Medical Spa Treatment

Spa treatment is available as a non-guaranteed medical option, requiring approval by your health insurance’s reviewing physician.

 

Payment Options for Spa Care

 

Complex Spa Treatment (CST): Fully covered by health insurance, complex treatment is provided based on a specialist’s recommendation. Patients who pay social insurance are granted sick leave for the duration of their stay at the spa facility.

 

Contributory Spa Treatment (CST): Also recommended by a specialist, contributory spa care includes medical examinations and therapeutic procedures covered by insurance. Clients, however, cover the cost of accommodation and meals, and they must arrange for leave or unpaid time off to attend the spa stay.

 

Self-Payer: For those choosing self-funded spa care, all medical procedures, accommodation, and meals are fully covered by the client. A fee may be charged for issuing a proposal for spa treatment or for an opinion on the suitability of balneotherapy, as per the applicable price list.

 

Approval for either comprehensive or contributory care depends on the patient’s health condition and is based on the evaluation according to the Indication List for Spa Care.

 

Proposal for Spa Care

 

As of January 1, 2022, proposals for medical rehabilitation care are submitted by the physician recommending the treatment, whether an outpatient provider or attending physician during hospitalization. For example, a neurologist, orthopedist, surgeon, rehabilitation physician, or cardiologist who deems spa care appropriate for a patient covered by public health insurance will complete a proposal for approval. This measure ensures that insured individuals are not required to visit their general practitioner solely for filling out the proposal after an indication by a specialist.

 

In certain cases, weight reduction may be necessary for submitting a spa care proposal and securing approval for a spa stay. Specific requirements are set for certain conditions:

 

• For coxarthrosis and gonarthrosis (indication group VII/7), patients with a BMI over 30 must demonstrate a 5% weight loss since their last spa stay.

• For patients with a BMI over 35, a 10% reduction in weight since the previous stay is required.

• Similar requirements apply for patients with musculoskeletal conditions (indication group VII/9 - chronic vertebralgenic algic syndrome) or for those receiving spa treatment for hypertension or diabetes, where obesity may significantly impact health.

 

Source​:

Decree No. 2/2015 Coll., setting forth professional criteria and additional requirements for the provision of spa medical rehabilitation care.