Moving to Another City and Using Health Insurance

Moving to another city does not automatically mean that your health insurance policy stops being valid or begins to operate under new terms. Nor does it guarantee that the same healthcare facility or identical care pathway will be available in your new location. These are two separate issues: territorial coverage is determined by the contract, while the process for receiving care may depend on the terms of the specific policy. Therefore, after changing your place of residence, it’s a good idea to review your policy document, the General Terms and Conditions, and the instructions on what to do in the event of a sudden illness or accident. You also need to determine whether your new address must be reported and how to obtain assistance in your new city. The procedure below allows you to do this without guesswork and without applying the rules of one policy to all others.

What a Move Really Changes

The most important rule is: Do not assume that coverage will be lost or extended simply because the city has changed. The answer must be determined by reviewing the specific contract documents. Factors that may be relevant include, among others: the coverage area, the selected option or clause, the insurance period, and the procedure for organizing assistance.

In practice, three questions should be distinguished:

This distinction helps avoid two common mistakes. The first is the belief that a policy valid in Poland provides access to any facility. The second is the assumption that the absence of a designated facility nearby means there is no coverage. The scope of the contract and the availability of a local branch are not the same thing. You should not draw any of these conclusions without first reviewing the product guidelines.

A medical expense insurance policy for a foreign national may cover assistance in the event of a sudden illness or accident—always within the limits of the selected coverage. It should not be viewed as a promise of unrestricted access to any healthcare provider.

If you're also considering changing the policy itself—not just your address—read the guide on a smooth transition to new insurance coverage during your stay.

Do I need to report my new address?

There is no single answer that applies to every contract. Please check your General Terms and Conditions and your policy for the reporting requirement. Rules can be stated explicitly, but they differ in scope and how they are implemented.

In the General Terms and Conditions of TUZ Ubezpieczenia, approved by a resolution dated January 14, 2026, and applicable to contracts entered into on or after February 13, 2026, the policyholder is required to notify TUZ Ubezpieczenia of any change of address or registered office. However, this provision refers to another paragraph concerning the forms of notification. This means that Don't guess which channel to use when reporting to TUZ — It should be taken from the full text of your own contract.

Compensa’s General Terms and Conditions of 2026 also require that Compensa be notified of any change in residential address or registered office. Under these terms, statements regarding the contract should be submitted in writing for evidentiary purposes—either in document form, such as via email from a personal account, or electronically—unless the contract, General Terms and Conditions, or specific clauses specify otherwise. Exceptions set forth in the contract documents take precedence Before the general instructions.

Both documents also address the issue of changes in circumstances that the insurer inquired about prior to the conclusion of the contract. According to the TUZ General Terms and Conditions, any changes that may increase the likelihood of a loss must be reported immediately. Compensa’s General Terms and Conditions, on the other hand, require immediate notification of changes in circumstances previously indicated in the application form or other correspondence. Not every life change automatically meets these conditions. The significance of the move depends on the questions asked when entering into a specific contract.

How to Check Your Tax Liability Without Making a Mistake

Find the version of the General Insurance Terms and Conditions assigned to your policy. Search for the terms „address,” „change of information,” „obligations of the policyholder,” „representations,” and „notices.” Also check the application form on which the contract was based. If an address was provided in it, Review the rules for updating it.

Keep a record of the confirmation that the information was sent. Don't assume on your own that sending a message through any channel is enough: What matters is the form permitted for a given contract.

Protected Area vs. Local Facility

The coverage area defines where an incident must occur in order for it to be processed in accordance with the policy terms. The network or the way assistance is organized, on the other hand, answers a different question: where and under what conditions can you receive benefits in a specific location. Nationwide coverage does not mean that the same network of services will be available in every city.

An example of the scope of coverage is provided by Compensa Clause No. 1 from 2026, provided it was selected in the contract. It covers the costs of medical treatment for an illness or the consequences of an accident that occurred in Poland, limited to treatment that is medically necessary and requires immediate attention during the insured’s stay in Poland. This provision confirms the territorial scope and nature of the coverage provided by this specific clause. Does not confirm the availability of a specific facility nor is there a single, identical way of organizing aid in every city.

After you move, be sure to check the following items separately:

Don't choose a facility based solely on an online map or the fact that it works with a particular insurer. That information alone does not determine whether a specific incident or service is covered under your policy. First, determine the path specified for the product in question.

If you want to better understand what provisions may be relevant during a hospital stay, please review the overview scope of hospital treatment coverage.

How to Prepare to Seek Help

Don't wait until an incident occurs to organize your documents. After you move, write down the policy number, coverage period, insurer's name, the selected option or clause, and the instructions for what to do in one place. The policy number and the appropriate procedure should be easily accessible.

In the event of a sudden illness or accident, follow the instructions in your current policy. Do not use the instructions from a previous policy or another person’s policy. If you are required to report the incident in advance or arrange for assistance, follow the instructions provided and keep the confirmation.

Gather the information identifying the contract and details about the incident. Determine:

An example without a risky generalization

After moving, the insured person should verify whether they are required to update their address and determine the proper way to report the change. Next, they should find the procedure for handling an emergency. They should not choose any branch on their own, nor should they assume that the move has terminated their coverage. He bases his decision on his own policy and the current instructions.

What to Check in the First Few Days After Moving

Focus on the information that may be important after you change your address:

If the documents do not provide a clear answer, ask for a reference to the relevant provision and keep a record of the response. Written confirmation reduces the risk of misunderstandings. Instructions received by someone else do not determine the terms of your policy.

If you need a medical expense insurance policy for a foreign national after moving, please use our online purchase form.

This form is intended for purchasing insurance, not for confirming the availability of a specific location or for interpreting a contract that has already been entered into.

Frequently asked questions