Deputies approve legislation requiring foreigners to be insured with state insurer VZP

The lower house of Parliament on Tuesday approved legislation requiring foreigners with long-term residence in the country to be insured with the state-owned insurer VZP, despite criticism that such a requirement amounts to unacceptable monopolization.

According to the bill, only a subsidiary of VZP will be able to provide commercial health insurance in the next five years. Only after that period, other health insurers will also have this option. The bill has yet to be signed into law by the president.