1. How to provide health insurance for unemployed person?
Ljiljana Džuver
Ministry of Labour, Employment, Veteran and Social Affairs
Republic of Serbia

2. Health insurance as a reason for registering as a jobseeker in the registry of National Employment Service (NES)
Up to year 2007: an unemployed person only if registered as jobseeker in the registry of NES, was entitled to health insurance
Unemployed person was obliged to provide evidence on unemployment status (NES confirmation paper)
Also, the beneficiary’s family members was entitled to health insurance, unless they were health-insured on some other grounds

3. Procedure
Application form was filled-in by NES staff on the basis of statement that person is without income and cannot exercise the right to health care as a family member
Then, application form was submitted in the Republic Health Insurance Fund
Verification of health card was in the NES
Problems:
- Inactive unemployed person is registered at the NES and NES staff was overloaded with administrative tasks;
- Family members (unemployed) cannot exercise the right to health care, on some other grounds
- Removal from the register of NES for unemployed person means cancellation of health insurance also for his/her family members

4. Reforms
Healthcare Law and Law on Health Insurance amended on 1th January 2007;
Unemployed person exercising the right on health insurance through respective branch of Republic Health Insurance Fund on the territory of Municipality of his/her residence;
For unemployed person and their family members, validation of health card is at the respective branch of Republic Health Insurance Fund.

5. Entitlement of health care insurance of unemployed person (Law on health insurance)
Unemployed person could exercise the right of health insurance on different ways:
Persons entitled to unemployment benefits, in accordance with the provisions of the Law on Employment and Unemployment Insurance - funds for contribution payments are provided from the NES budget (article 17) ;
As family members of the insured person;
Unemployed persons and persons who belong to other socially vulnerable categories whose monthly income is below the income level established by this Law - funds for contribution payments are provided from the budget of the Republic of Serbia (article 22)
Persons whose monthly income is above the mentioned income level, could pay contributions by themselves (in accordance with the provisions which regulates compulsory social insurance) in which way he/she and his close family members have access to the compulsory health care insurance

6. Reform effects
Decreased number of unemployed persons registered with the NES in the first quarter of 2007 year
NES staff, working in the direct contact with unemployed persons, focused on active jobseekers
Unemployed person exercising the right to health care on an easier way