Where: Boris Hristoff Musical Centre
Jazz concert with performers from the Netherlands, Bulgaria and Italy. What: Jazz concert with performers from the Netherlands, Bulgaria and Italy. Tickets at five leva. When: July 5 Where: Boris Hristoff Musical Centre
Opera film evenings: the greatest tenors of 20th century. What: Opera film evenings: the greatest tenors of 20th century. Tickets cost one lev. When: July 7 Where: Boris Hristoff Musical Centre
Charles Gounod’s opera Faust, with Boris Hristoff (1959). What: Charles Gounod’s opera Faust, with Boris Hristoff (1959). Tickets cost one lev. When: July 9, 5pm Where: Boris Hristoff Musical Centre
MINISTRY What: First and last and on the top of it quite limited chance to see the US industrial metal band Ministry. The concert is part of the Arena Muzika 2008 Festival and the last tour of the band. The tickets are offered at NDK ticket desk and via ticketpro.bg at When: July 12 Where: Hristo Botev Hall, Sofia
BROOKLYN FUNK ESSENTIALS What: Brooklyn Funk Essentials will perform their mixture of jazz, funk, and hip hop especially for the Bulgarian fans. When: July 12, at 11pm Where: Social Jazz Club, Sofia
DUNAV STARS Silistra 2008 What: Dunav Stars is an international competition for performers of popular songs, aiming to discover young talents, aged from six to 25 years. The entrance is free. When: July 16 to 19 Where: Drama theatre Sava Dobroplodni, Silistra
GABRIEL & DRESDEN’S JOSH GABRIEL BULGARIA TOUR 2008 What: The two DJs from San Francisco Josh Gabriel and Dave Dresden are coming to the Bulgarian Black Sea coast for a hot all-night-long set. Tickets are available via ticketstream.bg at the price of 18 leva. Everyone who has bought a ticket at the preliminary s When: July 19 and 20, from 11pm to 6am Where: Surf Club at Cacao Beach, Slunchev Bryag (Sunny Beach)
JAZZ WITH BOBBY MCFERRIN What: A little bit of diversity comes with Bobby McFerrin in late July. The concert will for sure please the jazz fans with all the four octaves of his voice, which has won him 10 Grammy Awards. And let’s not forget that McFerrin gave to the world the unique hi When: July 21 Where: National Palace of Culture (NDK), Hall 1
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