site.btaParliament’s Budget Committee Approves 2026 NHIF Budget at Second Reading

The parliamentary Budget and Finance Committee adopted on second reading the draft National Health Insurance Fund Budget Act (NHIF) for 2026, submitted by the Council of Ministers.

The committee did not accept proposals made by the opposition within the framework of the draft budget of the National Health Insurance Fund for 2026, including an increase in funds for primary outpatient medical care and specialized outpatient medical care, including examinations and dispensary monitoring, from the funds for hospital medical care set out in the draft budget. From the statements of the Ministry of Health, presented by Minister Katya Ivkova, it became known that the department does not support the proposals made, as she indicated that all changes made must be based on data in order to be able to make calculations.

The Commission unanimously, with 23 votes "in favour", accepted the proposal of Kostadin Angelov (GERB-UDF) and a group of deputies to create a new paragraph that regulates the health insurance status of monks - Bulgarian citizens in the George Zograf monastery in Mount Athos - Republic of Greece, recording that as of August 1, 2026, they are considered to have continuous health insurance rights.

The draft budget of the National Health Insurance Fund envisages revenues and transfers for this year in the amount of EUR 5.256 billion, which is the same amount as the planned expenses. Health insurance revenues are set to be EUR 5.138 billion, of which EUR 3.187 billion are revenues from health insurance contributions, and EUR 1.95 billion are transfers for health insurance.

The costs under the bill are EUR 412.3 million more than the NHIF Budget Act for 2025, which represents an increase of 8.5%.

Revenue from health insurance contributions is expected to increase by EUR 249.2 million compared to last year, while revenue from health insurance transfers is expected to increase by EUR 156.2 million. The health insurance contribution rate of 8% is maintained in a ratio of 60:40, with the exception of civil servants, for whom the ratio is 80:20 employer-employee.

EUR 2.342 billion is planned for hospital medical care, EUR 351.2 million for specialized outpatient medical care, and EUR 345.6 million for primary outpatient medical care.