Ombudsman attacks health insurance situation for Czechs married to foreigners

Czech ombudsman Otakar Motejl has hit out at outdated health insurance provisions for foreigners who marry Czechs. Mr. Motejl said Czech law simply does not seem to count on the fact that Czechs might marry foreigners and their spouses would require health cover. The foreign spouse is often excluded from the public health insurance system because they have to wait two years after marriage before getting permanent residency. Women forced to stay at home and look after children are often worst hit, he added. An increasing number of individuals are facing the problem thanks to the rising number of Czechs marrying foreigners. Around 4,000 such marriages take place every year.