LAW FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE
Prom. SG. 70/19 Jun 1998, amend. SG. 93/11 Aug 1998, amend. SG. 153/23 Dec 1998, amend. SG. 62/9 Jul 1999, amend. SG. 65/20 Jul 1999, amend. SG. 67/27 Jul 1999, amend. SG. 69/3 Aug 1999, amend. SG. 110/17 Dec 1999, amend. SG. 113/28 Dec 1999, amend. SG. 1/4 Jan 2000, amend. SG. 64/4 Aug 2000, suppl. SG. 41/24 Apr 2001, amend. SG. 1/4 Jan 2002, amend. SG. 54/31 May 2002, amend. SG. 74/30 Jul 2002, amend. SG. 107/15 Nov 2002, amend. SG. 112/29 Nov 2002, amend. SG. 119/27 Dec 2002, amend. SG. 120/29 Dec 2002, amend. SG. 8/28 Jan 2003, suppl. SG. 50/30 May 2003, amend. SG. 107/9 Dec 2003, suppl. SG. 114/30 Dec 2003, amend. SG. 28/6 Apr 2004, suppl. SG. 38/11 May 2004, amend. SG. 49/8 Jun 2004, amend. SG. 70/10 Aug 2004, amend. SG. 85/28 Sep 2004, amend. SG. 111/21 Dec 2004, amend. SG. 39/10 May 2005, amend. SG. 45/31 May 2005, amend. SG. 76/20 Sep 2005, amend. SG. 99/9 Dec 2005, amend. SG. 102/20 Dec 2005, amend. SG. 103/23 Dec 2005, amend. SG. 105/29 Dec 2005, amend. SG. 17/24 Feb 2006, amend. SG. 18/28 Feb 2006, amend. SG. 30/11 Apr 2006, amend. SG. 33/21 Apr 2006, amend. SG. 34/25 Apr 2006, amend. SG. 59/21 Jul 2006, amend. SG. 95/24 Nov 2006, amend. SG. 105/22 Dec 2006, amend. SG. 11/2 Feb 2007, amend. SG. 26/27 Mar 2007, amend. SG. 31/13 Apr 2007, amend. SG. 46/12 Jun 2007, amend. SG. 59/20 Jul 2007, amend. SG. 97/23 Nov 2007, amend. SG. 100/30 Nov 2007, amend. SG. 113/28 Dec 2007, amend. SG. 37/8 Apr 2008, amend. SG. 71/12 Aug 2008, amend. SG. 110/30 Dec 2008, amend. SG. 35/12 May 2009, amend. SG. 41/2 Jun 2009, amend. SG. 42/5 Jun 2009, amend. SG. 93/24 Nov 2009, amend. SG. 99/15 Dec 2009, amend. SG. 101/18 Dec 2009, amend. SG. 19/9 Mar 2010, amend. SG. 26/6 Apr 2010, amend. SG. 43/8 Jun 2010, amend. SG. 49/29 Jun 2010, amend. SG. 58/30 Jul 2010, amend. SG. 59/31 Jul 2010, amend. SG. 62/10 Aug 2010, amend. SG. 96/7 Dec 2010, amend. SG. 97/10 Dec 2010, amend. SG. 98/14 Dec 2010, amend. SG. 100/21 Dec 2010, amend. SG. 9/28 Jan 2011
Chapter one.
GENERAL PROVISIONS
Art. 1. (1) (prev. text of Art. 1 – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) This law settles the health insurance in the Republic of Bulgaria and the public relations connected with it.
(2) (new – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) The health insurance is an activity related to collecting health insurance instalments and health insurance premium, the management of the collected resources and their spending for payment of health activities, services and commodities, stipulated by this law, by the National Frame Agreements (NFA) and by the health insurance contracts.
(3) (new – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) The health insurance is obligatory and voluntary.

Art. 2. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) The obligatory health insurance is an activity related to management and spending of resources from obligatory health insurance instalments for payment of health care activities, which is carried out by the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF) and by its territorial units - regional health insurance funds (RHIF). The obligatory health insurance shall provide a basic package of health care activities guaranteed by the budget of NHIF.
(2) Raising funds from obligatory health insurance instalments which are fixed by a law shall be carried out by the National Revenue Agency.

Art. 3. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) The voluntary health insurance is an activity of covering risks related to financial securing of certain health care services and goods which shall be carried out by companies who have obtained licence pursuant to this law and against payment of health insurance premiums on the grounds of health insurance contracts.

Chapter two.
OBLIGATORY HEALTH INSURANCE
Section I.
General Provisions
Art. 4. (1) (Prev. text of art. 4 - amend., SG 107/02) The obligatory health insurance guarantees to the insured persons accessible medical care through a definite type, range and volume of package of health activities, as well as a free choice of a provider who has concluded a contract with a regional health insurance fund.
(2) (New, SG 107/02 - in force from January 1, 2004) The right of choice shall be valid for the whole territory of the country and it cannot be restricted on geographic and/or administrative grounds.
(3) (new – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) The terms and the procedure for exercising the right of access and free choice of insured persons to medical care shall be set forth in the ordinance as per Art. 81, para 3 of the Law of Health and in the national frame agreements.

Art. 4a. (new – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) The National Frame Agreement is a normative administrative act which is effective on the territory of the whole state for e set time period and is obligatory to NHIF, RHIF, medical care providers, insured persons and insurers.

Art. 5. The obligatory health insurance shall be carried out on the principles of:
1. (Suppl., SG 107/02) obligatory participation in collecting the instalments;
2. (Amend., SG 107/02) participation of the state, the insured persons and the employers in the management of NHIF;
3. solidarity of the insured persons in using the raised resources;
4. responsibility of the insured persons for their own health;
5. equality in using medical care;
6. (New, SG 107/02) equality of the providers of medical care in concluding contracts with RHIF;
7. (Prev. item 6 - SG 107/02) self-management of NHIF;
8. (Prev. item 7 - SG 107/02) contracting the relations between NHIF and the providers of the medical care;
9. (New, SG 107/02) basic package of health care activities guaranteed by the budget of NHIF;
10. (New, SG 107/02) free choice by the insured persons of providers of medical care;
11. (Prev. item 8 - amend., SG 107/02) publicity of the activity of NHIF and public control over the expenses incurred by it.

Section II.
National Health Insurance Fund
Art. 6. (1) Established is National State Insurance Fund as a corporate body with headquarters in Sofia and subject of activity - providing the obligatory health insurance.
(2) (amend., SG 110/99, amend. SG 111/04; amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) The National health insurance fund shall consist of central management, regional health insurance funds and divisions of the health insurance funds. The headquarters of the health insurance funds shall be determined according to a list, approved by the Council of Ministers and the headquarters of their divisions shall be determined with an order by the Governor of the National health insurance fund.
(3) (amend., SG 110/99; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.200)) Bodies of management of NHIF are:
1. supervisory committee;
2. (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) the Governor.
(4) The National Health Insurance Fund cannot carry out voluntary health insurance.

Art. 7. (Amend., SG 107/02; revoked – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009)

Art. 7a. (New, SG 107/02; revoked – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009)

Art. 7b. (new – SG 37/08; revoked – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009)

Art. 8. (revoked – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009)

Art. 9. (revoked – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009)

Art. 10. (revoked – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009)

Art. 11. (revoked – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009)

Art. 12. (revoked – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009)

Art. 13. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) (1) (amend. – SG 98/10, in force from 01.01.2011) The supervisory board of NHIF consists of 9 members – one representative of the representative organizations for protection of patients` rights, two representatives of the representative organizations of workers and employees, two representatives of the representative organizations of employers and 4 representatives of the state, one of them being the Executive director of the National Revenue Agency.
(2) The representatives of para 1 of the representative organizations for protection of patients` rights shall be elected and dismissed by the organizations acknowledged pursuant to Art. 86c of the Law of Health. 
(3) The representatives under para 1 of the representative organizations of workers and employees and of the representative organizations of employers shall be elected and dismissed by the organizations acknowledged pursuant to Art. 3 of the Labour Code.
(4) (amend. – SG 98/10, in force from 01.01.2011) The chairperson of the supervisory board and the other three representatives of the state in the supervisory board shall be appointed and dismissed by a decision of the Council of Ministers upon proposal by the Minister of Health.

Art. 14. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) (1) The supervisory board shall be elected for a period of 5 years. 
(2) Release, ahead of term, of a member of the supervisory board shall be carried out:
1. upon his/her request;
2. in case of objective inability to fulfil his/her duties for a period longer than 6 months;
3. if the grounds under art. 18 are present;
4. by a decision of the Council of Ministers or the respective organizations as per Art. 13, para 2 and 3.
(3) Elected in the place of the member of the supervisory board released ahead of term or in case of death a new member shall be elected until the end of the mandate of the board.

Art. 15. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) (1) The supervisory board shall:
1. (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) adopt Regulations on the structure and activity of NHIF upon proposal by the Governor;
2. (in force from 01.01.2010) take part in the working out and adoption of the NFA;
3. approve the draft annual budget of NHIF after the Minister of Health gives a statement pursuant to Art. 19, para 7, item 3;
4. approve the annual financial report, the annual report on implementation of the budget of NHIF and annual report on NHIF`s activity;
5. (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) exercise control on the operative activity of the Governor in fulfilment of the budget, NFA and the activity of NHIF;
6. (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) adopt decisions for temporary assignment to the Vice-Governor of NHIF to execute the position of Governor of the NHIF in the cases of Art. 19, para 4;
7. adopt decisions for spending resources from the reserve of NHIF;
8. adopt decisions for internal reallocation of resources for administrative expenses and of resources for expenses related to acquisition of long-term assets within the approved budget of NHIF;
9. adopt decisions for conclusion of transactions above the size determined by the Regulations on the structure and activity of NHIF.
10. take decisions for conclusion of loan contracts and their funding;
11. determine the requirements for occupying the position, rules for holding competitions and announce competitions for directors of RHIF;
12. (new – SG 98/10, in force from 01.01.2011) approve the forecast volumes and prices or medical care under Art. 55, para 2, item 2 in conformity with the statement of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health Care as per Art. 19, para 7, item 12;
13. (new – SG 98/10, in force from 01.01.2011) approve the evaluation and payment methods for medical care under Art. 55, para 2, item 2 in compliance with the opinion of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health Care as per Art. 55f, para 1.
(2) The members of the supervisory board shall be jointly liable for damages caused intentionally to NHIF.
(3) (new – SG 98/10, in force from 01.01.2011) The members of the supervisory board shall not receive any remuneration for their participation in sessions of the board.

Art. 16. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) (1) The supervisory board holds regular sessions at least once a month. The sessions shall be summoned by its chairperson.
(2) (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) Extraordinary meetings of the supervisory board may be summoned by its chairperson, by one third of its members, by the Governor of the NHIF and by the Minister of Health, the agenda being also proposed by them.
(3) The supervisory board adopts its decisions in the presence of at least two thirds of its members, with a majority of minimum 5 positive votes, except for the cases of Art. 15, para 1, items 1, 2 and 5, where decisions are adopted by a simple majority.
(4) (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) The Governor of NHIF shall take part in the sessions of the supervisory board, however the latter is not entitled to vote. 
(5) The organization of work of the supervisory board shall be set forth in the Regulations for the structure and activity of NHIF in compliance with the legislation in force.

Art. 17. (revoked - SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009)

Art. 18. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) (1) Cannot be members of the supervisory board persons who are:
1. parliamentary representatives or ministers;
2. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) members of managing or control bodies of medical establishments, shareholders or stockholders possessing over 5 percent of the capital of the medical establishments, including the persons who have founded the medical establishments as per Art. 8, para 1, item 1 and item 2, letter "a" and "b" of the Law for the Medical Establishments, or persons working under employment contract at a medical establishment;
3. (revoked - SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009; new – SG 98/10, in force from 01.01.2011) owners, members of managing and control bodies of trade companies or sole traders whose main activity is production, import, wholesale or retail trade in medicinal products; associates or shareholders having over 5 percent of the capital of the trading companies whose main activity is production, import, wholesale or retail trade in medicinal products or persons who are employees in such companies.
4. (suppl. – SG 42/09) directors of RHIF, their spouses or persons with which they are in factual cohabitation or their relatives on descending and collateral line up to fourth degree including;
5. (new – SG 37/08) employees working under legal terms of employment in the NHIF and RHIF;
6. (prev. item 5 – SG 37/08) who have been members of managing or control bodies of trade company or unlimited responsible partners in companies which a closed due to insolvency whereupon unsatisfied creditors have remained;
7. (prev. item 6 – SG 37/08) sole entrepreneurs who have got into insolvency whereupon unsatisfied creditors have remained;
8. (prev. item 7 – SG 37/08) persons deprived of the right to occupy materially responsible positions;
9. (prev. item 8 – SG 37/08) who have been convicted for premeditated crime of general nature.
(2) (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) The prohibition set forth in para 1 shall be applied for a period of 6 months after the grounds of para 1, item 2 drop out.

Art. 19. (Amend., SG 107/02; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009; amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) (1) The Governor of NHIF shall be elected by the National Assembly for a period of 5 years.
(2) (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) Nominations for election of Governor of NHIF can be made by the parliamentary groups.
(3) (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) Governor of NHIF can be a person meeting the following requirements:
1. has graduated higher education with educational and qualification degree "Master";
2. has a minimum of three years of professional experience in the sphere of health care management, banking, insurance or assurance activity.
(4) (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) Termination of the mandate of the Governor of NHIF shall be carried out by a decision of the National Assembly in the following cases:
1. final sentence for intentional crime of general character;
2. (amend. - SG 97/10, in force from 10.12.2010) upon entry into force of an act with which a conflict of interest has been found pursuant to the Law on Prevention and Establishment of Conflicts Of Interests;
3. systematic offences of his/her obligations, non-fulfilment of a decision of the supervisory board, committing or allowing other persons to commit serious or systematic offences of the compulsory health insurance;
4. (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) objective inability to fulfil his/her obligations as a Governor for a period exceeding three months;
5. submitting a resignation;
6. death.
(5) (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) In cases of para 4 the supervisory board shall assign to the Vice Governor of NHIF temporarily to execute obligations of Governor of the NHIF. The National Assembly shall adopt a decision for election of a new Governor of NHIF within 30 from termination of the contract of the Governor in the cases of para 4.
(6) (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010)The relations between the NHIF and the Governor are regulated by a management contract, which shall be concluded in a manner defined by the supervisory board.
(7) (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) The Governor of the NHIF shall:
1. represent NHIF in the country and abroad;
2. organise and manage in operative respect the activity of NHIF in compliance with the law, the Regulations on the structure and activity of NHIF, and the decisions of the supervisory board;
3. draft a bill on the NHIF annual budget and send it for an opinion to the Minister of Health and afterwards submit the NHIF annual budget bill along with the opinion of the Minister of Health for consideration and approval to the supervisory board;
4. prepare an annual financial report, an annual report on the NHIF budget execution and an annual report on the NHIF operation and submit them for consideration and approval to the supervisory board;
5. submit the draft Regulations on the structure and activity of NHIF, approved by the supervisory board, through the Minister of Health to the Council of Ministers;
6. work out and submit to the supervisory board a draft of the Regulations on the structure and activity of NHIF and after its approval promulgate it in the State Gazette;
7. suggest to the Supervisory Board a draft decision for spending resources from the NHIF reserve fund;
8. submit through the Minister of Health to the Council of Ministers the annual report on the NHIF budget execution and the annual report on the NHIF activities, both approved by the supervisory board;
9. conclude transactions amounting up to a ceiling laid down in the Regulations on the structure and activity of NHIF; 
10. propose to the supervisory board the concluding of transactions exceeding the amount set in item 9;
11. (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) organize and conduct competitions for RHIF directors in compliance with the requirements and rules of Art. 15, para 1, item 11, conclude, amend and discontinue the employment contracts of NHIF Vice Govenor, RHIF Directors and the employees of the NHIF central headquarters.
12. (new – SG 98/10, in force from 01.03.2011) work out the forecast volumes and prices as per Art. 55d, para 1 and send a statement or the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health; 
13. (new – SG 98/10, in force from 01.03.2011) propose for approval by the supervisory board the forecast volumes and prices under item 12;
14. (new – SG 98/10, in force from 01.03.2011) promulgate in the State Gazette the volumes and prices of medical care approved pursuant to Art.55e, para 6;
15. (new – SG 98/10, in force from 01.03.2011) introduce the approved pursuant to Art.55d, para 5 volumes and prices of medical care in order to be adopted by the Council of Ministers in the cases referred to in Art. Art.55e, para 9, together with the statement of the Minister of Finance and the Minister if Health Care;
16. (new – SG 98/10, in force from 01.03.2011) propose for approval by the supervisory board of the evaluation and payment methods of the medical care under Art. 55, para 2, item 2;
17. (new – SG 98/10, in force from 01.03.2011) ) introduce the approved by the supervisory board pursuant to Art.55f, para 2 methods as per item 16 in order to be adopted by the Council of Ministers, together with the statement of the Minister of Finance and the Minister if Health Care;

Art. 19a. (New, SG 107/02) (1) (suppl. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009; amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) When carrying out his/her powers, the Governor of NHIF shall be assisted by a Vice Governor
(2) (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) Vice Governor of NHIF can be a person meeting the following requirements:
1. to have graduated higher education with educational and qualification degree "Master";
2. to have a minimum of three years time of practice on the speciality;
(3) (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009, revoked - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010)

Art. 20. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) The director of RHIF shall:
1. represent NHIF on the territorial level;
2. (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) organise and manage the activity of RHIF in compliance with the law, the Regulations on the structure and activity of NHIF, the decisions of the supervisory board, and the acts of the Governor of NHIF;
3. conclude, amend and discontinue the contracts with the employees of the respective RHIF;
4. conclude, amend and discontinue the contracts with the medical care executives on the territory serviced by RHIF according to the law, the NFA and the regulations on the structure and activity of NHIF and RHIF respectively.
(2) The director of RHIF shall be a person meeting the following requirements:
1. has graduated higher education with a Master’s degree;
2. has at least three years of relevant professional experience in the sphere of healthcare, banking, insurance or social insurance management.
(3) The position referred to in para 1 shall be taken up following a competition held as per the Labour Code.

Art. 21. (Amend., SG 107/02) (1) (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) The Governor and Vice Governor of NHIF, and the a Director and Deputy Directors of RHIF, cannot be persons who:
1. are not Bulgarian citizens;
2. are placed under judicial disability;
3. have been convicted for deliberate indictable crime or divested, by a respective order, from the right to occupy material responsibility position;
4. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) are members of the supervisory board;
5. are spouses, persons who are in factual cohabitation, relatives on the direct line, on the collateral line up to fourth degree inclusive, or by marriage up to second degree inclusive with any of the persons referred to in item 4;
6. (amend. – SG 42/09) are sole entrepreneurs, general partners in a trade company, managers, trade attorneys, trade representatives, procurators, trade agents, liquidators or trustees in bankruptcy, members of managing or control body of a trade company or cooperation;
7. (amend. – SG 42/09) are members of managing or control bodies or share holders in a trade company with subject of activity voluntary health insurance;
8. are national representatives, ministers or deputy ministers;
9. are mayors of municipalities;
10. occupy managerial or control position in a political party;
11. work under legal terms of employment, except as lecturers in a higher school.
(2) (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) Persons envisaged in Para 1 and employees of RHIF and NHIF may not carry out competitive activity and may not be providers of medical care under this law.

Section III.
Financial structure of the National Health Insurance Fund
Art. 22. (1) (prev. art. 22 - SG 102/05) The budget of NHIF is a basic financial plan for raising and spending of the monetary resources of the obligatory health insurance and shall be separated from the state budget.
(2) (new – SG 102/05; amend. – SG 105/06, in force from 01.01.2007) The annual value of the expenses for the kinds of medical care paid by NHIF shall be integral part of the budget of NHIF for the respective year.
(3) (new – SG 102/05; revoked – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008)

Art. 23. (1) The revenue of NHIF shall be raised from:
1. insurance instalments;
2. (new – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008; amend. – SG 110/08, in force from 01.01.2009) transfers from the republic budget for the insurance instalments of the persons referred to in Art. 40, Para 1, Items 4 and 8 and Para 2 and 3;
3. (prev. text of Item 02 – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008) interest and receipts from the management of the property of the fund;
4. (prev. text of Item 03 – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008) revenue stipulated by other laws in favour of the health insurance;
5. (prev. text of Item 04 – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008) reimbursement of insurance expenses in the cases stipulated by normative acts;
6. (prev. text of Item 05 – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008) fines and penalty interest;
7. (prev. text of Item 06 – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008) taxes determined by a tariff of the Council of Ministers;
8. (prev. text of Item 07 – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008) liquidation shares of trade companies - debtors, declared for liquidation;
9. (new – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007; prev. text of Item 08 – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008) target subsidies from the state budget with respect to fulfilment of obligations, ensuing from the application of the rules for coordination of the social security schemes;
10. (prev. text of item 8 – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007; prev. text of Item 09 – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008) donations and inheritance;
11. (amend. - SG 59/06, in force from 01.01.2007, prev. text of item 9 – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007; prev. text of Item 10 – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008) other sources including subsidies (transfers) from the republican budget including through the budget of the Ministry of Health according to Art. 82, Para1, Item 2 of the Law of Health.
(2) (amend., SG 110/99) In cases of shortage of resources can be used short-term interest free loans from the republican budget or credits from other institutions.

Art. 24. The resources of NHIF shall be spent for:
1. payment of medical care according to Art. 45, contracted by the NFA and by the contracts with the executives;
2. (amend. – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008) support of the administrative activities related to the health insurance amounting up to 3 percent of the expenses for the relevant year stipulated by the law of the NHIF budget;
3. (new – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008) issue of documents under Art. 80a, Para 1;
4. (prev. text of Item 03 – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008) publishing activity within the frames of the resources for support of the administrative activities of NHIF;
5. (prev. text of Item 04 – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008) acquisition of movable property and real estates and other investment expenditures for the needs of NHIF;
6. (new – SG 1/02, amend. - SG 105/05, in force from 01.01.2006; prev. text of Item 05 – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008) fee for servicing the collecting of the health insurance payments by the National Revenue Agency;
7. (new – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007; prev. text of Item 06 – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008) medical care, rendered in accordance with the rules for coordination of the social security schemes;
8. (new – SG 98/10, in force from 01.01.2011) remuneration for the activities related to diagnostics and treatment of malignant cancer and people suffering from renal failure who need dialysis treatment, including the provision of medicinal products and devicesfor the said diseases, as well as other medical activities specified by a statutory instrument; 
9. (prev. 5 – SG 1/02, prev. text of item 6 – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007; prev. text of Item 07 – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008; prev. text of item 8 – SG 98/10, in force from 01.01.2011) other expenses.

Art. 25. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) The NHIF budget shall obligatory form a reserve which shall also cover incidental and urgent expenses.

Art. 26. (1) (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) The reserve of NHIF as per Art. 15 shall be set to amount to the total of:
1. (amend., SG 107/02; amend. – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008; amend. – SG 99/09, in force from 01.01.2010; amend. – SG 98/10, in force from 01.01.2011) 10 percent of the collected revenue of health insurance instalments and the transfers for health insurance instalments from other budgets;
2. other income.
(2) (amend. – SG 98/10, in force from 01.01.2011) The resources of the reserve shall be used for expenses in case of a considerable deviations from the even spending of the resources or of territorial misbalance of the use of medical care as well as other activities contributing to the payment mechanisms and the quality of the medical care.
(3) (Revoked, SG 107/02)

Art. 27. (1) (revoked, SG 107/03)
(2) (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) The temporary free resources of NHIF shall be kept at the Bulgarian National Bank and can only be deposited in accounts, serviced by the Bulgarian National Bank or for the acquisition on the primary market of state securities emitted by the Bulgarian Government.
(3) (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009; amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) The banks having the right to operate with the resources of NHIF shall be determined jointly with by the Bulgarian National Bank and the Ministry of Finance. Among the banks determined by the Bulgarian National Bank and the Ministry of Finance the supervisory board upon proposal by the Governor of NHIF shall choose those to which it shall assign the right to operate with the resources of NHIF.

Art. 28. (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010 )First-degree administrator with the resources of NHIF shall be the Governor of NHIF and the directors of RHIF shall be second degree administrators with them.

Art. 29. (1) (Suppl., SG 107/02; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009; amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) The Governor of NHIF shall present through the Minister of Health at the Council of Ministers a draft Law of the budget of NHIF within the period stipulated for presentation of a draft Law of the state budget of the Republic of Bulgaria for the next calendar year.
(2) (amend., SG 110/99) The draft Law of the annual budget of NHIF shall be considered by the National Assembly simultaneously with the draft laws for the budget and for the budget of the state public insurance.
(3) (Amend., SG 107/02) The Law of the budget of NHIF shall obligatorily determine the amount of the obligatory health insurance instalment, the revenue and expenses according to budget classification, as well as the differentiated expenses related to the health insurance payments for:
1. (Amend. SG 119/02) primary non hospital medical care;
2. specialised non-hospital medical care;
3. dental care;
4. medical diagnostic activities;
5. (amend. SG 111/04) medicines for home treatment, medical products and dietetic foods for special medical purposes;
6. hospital medical care;
7. other health insurance payments stipulated by the NFA.
8. (new – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007) medical care, rendered in accordance with the rules for coordination of the social security schemes.
(4) (new, SG 110/99) In case that the draft Law of the budget of the national health insurance fund is not adopted by the National Assembly until the beginning of the budget year the insurance income shall be collected and the insurance expenses shall be made according to the budget approved for the preceding year, and spent for the support of the national health insurance fund shall be monthly 1/12 of the expenses provided by the budget for the preceding year.

Art. 30. (1) (Amend., SG 107/02; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009; amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) The annual report on the fulfilment of the budget and the report on the activity of NHIF shall be presented by the Governor of NHIF through the Council of Ministers at the National Assembly not later than June 30 of the next year.
(2) (Suppl., SG 107/02) The decision of the National Assembly for adopting the report on the fulfilment of the budget and the report on the activity of NHIF shall be promulgated in the State Gazette.

Art. 31. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) The National Health Insurance Fund cannot possess any medical and health care establishments and pharmacies.

Art. 32. (Revoked, SG, No 153 of 1998; new - SG 59/06, in force from 01.01.2007) The National Health Insurance Fund shall carry out the collection, processing and the control of the reports of the medical establishments for hospital care regarding the activities subject matter of the National Frame Agreement.

Section IV.
Insured persons. Rights and obligations
Art. 33. (1) (amend., SG 110/99; prev. text of Art. 33 – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007) Obligatory insured by the National Health Insurance Fund shall be:
1. all Bulgarian citizens who are not also citizens of another country;
2. the Bulgarian citizens who are also citizens of other country and permanently reside on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria;
3. (amend. - SG 18/06, in force from 01.01.2007; suppl. - SG 9/11) the foreign citizens or the persons without citizenship with permitted long-term or permanent stay on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, unless provided otherwise by an international agreement party to which is the Republic of Bulgaria;
4. (amend. SG 54/02) the persons with a status of refugee, humanitarian status or granted right to asylum.
5. (new - SG 18/06, in force from 01.01.2007) the foreign students and doctorants admitted to universities or science organizations in the country by the order of Decree of the Council of Ministers No. 103 of 1993 for Implementation of Educational Activities Among the Bulgarians Abroad (prom. – SG 48/93; amend. SG 52/93; amend – SG 54/95, SG 20/96, SG 38 and 73/99, SG 101/02, SG 89/04) and Decree of the Council of Ministers No. 228 of 1997 for Admittance of citizens of the Republic of Macedonia in the state universities of the Republic of Bulgaria (prom. – SG 42/97; amend. SG 72/99, SG 101/02);
6. (new – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007) the persons, out of the scope of the ones referred to in items 1 through 5, with regards to whom the legislation of the Republic of Bulgaria is applied in compliance with the rules for coordination of the social security schemes.
(2) (new – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007) Shall not be obligatorily insured by the National Health Insurance Fund the persons, who are subject to health insurance in another Member State according to the rules for coordination of the social security schemes.

Art. 34. (1) The obligation for insurance occurs:
1. for all Bulgarian citizens - from the enactment of the law and for the newly born - from the date of birth;
2. (Amend., SG 107/02; amend. – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007; suppl. - SG 9/11) according to Art. 33, para 1, item 3 - from the date of obtaining permit for long-term or permanent residence;
3. (amend. SG 54/02; amend. – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007) according to Art. 33, para 1, item 4 - from the date of opening procedures for granting status of refugee or right of asylum.
4. (*) (new - SG 18/06, in force from 01.01.2007; amend. – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007) according to Art. 33, para 1, item 5 – from the date of enrolment at the respective university or science organization;
5. (new – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007) as per Art. 33, para 1, item 6 – from the date of occurrence of the ground of insurance;
(2) (suppl. – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007) The rights of the insured under Art. 33, para 1 shall occur:
1. for the newly born - from the date of birth;
2. (new – SG 54/02; amend. – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007) for the persons of Art. 33, para 1 item 4 – from the date of opening of the procedures for conceding statute of refugee or right to asylum;
3. (*) (new - SG 18/06, in force from 01.01.2007; amend. – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007) for the individuals of Art. 33, para 1, item 5 – from the date of enrolment at the respective university or science organization.
4. (prev. item 2 – SG 54/02, in force from 01.12.2002; prev. item 3 – SG 18/06, in force from 01.01.2007) for all the others - from the date of payment of the health insurance instalment.
(3) The rights of the insured shall be personal and cannot be ceded (transferred).

Art. 35. The obligatory insured shall have the right:
1. (Amend., SG 107/02) to medical care within the range of the basic package of health care activities guaranteed by the budget of NHIF;
2. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) to choose a physician from a primary medical care establishment that has concluded a contract with RHIF;
3. to emergency medical care wherever it is needed;
4. to receive information from RHIF about the contracts concluded by it with the medical care executives;
5. to participate in the management of NHIF through their representatives;
6. to file appeals to the director of the respective RHIF for violations of the law and the contracts.
7. (new – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007) to receive a document required for exercising their health insurance rights in compliance with the rules for coordination of the social security schemes.

Art. 36. (1) The obligatory insured shall have the right to receive partially or in full the value of the expenses for medical care abroad only if they have received a preliminary permit by NHIF.
(2) Permit under para 1 shall only be given for the types of medical care which is not provided in the country, by the order of Art. 78 and 79.

Art. 37. (1) (amend. SG 76/05; amend. – SG 37/08) The persons under Art. 33 shall pay to the physician, the dental doctor or to the medical establishment sums as follows:
1. (suppl. – SG 37/08; amend. – SG 98/10, in force from 01.01.2011) for every visit to the physician or dental doctor - 1 percent of the minimal salary for the country;
2. (Amend., SG 107/02) for every day of hospital treatment - 2 percent of the minimal salary established for the country, but for no more than 10 days yearly.
(2) (New, SG 107/02) The sums under para 1 shall regard the provided medical care.
(3) (Prev. para 2 - amend., SG 107/02, amend. SG 120/02; suppl. - SG 17/06, in force from 01.05.2006; amend. - SG 46/07, in force from 01.01.2008; amend. – SG 37/08, in force from 01.07.2008) Exempt from payment of the sums under para 1 shall be persons with diseases determined according to a list to NFA, as well as minors and underage and unemployed members of the family; victims as a result of or on occasion of the defence of the country, war veterans, military disabled; detained on the ground of Art. 63 of the Law of the Ministry of Interior or convicted persons; socially week receiving help according to the Regulation for implementation of the Law of social support; persons accommodated in homes under Art. 36, par. 3, item 1 of the same Regulation; medical specialists.
(4) (Prev. para 3 - SG 107/02, amend. SG 76/05; amend. – SG 37/08, in force from 01.07.2008) The physician, the dental doctor or the medical establishment shall issue to the persons under para 1 a document for the paid sums.
(5) (new – SG 37/08, in force from 01.07.2008; revoked – SG 99/09, in force from 01.01.2010; new – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009; revoked– SG 98/10, in force from 01.01.2011)

Art. 38. The insured shall be obliged to observe the prescriptions of the medical care executives and the requirements for prophylactics of the diseases in compliance with NFA and the contracts with the executives.

Art. 39. (amend., SG 110/99) (1) (suppl. SG 111/04, amend. - SG 105/05, in force from 01.01.2006; amend. – SG 95/06, in force from 24.11.2006; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) Persons who are obliged to pay insurance installments to the National Health Insurance Fund, except the ones who have not reached 18 years of age and the persons referred to in Art. 40, para 5, shall provide monthly the National Revenue Agency with certain information from the moment of occurrence of the grounds for health insurance, following a procedure set out in an ordinance of the Minister of Finance.
(2) (new – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) Any persons who are obliged according to this Law to pay insurance installments, except for the persons referred to in Art. 40, para 5, shall submit declarations for the amounts of the health insurance installments due according to a procedure set forth in the ordinance as per para 1.
(3) (amend. - SG 105/05, in force from 01.01.2006; prev. text of para 2, amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) Persons paying health insurance for members of their families according to this Law shall provide information about such members in declarations completed in a standard form approved by the ordinance mentioned in para 1.
(4) (suppl. SG 111/04, amend. - SG 105/05, in force from 01.01.2006; prev. text of para 3, amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) In the cases when the persons of para 1 pay in advance instalments according to this law they shall submit declarations at the National Revenue following a procedure laid down in the ordinance of para 1.
(5) (prev. text of para 4, suppl. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) Foreigners staying for a long or short term in the Republic of Bulgaria, as well as persons with dual Bulgarian and foreign citizenship who are not insured by the order of this law shall pay the value of the rendered medical care, unless an international agreement party to which is the Republic of Bulgaria is not in force for them.

Section V.
Health insurance instalments
Art. 40. (Amend., SG 107/02) (1) The health insurance instalment of the insured person, determined by the order of Art. 29, para 3 shall be calculated over an income and shall be paid as follows:
1. (amend. SG 49/04, suppl. SG 111/04; amend. and suppl. – SG 105/06, in force from 01.01.2007; amend. – SG 110/08, in force from 01.01.2009; amend. And suppl. – SG 99/09, in force from 01.01.2010; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) as regards to persons referred to in Art. 4, para 1and 2 of the Code of Social Insurance - the income on which instalments are due for state public insurance determined by the Code of Social Insurance; the instalment shall be allocated by the employer or the respective department and by the insured person in the following proportion:
- 2000 - 2001 - 80:20;
- 2002 - 2004 - 75:25;
- 2005 - 70:30;
- 2006 - 65:35;
- 2007 - 65:35;
- 2008 - 60:40;
- 2009 – 55:44;
- 2010 and the following years - 60:40.
a) the insurance instalments shall be for the account of the employer or administrative body where stipulated by a law;
b) (amend. SG 49/04; suppl. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) for the persons using unpaid leave, who are not subject to insurance on other grounds, the instalment shall be determined for half of the minimal size of the insurance income for the self insuring persons, determined by the Law of the budget of the state public insurance; the instalment shall be entirely for the account of the insured person – when the unpaid leave is upon his wish, and for the account of the employer – when the unpaid leave is for raising a child according to Art. 165, para 1 and Art. 167a of the Labour Code or due to production need and stay; the instalment shall be paid through the respective enterprise or organisation till the end of the month, following the one it refers to;
c) (amend. – SG 105/06, in force from 01.01.2007) the insurance instalments for health insurance shall be deposited simultaneously with the insurance instalments for state public insurance;
d) (new – SG 50/03; revoked – SG 46/07, in force from 01.01.2008)
2. (amend. SG 49/04; suppl. – SG 105/06, in force from 01.01.2007; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) the persons referred to in Art. 4, para 3, items 1, 2 and 4 from the Code of Social Insurance shall be insured in advance on a monthly income, which cannot be less than the minimum monthly amount of the insurance income applicable to self-insured persons and the registered agricultural and tobacco producers as fixed by the Law on the State Public Insurance Budget, and finally on the income from the activity and the income set out in item 3 during the calendar year according to the data of the tax declaration by the order of art. 6, para 8 of the Code of Social Insurance; the registered agricultural producers and tobacco producers, manufacturing unprocessed plant and/or animal produce shall not establish a final amount of insurance income in respect of such activity; the installments shall be remitted at the expense of the self-insured persons on or before the 10th day of the month following the month the said installments refer to and the final insurance installment at latest during the term for the filing of the tax returns under Art. 50 of the Law on Taxes on the Income of Natural Persons;
2a. (new – SG 99/09, in force from 01.01.2010) maritime persons shall be fully self-insured based on a chosen monthly insurance income between the minimum and maximum insurance income for self-insured persons, established by the law for the budget of the state social insurance in the respective year, whereas they shall not determine the final amount of the insurance income for the income from legal terms of employment as maritime persons; the contribution shall be deducted and paid by the employer of the persons following the provisions of Art. 4a, par. 7 of the Code of Social Insurance;
3. (amend. SG 111/04) for the persons, working without legal terms of employment:
a) (amend. – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008; amend. – SG 99/09, in force from 01.01.2010; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) if they are not insured by the order of items 1, 2 and 2a and receive remuneration equal or bigger than the minimum salary for the country, on the leviable income, after reducing it with the expenses needed for the activity; when remuneration is received below the minimum salary for the country, after reducing it with the expenses needed for the activity, the insurance shall be implemented by the order of para 5;
b) (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) if they are not insured by the order of item 1, the insurance instalments shall be paid for the leviable income after reducing it with the expenses needed for the activity, regardless of the extent of the received remuneration;
c) the insurance instalments shall be paid in the ratio of item 1 by the assignor till 10th date of the month, following the one they refer to;
4. (suppl. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) as regards to pensioners from the public insurance or from an occupational pension fund: - the amount of the pension or the sum of pensions, without the additions to them; the instalments shall be for the account of the republican budget and shall be made by the 10th of the month following the month for which they are made;
5. (amend. – SG 105/06, in force from 01.01.2007; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009; amend. - SG 100/10, in force from 01.01.2011) for persons in temporary labour incapacity due to illness, pregnancy, childbirth and leave for child-care according to Art. 164, para 1 and para 3of the Labour Code – the minimum insurance income of the self-insured persons; the instalments shall be for the account of the employer and shall be equal to the part of the instalment due by him, being deposited simultaneously with the payment of the monthly remuneration; of the same size shall be the insurance instalments of the persons who insure themselves for their account as the instalments shall be made by the 10th of the month following the month for which they refer to, over minimum insurance income regarding the self-insured persons, respectively the registered farm and tobacco producers, this income being specified by the Law on the Budget of the State Public Insurance for the respective year. As regards to the remuneration of Art. 40, para 5 of the Code of Social Insurance, insurance instalments shall be due under the terms of item 1;
6. (amend. SG 49/04; amend. – SG 99/09, in force from 01.01.2010) for the persons receiving income on various grounds, indicated under item 1, 2, 2a, 3, 4 and 5 the instalments shall be made on the sum of the insurance income and by the deadlines determined for them, by the order determined by art. 4.a, par. 6 and art.6, para 10 of the Code for the social insurance;
7. (amend. SG 111/04) for the employees of the Bulgarian Orthodox Church and other religions, recognised by a normative order, who do not receive remunerations for implemented activity - the minimal insurance income for the self insured persons determined by the Law of the budget of the state public insurance; the instalments shall be made by the 10th of the month following the month for which they are made, by the central management of the respective religion;
8. (amend. – SG 110/08, in force from 01.01.2009) for the persons receiving compensation for unemployment - the size of the paid compensation; the instalments shall be for the account of the republic budget and shall be made by the 10th of the month following the month for which they are made;
(2) (new – SG 95/06, in force from 24.11.2006) Shall be insured for the account of the republic budget: veterans from the wars and the military disabled persons; the persons with disabilities, who have been injured at or on occasion of the defence of the state, during conscript military service, in the event of natural disasters and accidents; the employees of the Ministry of Interior, who have been affected in fulfilment of their official duty and the civil servants.
(3) (prev. text of para 2 – SG 95/06, in force from 24.11.2006) Insured for the account of the republican budget, unless insured by the order of para 1, shall be:
1. (Suppl. SG 119/02) the persons under 18 years of age and after this age if they study regularly – till the graduation of high education;
2. the students in the regular form of education in higher schools until the accomplishment of 26 years of age, and the doctorants of regular studies by a state order;
3. (new - SG 18/06, in force from 01.01.2007) the foreign students – in regular form of education until accomplishment of 26 years of age and the doctorants in regular form of education admitted to universities or science organizations in the country by the order of Decree of the Council of Ministers No. 103 of 1993 for Implementation of Educational Activities Among the Bulgarians Abroad and Decree of the Council of Ministers No. 228 of 1997 for Admittance of citizens of the Republic of Macedonia in the state universities of the Republic of Bulgaria.
4. (prev. item. 3 - SG 18/06, in force from 01.01.2007; revoked – SG 46/07, in force from 01.01.2008)
5. (Suppl. SG 119/02, amend. SG 111/04; prev. item. 4 - SG 18/06, in force from 01.01.2007; suppl. – SG 41/09, in force from 02.06.2009; suppl. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) the citizens, who meet the conditions for receiving monthly social support and purposed support for heating by the order of the Law of social support, if they are not insured on other ground, as well as the accommodated in specialised institutions for social services and the ones in social education-vocational centres and temporary accommodation centres, accommodation centres of a family type, provisional accommodation, sheltered accommodation, monitored accommodation and crisis centres;
6. (prev. item. 5 - SG 18/06, in force from 01.01.2007) the persons under arrest or imprisoned;
7. (prev. item. 6 - SG 18/06, in force from 01.01.2007) the persons under proceedings for granting refugee status or right to asylum;
8. (prev. item. 7 - SG 18/06, in force from 01.01.2007; revoked – SG 95/06, in force from 24.11.2006);
9. (prev. item. 8 - SG 18/06, in force from 01.01.2007) the parents, adoptive parents or spouses who take care for disabled with lost working capacity over 90 percent, who constantly need somebody else's help.
10. (new – SG 111/04; prev. item. 9 - SG 18/06, in force from 01.01.2007, amend. - SG 35/09, in force from 12.05.2009) the spouses of military servicemen, participating in international operations and missions – for the period of the mission, and for the persons, receiving indemnifications under art. 230 of the Law of Defence and the Armed Forces of the Republic of Bulgaria – for the period of receiving of the indemnification.
(4) (amend. SG 111/04; amend. - SG 18/06, in force from 01.01.2007; prev. text of para 3 – SG 95/06, in force from 24.11.2006; amend. – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008; amend. – SG 37/08; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2013) For the persons under para 3 the insurance instalments shall be paid in the amount determined by the Law of the budget of the National Health Insurance Fund for the respective year on the minimal insurance income of the self insured persons.
(5) (suppl. SG 49/04; prev. text of para 4 – SG 95/06, in force from 24.11.2006; amend. – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The persons who are not subject to insurance under para 1, 2 and 3 shall be obliged to:
1. pay insurance installments on an insurance income not less than half of the minimal size of the insurance income applicable to self-insured persons as fixed by the Law on State Public Insurance Budget by the 10th day of the month following the month they refer to and shall make annual equalisation of the insurance income according to the tax return data; 
2. submit a declaration by the end of the month following the month in which the circumstance occurred under the procedure laid down in an ordinance of the Minister of Finance in which they claim that they shall be insured as in item 1.
(6) (new – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The amount of the health insurance installment due shall be announced to the persons referred to in para 5, item 1 by the mass media or by an official upon submission of the declaration. In those cases where no declaration has been filed or the installments have not been remitted within the fixed term, an act can be issued for establishing the liability by the revenue bodies without an audit. The act may be subject to appeal as laid down in Art. 107, para 4 of the Tax-Insurance Procedure Code.
(7) (prev. text of para 5 – SG 95/06, in force from 24.11.2006; prev. text of para 6 – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The maximum amount of the monthly income on which the health insurance instalment is calculated shall be the maximal income fixed by the Law of the budget of the state public insurance.
(8) (prev. text of para 6 – SG 95/06, in force from 24.11.2006; prev. text of para 7 – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) As regards to the persons under para 1, item 6 the instalments shall be made on the total of insurance income by the order stipulated for the respective type of income, but on no more than the maximal size of the insurance income as fixed by the Law on the State Public Insurance Budget.
(9) (new – SG 101, in force from 18.12.2009) For the persons under para 2 and para 3, item 9, the insurance shall be carried out at the expense of the executive budget after submission to the National Revenue Agency of documents, issued by a competent authority, which verify the presence of the circumstances under paras 2 and 3, item 9.

Art. 40a. (new – SG 111/04) (1) (amend. - SG 105/05, in force from 01.01.2006) The Bulgarian citizens, including these with double citizenship, who are obliged to insure themselves and stay abroad more than 183 days in one calendar year, may not pay health insurance installments till the end of the respective calendar year, assumed from the date of leaving the country, and for each following calendar year after preliminary submitted application to the National Revenue Agency.
(2) The health insurance rights of the persons of para 1 after their returning to the country shall be restored after the elapse of 6 subsequent months, during which the person is insured by the order of art. 40.
(3) Out of the cases of para 2 the health insurance rights of the persons of para 1 after their returning in the country may be restored after one time payment of sum in extent of 12 health insurance installments, determined by the order of art. 29, para 3 on minimum monthly extent of the insurance income for the self insured persons, determined with the Law of the budget of the state social insurance by the moment of payment of the installments.
(4) The sums of para 3 shall be paid by the order of art. 41.
(5) Till the restoration of the insurance rights the persons of para 1 shall pay the value of the medical care, rendered to them in the country, to the executers.

Art. 41. (amend., SG 110/99) (1) (suppl. and amend. - SG 105/05, in force from 01.01.2006) The insurance instalments under this law shall be made to the accounts for collecting the health insurance instalments in the territorial directorates of the National Revenue Agency from where they shall obligatorily be transferred daily to the raising account of the central management of the National Revenue Agency for health insurance instalments.
(2) (amend. - SG 105/05, in force from 01.01.2006) The sums of health insurance instalments collected in the National Revenue Agency shall be transferred to the raising account of the National health insurance fund (NHIF) by the end of every work day.

Art. 42. (1) (amend., SG 110/99; amend. – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007; suppl. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) The insurance income on which the instalment is calculated shall be established by the payrolls and other documents for paid or accrued but still not paid remuneration, by the pension cards, the paid patient charts, the paid compensations for unemployed and by the tax declarations according to the Law on Taxes on the Income of Natural Persons.
(3) (amend., SG 110/99; amend., SG 107/02; amend. – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007) The annual declaration under the Law on Taxes on the Income of Natural Persons shall present the health insurance instalments paid during the year and the due sums upon the annual adjustment, if any.
(4) (new., SG 110/99, amend. - SG 105/05, in force from 01.01.2006) The employers, the municipal authorities, the administrative bodies, the assignors and the self-insured shall be obliged to present to the National Revenue Agency and to NHIF the necessary information under Art. 42, para 1 and 3.

Art. 43. (amend., SG 110/99; amend., SG 107/02; amend. – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008) The insured under Art. 40, para 1, item 2, item 5, third sentence and para 5 can pay the health insurance instalments in advance, for a period chosen by them.

Art. 44. (amend., SG 110/99) The instalments shall be paid:
1. through a bank;
2. by post order;

Art. 44a. (New - SG 96/10) The income raised to the budget of the National Insurance Fund from health insurance installments pursuant to this Section for the respective year shall only be spent for implementation of the activities referred to in Art. 24.

Section VI.
Range of the medical care for the obligatory health insurance
Art. 45. (1) The National health insurance fund shall pay for the following medical services:
1. medical and dental services for prevention against diseases;
2. medical and dental services for early discovery of diseases;
3. out-patient and hospital medical care for diagnostics and treatment of a disease;
4. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) further treatment, long-term treatment and medical rehabilitation;
5. emergency medical care;
6. medical care for pregnancy, labour and motherhood;
7. (new - SG 59/06, in force from 01.01.2007) medical care under Art. 82, Para 1, Item 2 of the Law of Health.
8. (prev. text of item 07 - SG 59/06, in force from 01.01.2007) abortions for medical indications and for pregnancy as a result of rape;
9. (prev. text of item 08 - SG 59/06, in force from 01.01.2007; amend. – SG 59/2010, in force from 31.07.2010) dental services;
10. (prev. text of item 09 - SG 59/06, in force from 01.01.2007) medical care in cases of home treatment;
11. (amend., SG 107/02; prev. text of item 10 - SG 59/06, in force from 01.01.2007) prescription and dispensing of permitted medicines for home treatment on the territory of the country;
12. (new – SG 111/04; prev. text of item 11 - SG 59/06, in force from 01.01.2007) prescription and dispensing of medical products and dietetic foods for special medical purposes;
13. (prev. 11 – SG 111/04; prev. text of item 12 - SG 59/06, in force from 01.01.2007) medical expertise of the labour capacity;
14. (prev. 12 – SG 111/04; prev. text of item 13 - SG 59/06, in force from 01.01.2007) transport services for medical indications;
(2) (Amend., SG 107/02; amend. – SG 41/09, in force from 02.06.2009; suppl. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) The medical care under para 1, with exception of items 11 and 12, is determined as a basic package guaranteed by the budget of NHIF. The basic package shall be determined by and ordinance of the Minister of Health.
(3) (New, SG 107/02, amend. SG 111/04) The Minister of Health shall determine by an ordinance a list of the diseases for the home treatment of which NHIF shall pay for medicines, medical products and dietetic foods for special medical purposes in full or partially.
(4) (New, SG 107/02; amend., SG 28/04; revoked – SG 31/07, in force from 14.04.2008)
(5) (New, SG 107/02; amend., SG 28/04, amend. SG 76/05; revoked – SG 31/07, in force from 14.04.2008) 
(6) (new, SG 28/04; revoked – SG 31/07, in force from 14.04.2008)
(7) (new – SG 111/04; revoked – SG 31/07, in force from 14.04.2 008)
(8) (new – SG 111/04; amend – SG 31/07, in force from 14.04.2008; amend. – SG 71/08, in force from 12.08.2008; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) The conditions and the procedure for payment for medicinal products under Art. 262, par. 4, item 1 of the Law on Medicinal Products in Human Medicine, for medicinal products and the dietetic foods for special medical purposes shall be determined by an ordinance, issued by the Minister of Health under a proposal of the supervisory board of the NHIF.
(9) (new – SG 98/10, in force from 01.01.2011) As regards to medicinal products included in the list as per Art. 262, para 4, item 1 of the Law on the Medicinal Products in Human Medicine, the NHIF may negotiate with the license holders or their authorized representatives for discounts from the price on which the NHIF purchases the respective medicinal product under terms and criteria and procedure set out by the ordinance under para 8.
(10) (new – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009; prev. text of item 9 – SG 98/10, in force from 01.01.2011) The terms and the procedure for concluding individual contracts for disbursement of medicinal products as per Art. 262, para 4, item 1 of the Law on the Medicinal Products in Human Medicine between the director of RHIF and the holders of an authorization for retail trade in medicinal products shall be coordinated by 9 NHIF representatives and 9 representatives of the Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Union, determined respectively by the NHIF supervisory board and the management board of the Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Union according to the ordinance under para 8.
(11) (new - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010; prev. text of item 10 – SG 98/10, in force from 01.01.2011) For dental activities included in the main package, as determined in the Ordinance under Para 2, payment and or additional payment by the obligatory health –insured persons shall be admitted under the conditions and observing the procedure of Art. 55c.

Art. 46. (1) (Amend., SG 107/02) The requirements for the contractors and the extent of the medical care for the individual types of medical care under Art. 45 shall be determined by the NFA and by the contracts between RHIF and the executives.
(2) (Amend., SG 107/02) The quality of the rendered medical services, paid by NHIF must correspond to the national medical standards and to the rules for the good medical practice.
(3) The rules for the good medical practice shall contain the requirements for due time, enough care and quality of the medical care.

Art. 47. The payment for the medical care rendered to the insured person shall be made by RHIF to the executive who has rendered it.

Art. 48. The NHIF shall be obliged to inform systematically the insures regarding the measures of protecting and improvement of their health.

Art. 49. (amend., SG 70/04; revoked – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010)

Art. 50. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) When using medical care, the insured persons shall be obliged to present a valid electronic health insurance card, verifying their health insurance status and an identity.

Art. 51. The medical care, outside the range of Art. 45 and the contracted conditions in the NFA shall not be paid by NHIF.

Art. 52. (suppl. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) The persons who are not insured under this Law shall pay the provided medical care according to pricelists fixed by the medical care institutions..

Section VII.
National Frame Agreement
Art. 53. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) (1) For carrying out the activities provided for in this law, NHIF and the Bulgarian Medical Association shall adopt and sign the National Frame Agreement for the medical activities, and the NHIF and the Bulgarian Dental Association a National Framework Agreement for the dental actives.
(2) (amend. – SG 98/10, in force from 14.12.2010) The National Frame Agreements referred to in para 1 shall be concluded for a period of one year, and where necessary, shall be updated in the manner of their adoption as per Art. 54.

Art. 54. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The NFA for medical activities shall be drafted by 10 representatives of the NHIF and 10 representatives of the Bulgarian Medical Association following the submission of the draft of the Law on NHIF Budget for the following year to the National Assembly for consideration. 
(2) The NFA for dental activities shall be drafted by 10 representatives of the NHIF and 10 representatives of the Bulgarian Dental Association after the submission of the draft of the Law on NHIF Budget for the following year to the National Assembly for consideration.
(3) The status of the professional organizations under para 1 and para 2 and the procedure for the designation of their representatives for involvement in the drafting and adoption of the NFA shall be laid down in the Law for the Professional Organisations of the Physicians and Doctors in Dental Medicine.
(4) (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) Representatives of NHIF as of para 1 and para 2 shall be members of the supervisory board, including the NHIF Governor.
(5) The National Framework Agreements under para 1 and para 2 shall be adopted by a majority of at least 7 NHIF representatives and 7 representatives of the professional organizations of physicians, respectively dental medicine doctors.
(6) The National Framework Agreements shall be adopted after the promulgation of the NHIF budget for the following year and no later than the last working day of the current year.
(7) The Minister of Health shall coordinate the NFA adopted pursuant to paras 1-5 within 14 days from their submission and shall promulgate them in the State Gazette.
(8) If the NFA for medical and respectively for dental activities are not adopted under the conditions and within the terms set out in this Law, the currently effective NFAs shall be applied.

Art. 55. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) (1) The NFA adopted according to the procedure set out in Art. 54 shall enter into force from the 1st of January of the following calendar year.
(2) The National Frame Agreements shall contain:
1. the requirements to be met by the providers of medical care, as well as the procedure for concluding contracts with them;
2. the particular types of medical care as per Art. 45;
3. the conditions and the procedure for providing the care under item 2;
4. quality and accessibility criteria of the care under item 2;
5. the documentation and document flow;
6. the obligations of the parties to the informational services and the information exchange;
7. other issues of importance for the health insurance.
(3) The National Frame Agreement may not establish requirements to:
1. a minimum number of health insured persons to be registered by a primary non-hospital care provider;
2. terms impeding the insured person’s free choice of medical care providers who have concluded contracts with RHIF;
3. carrying out highly specialized medical activities beyond the basic package covered by the budget of NHIF by the specialist outpatient care providers;
4. additional requirements to pharmacies, wholesale traders and manufacturers of medicines other than the ones provided for in the Law on Medicinal Products in Human Medicine; 
5. a maximum number of activities carried out and distribution of quotas for providers of such activities in specialist outpatient and hospital care;
6. any limitation of the amount and distribution of the activities carried out among the medical establishments.

Art. 55a. (new – SG 101/2009, in force from 18.12.2009) (1) (*) (amend. – SG 98/10, in force from 14.12.2010) The forecast volumes, prices and the costing and payment methodologies for medical care pursuant to Art. 55, para 2, item 2 shall be worked out by the Ministry of Finance.
(2) (amend. – SG 98/10, in force from 14.12.2010) When working out the forecast volumes, prices and methodologies pursuant to para 1 the Ministry of Finance shall take into consideration the opinion of the national consultants under Art. 6a of the Law of Health and of other leading specialists in the respective medical specialties listed by the Bulgarian Medical Association and the Bulgarian Dental Association.

Art. 55b. (new – SG 101/2009, in force from 18.12.2009) (1) An advisory board shall be established at the Minister of Finance which shall consider and provide opinions on the volumes, prices and methodologies developed as per Art. 55a.
(2) (amend. – SG 98/10, in force from 14.12.2010) The advisory board under para 1 shall include the deputy minister of health, the deputy minister of labour and social policy and one representative of NHIF, the National Revenue Agency, the Ministry of Finance, the Bulgarian Medical Association, the Bulgarian Dental Association, the Bulgarian Pharmaceutical Association, the Bulgarian Association of Medical Care Professionals and one representative appointed by the representative organizations for the protection of patients’ rights of. The names of the board members shall be listed by an order of the Minister of Finance upon proposal by the respective departments and organizations.
(3) The Minister of Finance shall be the chairman of the board under para 2 ex lege.
(4) The organization and manner of work of the advisory board shall be defined in Regulations, issued by the Minister of Finance.

Art. 55c. (new – SG 101/2009, in force from 01.01.2011) (1) The volumes, prices and methodologies for the costing and payment of medical care as per Art. 55, para 2, item 2 shall be adopted annually by way of a decree of the Council of Ministers upon proposal by the Minister of Finance.
(2) The proposal of the Minister of Finance under para 1 shall be drafted in compliance with the opinion of the advisory board under Art. 55b, the established medical standards and the Good Medical Practice Rules.

Art. 55d. (new – SG 98/10, in force from 01.03.2011) (1) The forecast volumes and prices of medical care as per Art. 55, para 2, item 2 shall be drawn up by NHIF.
(2) When developing the forecast volumes and prices referred to in para 1 NHIF shall seek advice from the national consultants referred to in Art. 6a of the Law of Health.
(3) The forecast volumes and prices referred to in para shall be developed in compliance with the medical standards and the Good Medicine Practice Rules approved as per Art. 6, para 1 of the Law for the Medical Establishments.
(4) The forecast volumes and prices referred to in para shall be approved by the supervisory board of NHIF upon proposal by the manager of NHIF in accordance with the statement of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health Care.

Art. 55e. (new – SG 98/10, in force from 01.03.2011) (1) The volumes and prices of medical care as per Art. 55, para 2, item 2 shall be negotiated annually in conformity with the NHIF budget for the respective year following submission of the draft law on the NHIF budget for the next calendar year to the National Assembly for consideration.
(2) The volumes and prices under para 1 of medical care activities shall be negotiated by 10 representatives of NHIF and 10 representatives of the Bulgarian Medical Association.
(3) The volumes and prices under para 1 of dental activities shall be negotiated by 9 representatives of NHIF and 9 representatives of the Bulgarian Dental Association.
(4) The statute of the guilds under para 2 and 3 and the manner of assigning the representatives for participation in the negotiations and adoption of the volumes and prices under para 1 shall be regulated by the Law for the Professional Organisations of the Physicians and Doctors in Dental Medicine.
(5) Representatives of NHIF referred to in para 2 and 3 shall be members of the supervisory board and the manager of NHIF.
(6) The volumes and prices of medical care activities under para 2 and the dental activities under para 3 shall be adopted by a majority of no less than 7 representatives of NHIF and 7 representatives of the guilds of doctors or the dental medicine doctors.
(7) The volumes and prices under para 6 shall be adopted within 14 days from the promulgation of the Law on the NHIF budget for the following calendar year.
(8) The volumes and prices under para 6 shall be promulgated in the State Gazette and shall be obligatory for NHIF, RHIF and for the medical care providers.
(9) Where the volumes and prices of medical care under para 1 may not be adopted under the conditions and within the terms fixed in this Law, the NHIF manager shall submit the volumes and prices approved pursuant to Art. 55d, para 4 via the Minister of Health Care in order to be adopted by the Council of Ministers together with the statement of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health Care not later than the last working day of the current year.

Art. 55f. (new – SG 98/10, in force from 01.03.2011) (1) The methods for evaluation and payment of medical care as per Art. 55, para 2, item 2 shall be developed by NHIF and shall be forwarded to the Minister of Finance and Minister of Health Care, who shall provide statements on them.
(2) The methods under para 1 shall be approved by the supervisory board of NHIF upon proposal by the NHIF manager in conformity with the statements of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health Care.
(3) The NHIF manager shall submit the methods approved according to para 2 via the Minster of Health Care at the Council of Ministers in order to be adopted, together with the statements of the Minister of Finance and the Minister of Health Care.
(4) The methods under para 1 shall be updated where necessary in the manner of their adoption.

Art. 56. (amend. – SG 101/2009, in force from 01.01.2010) (1) The medical care providers are entitled to prescribe to the obligatory insured persons medicinal products under Art. 262, para 4, item 1 of the Law on Medicinal Products in Human Medicine, which can be fully or partially reimbursed by the NHIF.
(2) The medical care providers are entitled to prescribe to the obligatory insured persons medicinal products and dietetic foods for special medical purposes, determined by the NHIF supervisory board, which can be fully or partially reimbursed by NHIF. 
(3) The prescribing and receiving of medicinal products, fully or partially reimbursed by NHIF other than the ones in para 1 and 2 by a provider of medical care shall be carried out upon a written substantiation of the necessity. The payment of these medicinal products shall be made only by a permit of the director of the respective RHIF.

Art. 57. (Revoked, SG 107/02)

Section VIII.
Contract between the National health insurance fund and medical care executive
Art. 58. (Amend., SG 62/99; amend., SG 70/04) Providers of medical care in the context of this law are medical establishments according to the Law for the medical establishments and national centres for the problems of the public health according to the Law for the health.

Art. 58a. (new – SG 41/09, in force from 02.06.2009; revoked – SG 99/09, in force from 01.01.2010)

Art. 59. (1) (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The contracts under Art. 20, para1, item 4 for medical care under this law and shall be concluded between the director of RHIF and the medical care providers in compliance with the NFA.
(2) (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The contracts under para 1 cannot be concluded under conditions less favourable than those adopted by NFA.
(3) (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010; amend. – SG 98/10, in force from 01.03.2011) The contracts under para 1 shall be concluded in writing for the term of validity of the National Frame Agreement and shall be effective till adoption of new or amendment of the NFA presently in force.
(4) (new – SG 59/10, in force from 31.07.2010) Controlling bodies of the RHIF and these of the Ministry of Health shall conduct inspection for compliance of the activity of the health services performers – health establishments for hospital aid, with the criteria for availability and accessibility of the medical aid as per Art. 59c at least once annually.
(5) (new – SG 59/10, in force from 31.07.2010) With sources from the republic budget or from the budget of the National Health-Insurance Fund activity of clinics and units of medical establishments for hospital aid, about which compliance with the criteria of Art. 59c is established, shall be funded only.
(6) (new – SG 59/10, in force from 31.07.2010) In case that incompliance with the criteria of Art. 59c is found, the change of funding of the activity of the medical aid contractors – medical establishments for hospital aid shall be done by way of amendment and supplementation of the contract envisaged in Para 1.
(7) (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010; previous Para 4 – SG 59/10, in force from 31.07.2010) The contracts under para 1 shall specify the requirements and the conditions stipulated by Art. 55, para 2, items 2 - 7, for implementation on the respective territory. The contracts shall specify the relations between the medical care providers and between them and other persons, for fulfilment of the medical care as of Art. 55, para 2, item 2.
(8) (New, SG 107/02; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010; previous Para 5 – SG 59/10, in force from 31.07.2010) The National Health Insurance Fund and the Regional Health Insurance Funds shall be obligated to inform the providers of any changes ensuing from decisions of their managing bodies or from amendments in the National Frame Agreement, as well as to give providers the instructions required necessary for application of such changes. The terms, procedure and time limits for provision of such information shall be regulated in the National Frame Agreement and in the contracts with the providers.
(9) (Prev. para 5 - SG 107/02; revoked – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010)
(10) (new – SG 99/09, in force from 01.01.2010) Every medical establishment for hospital care may conclude a contract under par. 1 only for such operations for provision of hospital care under Art. 45, in which there is a specialist(s), working under a basic employment contract.
(11) (new – SG 99/09, in force from 01.01.2010; amend. – SG 98/10, in force from 01.03.2011) The director of the respective regional health insurance fund shall terminate the contracts with the providers of medical care in the following cases:
1. when operations are accounted, without being carried out – partially, for the respective clinical path or with regards to the respective specialization package from the main package of specialized outpatient medical care with regards to which the operation has been accounted;
2. in case of repeated accounting of operations, other than the ones under item 1, which have not been carried out, provided that the contract is entirely terminated. 
(12) (new – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) Medical institutions for hospital care which do not meet the requirements of para 10 may conclude employment contracts for extra work under the Labour Code with medical specialists working in hospital units without beds, for the following specialties:
1. virology
2. clinical microbiology
3. clinical parasitology
4. clinical pathology
5. nuclear medicine

Art. 59a. (new – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) (1) Within 30 days from the entry into force of the NFA the medical establishments shall submit applications to the RHIF in order to sign contracts.
(2) The documents to be appended to the application for contract conclusion shall be specified by the NFA.
(3) NHIF, RHIF and their employees may not require from providers to submit documents and to set conditions which are not included in the NFA.

Art. 59b. (new – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) (1) Within 30 days from the application submission the RHIF Director shall sign a contract with the health care providers meeting the criteria set forth in Art. 55, para 2, item 1 and the criteria for the provision of accessibility and quality of medical care under Art. 59c.
(2) Within the term fixed in para 1 the RHIF Director shall issue an order by virtue of which he/she will make a reasoned refusal to sign a contract in those cases where the medical establishment does not meet the terms and criteria under para 1.
(3) The order under para 2 shall be subject to appeal pursuant to the Administrative Procedure Code, provided that the appeal shall not suspend the execution of the order.

Art. 59c. (new – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) Criteria for accessibility and quality of the medical care shall be considered the following:
1. financial security of the medical establishment under Art. 9 of the Law for the Medical Establishments with medical specialists on a primary employment contract;
2. availability of the statutory medical equipment and technology which are operational and are on the grounds of the respective medical establishment;
3. provision by the medical establishment under Art. 9 of the Medical Law for the Medical Establishments of non-stop 24-hour medical care in emergency cases;
4. provision of medical care in compliance with the established medical standards and the Good Medical Practice Rules.

Art. 60. (1) (prev. text of art. 60 - SG 30/06) Subject to agreement and payment on the part of NHIF shall not be the scientific activity and the education of medical specialists, carried out in health establishments.
(2) (new - SG 30/06) Subject to agreement and payment on the part of NHIF shall not be the medical activity of dentistry for the education of students, doctorants and specialists.

Art. 61. (amend. SG 76/05) The director of RHIF can also conclude contracts with physicians and dental doctors practising out of hospitals who have contracts with a hospital on the same territory. The contract shall determine the conditions and the order of paying the medical care provided in the hospital.

Art. 62. (amend. SG 76/05) The director of RHIF can conclude contract for out-patient treatment with physicians and dental doctors working in a hospital on condition that there are not enough physicians of the same speciality on the territory who are practising out of the hospitals, and the activity of the hospital is not disrupted.

Section IX.
Informational provision of the activity of the National Health Insurance Fund
Art. 63. (1) (prev. text of Art. 63 – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The National Health Insurance Fund shall establish an information system which shall contain:
1. (amend., SG 110/99; suppl. – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007) register of the insured persons including: passport data; unique identification number; grounds for insurance under Art. 33; paid instalments; the ground of payment by NHIF of the medical care rendered to the insured persons in another Member State in accordance with the rules for coordination of the social security schemes;
2. (new – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007) register of the persons, insured in another Member State, who are entitled to medical care in the state for the account of NHIF in accordance with the rules for coordination of the social security schemes;
3. (amend., SG 110/99; prev. text of para 2 – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007) register of the medical care executives with the passport and professional data of the executive, the contract concluded with him.
4. (amend., SG 110/99; prev. text of para 2 – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007) register of producers, importers and distributors of medical supplies and pharmacies having concluded contracts with the NHIF;
5. (prev. text of para 2 – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007) information from the activity of the control bodies;
6. (prev. text of para 5 – SG 95/06, in force from 01.01.2007) administrative information providing the activity of NHIF.
(2) (new – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The National Health Insurance Fund shall provide access to the Ministry of Health to the informational system as of para 1.

Art. 64. (amend., SG 110/99) (1) (Prev. text of art. 64 - SG 107/02) Every insured person shall have the right to receive from NHIF the available information about the medical care and its price received by him during the last 5 years and its price by an order determined by the fund.
(2) (New, SG 107/02) Every insured person shall have the right, upon request, to obtain access with the respective RHIF to the necessary information for the providers of medical care and pharmacies having concluded contracts with RHIF in the respective region, containing the following data:
1. (amend. SG 76/05) for non-hospital care - name, kind of the medical establishment, address, managing bodies, physicians and dental doctors working in it, their specialities, business telephone numbers, highly qualified medical activities under NFA;
2. for hospital care - name, type of the hospital, address, managing bodies, telephone numbers, departments, accreditation evaluation, medical activities according to NFA;
3. for pharmacies - name, address, manager, telephone numbers, business hours, dispensed groups of medicines, according to the individual contract with NHIF.
(3) (New, SG 107/02) The information under para 2 shall be public and shall be maintained, distributed and submitted by an order determined by the Regulations for the structure and activity of NHIF.

Art. 64a. (new – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) (1) The medical establishments that are providers of medical care shall be obliged to announce in public places of their building information concerning:
1. the health care activities guaranteed by the NHIF budget;
2. the amount covered by NHIF for the health care activities under para 1;
3. the free medical services as per Art. 82 of the Law of Health; 
4. the cases when a person is entitled to earmarked funds from the republic budget and the procedure for allocation;
5. the cases when a person has to pay for medical care not covered by compulsory health insurance;
6. information on the health insurance companies with which they have signed a contract;
7. list of the diseases as to which the persons with compulsory health insurance are exempt from paying the sums under Art. 37, para 1.
(2) The information as of para 1 shall also be published on the web site of the medical establishments or shall be announced in another customary manner.

Art. 65. The medical care executives shall be obliged to present to RHIF information about the activity carried out by them according to methodologies and range adopted by NFA.

Art. 66. (1) (Prev. text of art. 66 - SG 107/02) The informational system of the obligatory health insurance shall use the codes and nomenclature for registration and accounting the health care services used in the country.
(2) (New, SG 107/02 - in force from January 1, 2004) The National Health Insurance Fund shall submit to the providers of medical care the necessary software for their activity, regarding the exchange of data and documentation required by NFA.
(3) (New, SG 107/02) The data and the documentation under para 2 can be submitted by the providers to RHIF only on electronic or magnetic carrier in a format approved by NHIF.

Art. 67. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The data for the insured persons shall be kept in NHIF for a period of 5 years from conclusion of their health insurance, and those for the executives - 10 years from discontinuance of their last contract with NHIF.

Art. 68. (1) Data related to the personality of the insured can only be used for:
1. establishing the insurance relations with NHIF;
2. payment to the medical care executive;
3. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2012) issuance of electronic health insurance card, medical or financial document;
4. establishment of sums subject to collection or reimbursement to the payer of the instalments or to the medical care executive;
5. establishment of caused damages to the insured during medical operations;
6. (suppl. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) exercising financial and medical control.
(2) Data related to the medical care executive can only be used for:
1. keeping register of the medical care executives;
2. payment of the medical services rendered by him;
3. (Amend., SG 107/02) exercising control over the fulfilment of the contracts.
(3) (New, SG 107/02, amend. SG 76/05) The National health Insurance Fund may not require including in the primary medical documents, access to which have insured and third persons, other data regarding the physicians and dental doctors besides name, speciality, address, telephone number of the practice, personal professional code and registration number of the medical establishment.
(4) (Prev. para 3 - SG 107/02) Besides the cases under para 1 and 2 NHIF can submit data to state bodies about the personality of the insured or about the executive if this is stipulated by a law.
(5) (Prev. para 4 - SG 107/02) The employees of the central management of NHIF or RHIF shall not have the right to spread information related to the personality of the insured, the medical care executive or an employee except in the cases stipulated by a law.
(6) (New, SG 107/02) The bodies of management and the employees of NHIF and RHIF shall not have the right to give a professional evaluation and comment the activity of the providers of medical care, as well as make recommendations, directly or indirectly, and direct patients to definite providers.
(7) (New, SG 107/02) The National health Insurance Fund and RHIF shall be obliged to submit the information required by the Ministry of Health.

Art. 69. (Amend., SG, No 93 of 1998, SG 110/99, amend. - SG 105/05, in force from 01.01.2006; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010; amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) The Executive Director of the National Revenue Agency shall draft and submit to the Ministry of Health and NHIF information about the insured persons, the amount of the health insurance installments collected and the collectability trends following a procedure laid down in an instruction, issued by the Executive Director of the National Revenue Agency and the NHIF Governor.

Section X.
Control, expertise and disputes
Art. 70. (1) (Prev. text of art. 70 - SG 107/02) The control over the fulfilment of the budget of NHIF shall be carried out by the Audit Office.
(2) (New, SG 107/02, amend. - SG 33/06) The entire financial control of NHIF shall be carried out by the order of the Law of the state financial inspection.

Art. 71. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010; amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) The control over the activity of the Governor of NHIF and the directors of RHIF shall be carried out by the supervisory board according to the provisions of this law and the Regulations on the structure and activity of NHIF.

Art. 72. (1) (Amend., SG 107/02, suppl. SG 38/04; amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010; amend. – SG 98/10) The Governor of NHIF shall carry out complete control over the activity of the obligatory health insurance. The Governor of NHIF shall obligatory assign check in 14 days term from the receipt of the audit report of the Chairperson of the Audit Office as per art. 55, para 1 of the Law of the Audit Office regarding initiating financial and administrative and penal liability.
(2) (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The direct control under the contracts with NHIF for providing medical and/or dental care shall be exercised by means of inspections, carried out by RHIF officials - financial inspectors physicians - controllers and dental medicine doctors – controllers, on the grounds of an order by the RHIF Director.
(3) (new – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010; amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) For the performance of his control powers under para 1 the NIHF Governor may issue an order RHIF to carry out an inspection with the involvement of NHIF officials.
(4) (new – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The control under para 2 shall also be exercised as regards to execution of the contracts for the prescription of medicinal products, medical items and dietetic foods for special medical purposes, reimbursed by the NIHF fully or partially.
(5) (new – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010; amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) The terms and the procedure for exercising the control under paras 2, 3 and 4 shall be laid down in an instruction issued by the NHIF Governor.

Art. 73. (1) The financial inspectors shall have the right:
1. (revoked, SG 110/99);
2. (Suppl., SG 107/02; suppl. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) to inspect the reporting documents of the medical and/or dental care executives stipulated by NFA;
3. (Amend., SG 107/02) to carry out control over the lawfulness of the financial activity of the providers of medical and dental care according to their contracts with RHIF;
4. (Suppl., SG 107/02) to carry out inspections on claims of insured persons and employers related to financial violations.
(2) For fulfilment of the activities under para 1 the financial inspectors shall have the right of access to information from the employers, the insured and the executives.
(3) The financial inspectors shall not have the right disseminate information having become known to them in connection with the activity under para 1 except in the cases provided by a law.
(4) (New, SG 107/02; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) As regards to the regulation of the activities of the financial controllers, the establishment of violations, submission of objections and imposing administrative penalties shall apply the proceedings under art. 74, para 2, 3 and 4 according to which the physicians-controllers and the dental medicine doctors-controllers operate.

Art. 73a. (New, SG 110/99, amend. SG 49/04, amend. - SG 105/05, in force from 01.01.2006) The financial control over the revenue of NHIF from health insurance instalments and the due interest shall be exercised by the control bodies of the National Revenue Agency by the order of the Tax-insurance Procedure Code.

Art. 74. (1) The control related to rendering medical care shall be carried out by physicians-controllers who shall have the right to inspect:
1. (revoked – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010)
2. the type and the volume of the rendered medical care;
3. the type and the quantity of the prescribed medical supplies;
4. the correspondence between the rendered medical care and the paid money.
(2) (suppl. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The physicians-controllers and the dental medicine doctors-controllers shall carry out their activities on filed complaints through sudden inspections on the chance principle of 2 percent of the medical care executives within the range of every RHIF and in cases of establishing excess of the expenses for medical care by 25 percent or more for one period of six months.
(3) (amend. SG 76/05; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) Upon ascertainment of any violation under items 2 to 4 of para 1, a physician - controller or a dental medicine doctor - controller shall draw up an act ascertaining an administrative violation. The act shall be signed by the physician-controller or dental medicine doctor - controller. A copy of the act shall be provided to the inspected person who shall sign it. Within 14 days from signing it the act shall be forwarded to the Director of the respective RHIF along with the objections of para 4 and the evidence collected in relation to the act. 
(4) (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The inspected shall have the right to make written objection regarding the act ascertaining administrative violation within 3 days from the signing thereof.

Art. 75. (revoked – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009)

Art. 76. (revoked – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009)

Art. 76a. (new – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) (1) In those cases where the medical and/or dental care provider has received funds without any legal basis for this, provided that the said sums are not related to a violation of this Law which has been ascertained during an inspection by the control bodies of Art. 72, para 2, the medical care provider shall be obliged to repay the amounts.
(2) In the cases referred to in para 1 a record shall be drawn up for unduly received amounts. The inspected person shall be entitled to submit a written objection to the RHIF Director within 7 days from receiving the record.
(3) After the deadline for objections under para 2 has expired, the RHIF Director shall issue a written invitation for repayment of the sums received without legal grounds, which will be delivered to the medical and/or dental care provider.
(4) The invitation to repay the sums under para 1 shall be subject to appeal following the procedure set out in the Administrative Procedure Code.

Art. 76b. (new – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) (1) When the medical and/or dental care provider has received amounts without legal grounds as a result of a violation of the present Law, the RHIF Director shall deduct the unduly paid amounts and shall impose the penalties laid down by this Law.
(2) In the cases referred to in para 1, if the inspected person files an objection under Art. 74, para 4, the RHIF Director shall issue an invitation in writing for the repayment of the sums received without legal grounds, after the entry into force of the penal decree on the committed violation.

Art. 77. (amend., SG 110/99, amend. - SG 105/05, in force from 01.01.2006) The individuals and the corporate bodies shall be obliged to submit to the control bodies of NHIF and of the National Revenue Agency the requested documents, information, references, declarations, explanations and other carriers of information related to the health insurance and to render assistance in fulfilment of their official duties.

Art. 78. The national health insurance fund can perform expertise in case of necessity of:
1. medical care, if its cost exceeds 200 times the minimal monthly salary for the country;
2. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) expensive medicinal products in the cases not stipulated by NFA;
3. treatment abroad.

Art. 79. The expertise under Art. 78 shall be performed by an order determined by the Regulations on the structure and activity of NHIF, by a commission in the central management.

Art. 80. (revoked – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009)

Section XI.
Issue of documents, required for exercising health insurance rights according to the rules for coordination of the social security schemes (New – SG 95/06, in force from 24.11.2006)
Art. 80a. (New – SG 95/06, in force from 24.11.2006) The National Health Insurance Fund shall issue documents, which are required for exercising health insurance rights of the persons according to the rules for coordination of the social security schemes, in 30-day term of the date of filing an application by the interested persons.
(2) The application shall be filed by the interested persons through RHIF.
(3) (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010 )The Minister of Health shall set forth the procedure of issuing the certification documents referred to in para 1, upon proposal by the Governor of NHIF.

Art. 80b. (New – SG 95/06, in force from 24.11.2006) (1) (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010)The Governor of NHIF or an official, authorised by him/her, shall issue European health insurance card having a validity period of one year.
(2) In case the applicant is under age, the European health insurance card shall be valid till his/her coming of age, however, for not less than one year and not more than five.
(3) Where the applicant is a person, who receives a pension for insured service and age, the European health insurance card shall be valid for ten years, and in case the person receives disability pension – for the term of the pension granted, but not more than 10 years.

Art. 80c. (New – SG 95/06, in force from 24.11.2006; amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) Issued health insurance card shall be announced invalid by the Governor of NHIF or by official, authorised by him/her, in case:
1. the health insured person declares that the card has been lost, stolen or destroyed;
2. the health insured person has passed away;
3. the person no longer has the right NHIF to pay for the medical care, rendered to him/her under the terms of Art. 109, para 1, unless till the date of declaring the card invalid the person restores his/her health insurance rights, as well as in the cases referred to in Art. 40a, para 1.

Art. 80d. (1) (New – SG 95/06, in force from 24.11.2006; prev. text of Art. 80d – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) European health insurance card shall not be issued to the persons referred to in Art. 40a, para 1 and Art. 109, para 1.
(2) (new – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009; amend. – SG 26/10; amend. – SG 98/10, in force from 01.01.2011) The health insurance card under para 1 shall be recommendable for the health insured persons under this Law during temporary stay in a Member State of the European Union, the states from the European Economic Area and from Confederation Switzerland.

Chapter three.
VOLUNTARY HEALTH INSURANCE
Section I.
General (Amend., SG 107/02)
Art. 81. (Amend., SG 107/02) This chapter settles the relations regarding:
1. the voluntary health insurance;
2. the legal status of the health insurance companies;
3. the state supervision of the activity related to the voluntary health insurance;
4. guaranteeing the interests of the insured persons.

Art. 82. (Amend., SG 107/02) (1) (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) The voluntary health insurance shall be carried out by health insurance companies registered according to the Commercial Law and licensed under the terms and following the procedures laid down in this Law.
(2) The voluntary health insurance provides for health services and commodities outside the scope of the obligatory health insurance. The voluntary health insurance can also provide for health services and commodities within the scope of the obligatory health insurance.
(3) The voluntary health insurance shall be carried out in compliance with the principle of voluntarism of the insurance.
(4) Voluntary health insurance shall not be:
1. (amend. SG 85/04; amend. - SG 103/05, in force from 01.01.2006) the activity of the insurers on covering risks related to the life, health or bodily integrity of the insured persons under the insurance types according to Appendix No 1 to art. 6, para 2 of the Insurance Code;
2. the activity of providers of non-hospital medical care under contracts with individuals and corporate bodies for providing medical services where they are of definite type, size and prices.

Art. 83. (Amend,. SG 107/02) (1) Activity on voluntary health insurance can be carried out by a joint-stock company registered with a subject of activity only voluntary health insurance.
(2) The activity on voluntary health insurance shall also include management of the assets of the health insurance company.
(3) The health insurance companies can carry out, under a contract with foreign insurance and assurance companies, against payment and without taking own financial risk, activities on the medical servicing for foreign citizens on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria, insured by them.
(4) In order to carry out activity on voluntary health insurance and for entry in the commercial register it shall be necessary for the joint-stock company under para 1 to obtain a licence under the conditions and by the order of this law.

Art. 84. (Amend., SG 107/02) (1) The health insurance contracts are written contracts concluded between the companies for voluntary health insurance licensed according to this law, and individuals or corporate bodies.
(2) Party to the contract is the self-insured person if he pays health insurance premium for his account.
(3) Party to the contract are employees, members of families and other ensured persons who insure for their account individuals. In this case the insuring persons shall be obliged to explain to the insured persons their rights and obligations under the contract, the providers of medical care, the conditions and the order of obtaining the health services and commodities.
(4) Party to the contract shall be simultaneously the insuring and the insured persons when they pay jointly parts of the health insurance premium.
(5) (amend. - SG 103/05, in force from 01.01.2006) Applied regarding the health insurance contracts shall be respectively the provisions of the Commercial Law for the commercial transactions and of the Insurance Code, inasmuch as this law does not stipulate otherwise.

Art. 85. (Amend., SG 107/02) (1) The activity on providing health services shall be carried out by providers of medical care.
(2) The type, the prices, the conditions and the order of carrying out the health services under para 1 shall be determined by contracts between the providers of medical care and the health insurance companies.
(3) The voluntary health insurance with reimbursement of expenses can be carried out without conclusion of contracts under para 2.

Art. 86. (Amend., SG 107/02; amend., SG 8/03) The government supervision over the activity of the voluntary health insurance shall be carried out by the Commission for financial supervision and by the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" by the order of this law and of the Law of the Commission for financial supervision.

Section II.
Activity on the voluntary health insurance (New, SG 107/02)
Art. 87. (Amend., SG 107/02) (1) The voluntary health insurance can be carried out through reimbursement of expenses or through subscription.
(2) The voluntary health insurance through reimbursement of expenses is a form whereby the health insurance company reimburses, partially or in full, the expenses related to health services of the insured persons on occurrence of the cases stipulated by the health insurance contracts. The expenses can be reimbursed both to the providers and to the insured persons for the provided or paid health services and commodities.
(3) The voluntary health insurance through subscription is a form whereby the health insurance company, on occurrence of the cases stipulated by the health insurance contracts provides certain health services and commodities to the insured persons by certain providers of medical care with whom the health insurance company has concluded contracts.

Art. 88. (Amend., SG 107/02) (1) The activity on voluntary health insurance shall be carried out through offering, concluding and fulfilment of health insurance contracts.
(2) The health insurance contract shall obligatorily contain:
1. (amend. SG 39/05, amend. - SG 34/06, in force from 01.10.2006) current certificate of registration in the commercial register; number and date of issuing of the license of the health insurance company;
2. the health insurance packages included in the contract, the type, the scope and the conditions of providing the health services and commodities;
3. the size, the terms and the way of payment of the health insurance premium;
4. the general terms of the health insurance packages included in the contract.
(3) (new, SG 8/03) The general terms of the health insurance packages shall clearly and unambiguously determine:
1. the coverage and its exceptions;
2. the conditions and the order and the terms of payment of the health insurance premiums, as well as the consequences from non-payment or incorrect payment;
3. the conditions and the order of using the health services and receiving health commodities;
4. the conditions and the order and the terms of reimbursement of the expenses;
5. the conditions, the order and the terms of termination or change of the health insurance legal terms of relations.
(4) (prev. para 3 - SG 8/03) On offering and concluding health insurance contracts the health insurance companies shall be obliged to observe the principle of voluntarism and explain conscientiously the conditions, the rights and obligations under the health insurance contract in view of protecting the interests of the insured persons.
(5) (prev. para 4, suppl., SG 8/03) The health insurance companies shall be obliged to keep secret the information related to the concluded health insurance contracts, as well as the information related to the personal data and the health status of the insured persons to the Commission for financial supervision and its bodies. The disclosure of such information can be made only upon consent of the insured person, as well as in the cases explicitly stipulated by a law.

Art. 88a. (new – SG 100/07, in force from 20.12.2007) (1) Using the sex as an actuary factor when estimating the amount of the health insurance premium shall be allowed, provided that the health insurance company uses reliable and regularly updated public statistic information, in which it is obvious that the sex is a determining actuary factor in the assessment of the health insurance risk. In such case the health insurance company shall provide to the deputy chairman of the Financial Supervision Commission, managing the „Insurance Supervision" Department, its tariff on the relevant health insurance package, accompanied by the necessary statistical reasoning.
(2) The health insurance company shall not be entitled to reduce the amount of its duty in case of remuneration of expenses, respectively in case of provision of health services and goods, on the grounds of the sex of the insured persons.
(3) The expenses related to pregnancy and maternity shall not lead to differences in estimating the premium and payments.

Art. 89. (Amend., SG 107/02) The health insurance companies can possess stocks and shares of medical establishments.

Art. 90. (Amend., SG 107/02) (1) The own resources of the health insurance company, reduced by intangible assets, must be at least equal to the limit of solvency.
(2) The guarantee capital shall represent one third of the limit of solvency but it cannot be less than 400 thousand levs.
(3) The total size of the long-term tangible and intangible assets necessary for carrying out the activity of the health insurance company cannot exceed 75 percent of the own capital reduced by the fixed capital stock which is not paid-up.

Art. 90a. (New, SG 107/02; amend., SG 8/03) The Commission for financial supervision shall issue an ordinance determining:
1. the elements included in calculating the size of the own resources;
2. the limit of solvency and the methods by which it is calculated.

Art. 90b. (New, SG 107/02) (1) For violation of art. 90, para 1 the health insurance company, by an order of the Agency, shall present a plan for reaching the limit of solvency.
(2) When the own resources, reduced by the intangible assets, drop below the established guarantee capital the health insurance company shall present for approval to the Agency a short-term plan for additional raising of own resources.
(3) In the cases of para 2 the Agency shall set a period for raising own resources up to the established size of the guarantee capital.

Art. 90c. (New, SG 107/02) (1) The health insurance company shall be obliged to create general and health insurance reserves.
(2) The general reserves shall consist of:
1. reserve fund according to art. 246 of the Commercial Law;
2.other funds and reserves, if so stipulated by the statutes of the health insurance company.
(3) The health insurance reserves consist of:
1. reserve fund;
2. reserves for future payments;
3. carried-over - premium reserve;
4. other reserves approved by the Agency.
(4) The Council of Ministers shall approve an ordinance for the order and the methodology of forming health insurance reserves. The health insurance company shall maintain health insurance reserves according to the ordinance of the first sentence in amount corresponding to the obligations under the health insurance contracts.

Art. 90d. (New, SG 107/02) (1) When the health insurance company has calculated the limit of solvency, the own resources and/or the health insurance reserves in violation of the ordinances under art. 90a or art. 90c, para 4, the Agency shall re-calculate their sizes, for the purposes of the health insurance supervision, according to these ordinances.
(2) When the limit of solvency and/or the size of the own resources, re-calculated by the order of para 1, do not correspond to art. 90, para 1 and 2 the measures of art. 90b shall apply.
(3) (amend., SG 8/03) When the health insurance reserves are insufficient for fulfilment of the obligations under the health insurance contracts the Agency shall prescribe their correction. For failure to fulfil the prescription shall apply enforcement administrative measures under art. 99.

Art. 90e. (New, SG 107/02) (1) The health insurance company shall be obliged to invest the health insurance reserves in the following assets and in the stipulated proportions:
1. state securities, issued and guaranteed by the Republic of Bulgaria - without restriction;
2. real estates which are not encumbered - up to 10 percent of the size of the health insurance reserves;
3. bonds issued and guaranteed by the municipalities - up to 5 percent of the size of the health insurance reserves;
4. stocks and bonds issued by trade companies and accepted for trading on a stock exchange - up to 30 percent of the size of the health insurance reserves, but not more than 10 percent of the stocks and bonds of one company;
5. bank deposits - up to 50 percent of the size of the health insurance reserves, but not more than 25 percent of their size in one bank;
6. mortgage bonds - up t 25 percent of the size of the health insurance reserves, but not more than 15 percent of the mortgage bonds issued by one bank.
(2) The assets under para 1 cannot be pledged and burdened by other encumbrance. 
(3) The relative share of the investments under para 1 must provide security, profitableness and liquidity corresponding to the health insurance contracts.

Art. 90f. (New, SG 107/02) (1) The own resources can be invested in shares and stocks of other trade companies. The health insurance company shall be obliged to inform the Agency within 7 days from making the investment when the size of the investment in one trade company:
1. exceeds 10 percent of the capital of the company, or
2. exceeds 30 000 levs.
(2) When the health insurance company invests its own resources in shares and stocks of another trade company and the size of the investment exceeds 10 percent of the size of its own resources it shall request a permit by the Agency.
(3) A health insurance company cannot participate as a regular partner in general partnerships, limited joint-stock companies and listed limited joint-stock companies.

Art. 90g. (New, SG 107/02; amend., SG 8/03) The health insurance company can invest health insurance reserves and own resources abroad upon a permit of the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" four years after obtaining the licence.

Art. 90h. (New, SG 107/02) The health insurance reserves under art. 90c, para 3 shall be included in the overheads of the health insurance company.

Art. 90i. (New, SG 107/02) (1) The annual financial report of the health insurance company shall be endorsed by chartered auditors.
(2) Along with the report for endorsement of the annual financial report of the health insurance company, the chartered auditors shall also present a detailed audit report to the Agency by April 30 of the next year.
(3) The detailed audit report shall be worked out in a form approved by the Agency.
(4) The persons under para 1 shall immediately inform the Agency about all circumstances which could threaten the activity of the health insurance company.

Section III.
Health Insurance Companies and Licensing (Prev. Section II - Title amend., SG 107/02)
Art. 91. (amend. SG 113/99; Amend., SG 107/02) The health insurance companies are joint-stock companies licensed according to this law, which are established, carry out their activity and are terminated by the order of the Commercial Law, inasmuch as this law does not stipulate otherwise.

Art. 92. (Amend., SG 107/02) (1) The trade name of a health insurance company shall obligatorily contain, separately or in a combination, the words "health" and "insurance" or their derivatives.
(2) Only a company, registered for carrying out activity on voluntary health insurance, can use in its name, in the description of its activity or in advertising, a combination of the words "health" and "insurance" or their derivatives, with exception of NHIF.

Art. 93. (amend. SG 113/99; Amend., SG 107/02) (1) The minimal size of the capital of a health insurance company at the time of filing application for licence is 500 000 levs. Within 3 years from obtaining a licence the company must increase its capital to a minimum of 2 000 000 levs.
(2) The instalments in the capital of the health insurance company can only be pecuniary. 
(3) By the moment of filing application for issuance of licence for carrying out activity on voluntary health insurance, as well as by the moment of entering in the commercial register of the increase of the capital under para 1 the capital of the company, respectively the value of the new stocks, must be deposited in full in a Bulgarian or foreign bank, having permit by the Bulgarian National Bank for carrying out banking activity.

Art. 94. (amend. SG 65/99; amend., SG 107/02) (1) A local or foreign individual or a corporate body acquiring independently or jointly with related persons 10 and more percents of the stocks of a health insurance company shall be obliged, within 14 days from their acquisition, to inform the Agency by a declaration in a form.
(2) (amend. - SG 103/05, in force from 01.01.2006) Stock holder in a health insurance company cannot be, directly or through related persons, a person regarding whom a grounded conclusion that he/she may use the activity of health insurance for achieving purposes incompatible with the purposes and principles pronounced in Art. 82, Para 3 of this law and in Art. 11 of the Law of the Commission of Financial Supervision.

Art. 95. (amend., SG 107/02; amend., SG 8/03) (1) The form of the declaration under art. 94, para 1 shall be approved by an order of the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision".
(2) Attached to the declaration under para 1 shall be:
1. (amend. SG 39/05, amend. - SG 34/06, in force from 01.10.2006; suppl. – SG 43/10) data for the applicant - name, UCC, permanent address - for the individuals; current certificate of registration in the commercial register and a list of the actual owners – in respect of legal persons;
2. declaration for the origin of the resources for acquiring the stocks, in a form approved by an order of the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision";
3. declaration under art. 94, para 2, in a form approved y an order of the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision";
4. (amend. - SG 105/05, in force from 01.01.2006) certificate under art. 87, para 6 from the Tax-insurance Procedure Code;
5. certificate issued by the creditor that he agrees the using of the loaned resources for acquiring stocks, when they are acquired by loaned resources;
6. (amend. SG 85/04; amend. - SG 103/05, in force from 01.01.2006) declaration for related persons in the context of § 1, item 10 of the Insurance Code.
(3) If the declarer under para 1 is a foreign person the data and the documents under para 2 shall be submitted in a form and with contents corresponding to the national legislation of the declarer.

Art. 96. (Amend., SG 107/02; amend., SG 8/03) (1) In case the data contained in the declaration under art. 95, para 1 and/or in the documents under art. 95, para 2 and 3 are incorrect or incomplete the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" shall require correction of the incompleteness or incorrectness within 14 days.
(2) If the documents under para 1 have not been filed or the faults are no rectified within the period under para 1 the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" shall impose the sanctions under this law.
(3) In the cases under para 2 and for a grounded doubt regarding incorrectness of the declared circumstances and of the documents the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" shall approach the competent state bodies and eventually the creditor under art. 95, para 2, item 5.

Art. 97. (Amend., SG 107/02) (1) The members of the managing or control bodies of the health insurance company can be individuals or corporate bodies.
(2) A member of a supervisory board, a member of a managing board or of a board of directors can be a person who:
1. has higher education;
2. has not been convicted to prison for indictable crime;
3. has not been a member of managing or control bodies or regular partners in a trade company or cooperation terminated due to bankruptcy or if a dissenting creditor has remained or which are under proceedings for declaring bankruptcy;
4. has not been a member of managing or control bodies of commercial banks which have been declared bankrupt or which are under proceedings for declaring bankruptcy;
5. has not been divested of the right to occupy a material responsibility position;
6. is not a spouse or relative up to third degree, including on the direct or collateral line or by marriage with another member of a managing or control body of the same health insurance company;
7. is not a member of a managing or control body of another company with the same subject of activity;
8. is not an individual or a member of managing and control bodies of the corporate bodies included in the list under the Law of information regarding unpaid credits;
9. (amend. - SG 103/05, in force from 01.01.2006) does not meet the conditions of Art. 94, Para 2;
10. (amend. - SG 103/05, in force from 01.01.2006) has not been and is not a partner or stock holder, as well as a member of a managing or control body of a trade company for which the hypothesis of Art. 94, Para 2 occurs.
(3) Chairman of a supervisory board, chairman of a managing board or of a board of directors can be a person with higher education, meeting the requirements of para 2 and who has a permanent address or permit for permanent stay in the country.
(4) Executive Director and a person who is empowered to carry out legal capacity according to art. 235 of the Commercial Law can be a person meeting the requirements of para 3 and has a professional experience in the sphere of insurance and assurance.
(5) (revoked – SG 103/05, in force from 01.01.2006)
(6) The members - corporate bodies shall meet the requirements of para 2, item 3, 4, 7, 8, 9 and 10.
(7) The persons representing the corporate body in the managing bodies of the health insurance company must meet the requirements of para 2, respectively para 3 or para 4.
(8) The possession of the necessary professional experience in the sphere of the insurance shall be proved by documents certifying the presence of no less than two years of work in the management of the health care, in the health insurance, insurance, pension insurance or at a managerial or expert position in the state management and supervision of these activities.
(9) (new, SG 8/03) The persons under para 2 - 7 shall be subject to approval by the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision". The approval shall precede the entry in the commercial register, respectively the appointment to a position, for which entry it is not required that the deputy chairman shall announce his decision within one month from filing the application.

Art. 97a. (new - SG 103/05, in force from 01.01.2006) The actuary servicing of the health-insurance company shall be performed only by a liable actuary. Liable actuary shall be a natural person of recognized by the commission capability, which shall organize, manage and care liability for the actuary servicing of the health-insurance company.
(2) The liable actuary shall:
1. not be convicted for a malicious crime of general nature;
2. not be, for the previous three years before the determined by the court initial date of insolvency, a member of managing or controlling body or unlimited-liable partner in a company for which an insolvency procedure has been instituted or of a terminated due to insolvency company if not-satisfied creditors left;
3. not be announced in insolvency and is not in pending insolvency procedure;
4. not be deprived from right to occupy materially responsible position;
5. have a higher education with obtained educationally-qualification degree not lower that "master" and a covered teaching hours in higher mathematics as per requirements determined by an ordinance of the Commission of Financial Supervision;
6. has at least three years experience as an actuary in national insurance institutions, actuary or insurer, re-insurer, health-insurance company, pension-insurance company, or in bodies performing supervision over the activity of these persons, or as habilitated teacher in insurance or actuary;
7. has recognized capability of liable actuary by the commission after successful passing an examination.
(3) The terms and procedure of recognition of the capability and conduction of the examination for recognition of the capability under Para 2, item 7, as well as for recognition of capability, obtained in a Member State, shall be determined by an ordinance of the Commission of Financial Supervision. For the purposes of this code, the capability of the liable actuary recognized under the procedure of Insurance Code or under the Code of Social Insurance, where the passed examination for capability includes assessment of the knowledge in the field of health insurance shall be recognized.
(4) The Commission of Financial Supervision, upon proposal of Deputy Chairperson of the Commission, who governs the "Insurance Supervision" Department, shall deprive the capability of liable actuary if is found that the person:
1. does not meet any more the requirements of Para 2, items 1 – 4;
2. upon performing activity of actuary servicing of a health-insurance company has performed gross or systematic breaches of this law or of secondary legislation on its application.
3. has submitted incorrect data and documents of incorrect content, on the base of which his/her capability has been recognized.
4. (new – SG 97/07) has not exercised the activity for more than two subsequent years after the recognition of the capability or after the discharging from the position of a responsible actuary, unless he/she has carried out an activity as actuary.
(5) In the cases of deprival of capability under Para 4 the person may require recognition of capability of liable actuary not earlier than three years from the decision enters in force. With the deprival of the capability on some of the grounds of Para 4, the capability of the person as an liable actuary recognized under the Insurance Code or under the Law of the Health Insurance shall be considered deprived too.

Art. 97b. (new - SG 103/05, in force from 01.01.2006) (1) The liable actuary of the health- insurance company shall not be a spouse or relative up to fourth degree including of direct or collateral or in-law relationship to the manager or to the controlling body of the health-insurance company, as well as a member of managing or controlling body of another health-insurance company.
(2) The liable actuary shall be elected by the general assembly of the health-insurance company, before which he/she shall in advance certify by an affidavit about lack of circumstances of Para 1. The health-insurance company shall notify the Deputy Chairperson about the taken decision for election of a liable actuary within 7-days period from the date of taking the decision, and shall also submit certified copy of affidavit.
(3) In case of change of circumstances under Para 1 or in case of deprival of capability of liable actuary under Art. 97a, Para 4, the general assembly of the Shareholders of the health-insurance company shall dismiss the liable actuary and elect new one within three months period from learning the circumstances.

Art. 97c. (new – SG 103/05, in force from 01.01.2006) (1) The liable actuary shall bear the liability for the development of sufficient as amount bonuses and for the instituting of enough amounts of technical reserves, for the correct calculation of the limit of solvency, as well as for the correct usage of the actuary methods in the practice of the health-insurance company.
(2) In connection with the activity under Para 1, the liable actuary:
1. shall make out and certify the statements of the health-insurance company in relation with the actuary activity;
2. shall make out annual actuary report to 31st if March of the year, following the year which the report refers to.
(3) Upon execution of his/her obligations, the liable actuary shall have access to the all needed information, and the managing bodies and the officers of the health-insurance company shall provide assistance.
(4) The actuary shall notify immediately the commission about each circumstance which became known to him/her upon execution of his/her obligations and which refers to the health-insurance company and appears to be a significant offence of the this law or of acts on its application or may influent unfavourably on the performance of the activity of the health-insurance company.
(5) In the cases of Para 4 the limitations for revealing information provided by a law, secondary legislation act or agreement shall not be applied. The liable actuary shall bear liability for diligent revealing of information under Para 4 before the Commission of Financial Supervision and the Deputy- Chairperson of the Commission of Financial Supervision, who governs the "Insurance Supervision" Department.
(6) The form of actuary certification and the form and content of the actuary report and of the statements which the liable actuary shall certify shall be determined by an ordinance of the Commission of Financial Supervision.

Art. 98. (Amend., SG 107/02; amend., SG 8/03) Licence for voluntary health insurance shall be issued by the Commission for financial supervision.

Art. 99. (Amend., SG 107/02) (1) (amend., SG 8/03) For issuance of licence an application shall be filed in the Commission for financial supervision, stating the company, the seat and the address for correspondence of the applicant, accompanied by:
1. statute;
2. (suppl. – SG 34/06, in force from 01.10.2006) list of the stock holders containing name, UCC, permanent address - for the individuals; company legal organisation form, seat, corporate file, address of management and BULSTAT code - for the corporate bodies, respectively unified identification code – for the traders, size of the share and declarations under art. 94, para 1 of the persons holding 10 percent and more of the capital of the company;
3. prognosis for the activity of the health insurance company during the first three years, containing revenue from premiums, expenses for payment of health services and commodities, overhead expenses for the activity, amount of the resources of special funds and reserves;
4. programme for investment of temporary free monetary resources in the first three years;
5. (suppl., SG 8/03) description of the health insurance packages offered by the company, the general terms and tariffs, as well as the technical bases of calculation of the premium rates and the technical plans;
6. samples of the health insurance contracts;
7. documents establishing the requirements of art. 97 for the bodies of management and the actuary;
8. written proof of paid-up capital under art. 93.
(2) (amend., SG 8/03) For incompleteness, incorrectness or contradiction to the legal requirements of the filed documents, within one month from their acceptance, the Commission for Insurance Supervision. shall require from the health insurance company removal of the failures within one month. The Commission for Insurance Supervision can request opinion of the Minister of Health on the contents and feasibility of the health insurance packages offered by the applicant.
(3) (amend., SG 8/03) Within two months from filing the application the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" shall work out a proposal for issuance or refusal to issue licence and shall present it for consideration to the Commission for financial supervision. This term shall not run during the periods under para 2 from the requirement for removal of the failures until the receipt of the additional documents.
(4) (new, SG 8/03) The Commission for financial supervision shall take a decision on the application within one month from presentation of the proposal under para 3.

Art. 99a. (New, SG 107/02) The issuance of licence can be refused if:
1. the establishment and the bodies of management of the company do not meet the requirements of the law;
2. (suppl. – SG 43/10) the application for licence and the documents under art. 99, para 1 are incorrect or untrue and incomplete and the irregularities are not rectified within the period under art. 99, para 2, as well as when it is impossible to identify the actual owners of a shareholder, holding directly or through related persons 10 or more than 10 percent of the capital of the company;
3. the programme and the prognosis do not comply with the requirements of art. 90;
4. the general terms of the contracts and their tariffs obviously do not cover the health insurance risk, which is proved by the Agency through actuary calculations;
5. the offered health insurance packages contradict or do not cover the minimal requirements of the medical standards and/or the rules for the good medical practice;
6. (new – SG 43/10) at the discretion of the commission, if the activity intended by the applicant does not guarantee him the necessary reliability and financial stability;
7. (new – SG 43/10) at the discretion of the commission, if the size of the property of persons that have subscribed to 10 and more than 10 percent of the capital and/or their activity in terms of volume and financial results do not correspond to the share in the applicant applied for acquisition and cast doubts in respect of the liability and suitability of the said persons to render capital support to the applicant, if necessary;
8. (new – SG 43/10) the origin of the funds deposited by the persons that have subscribed to 10 or more percent of the capital is not clear or legal;
9. (new – SG 43/10) substantial obstacles to exercising efficient supervision may be posed due to the relations between the applicant and other persons.

Art. 99b. (New, SG 107/02) (1) The licence issued to a health insurance company can be withdrawn if the health insurance company:
1. violates requirements on whose grounds the licence has been issued or it is established that the documents on whose grounds it has been issued are untrue;
2. unlawfully refuses payment, pays partially or with delay indisputable dues on health insurance contracts;
3. does not begin its activity for a period of one year from the issuance of the licence;
4. carry out other activity not permitted by this law;
5. does not observe the voluntarism of the insurance;
6. does not present annual periodical reports required by a law within the periods determined by this law;
7. (amend. SG 85/04) does not present a plan for reaching the limit of solvency or a short-term plan for additional raising of own resources or the presented plan is not fulfilled within the set period;
8. lapses into a state of insolvency in the context of art. 608 or over-indebtedness in the context of art. 742, para 1 of the Commercial Law;
9. is terminated and liquidation proceedings are opened;
10. does not fulfil, within a three-month period, the prescription of the Agency for rectification of other violations of the law;
11. does not meet the requirements of art. 93, para 1 for increase of the capital.
(2) (new, SG 8/03) The licence of the health insurance company shall be withdrawn by the Commission for financial supervision.
(3) (prev. para 2 - amend., SG 8/03) The acts related to a refusal to issue and withdrawal of a licence, refusals to approve health insurance packages, requirements of additional documents and placing additional requirements shall be motivated in details in an official written statement indicating the grounds for the act.

Art. 99c. (New, SG 107/02) (1) After the withdrawal of the licence the health insurance company may not conclude new insurance contracts, to extend the term of the existing ones and to change the terms of the already concluded ones.
(2) The withdrawal of the licence shall not release the health insurance company from its obligations under the concluded contracts.
(3) (suppl., SG 8/03) Upon withdrawal of the licence the Agency shall appoint a receiver who shall exercise supervision over the activity of the health insurance company until the appointment of a liquidator or assignee in bankruptcy under the control of the Agency. The receiver shall have the legal capacities of the managing and control bodies of the health insurance company and shall receive remuneration for the account of the company, as the size of the remuneration shall be determined by the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision".
(4) Upon enactment of the decision for withdrawal of the licence the health insurance company shall be terminated and liquidation proceedings shall be opened upon request of the Agency by a decision of the district court of registration of the health insurance company.

Art. 99d. (New, SG 107/02; revoked, SG 8/03)

Art. 99e. (New, SG 107/02) (1) (suppl., SG 8/03) The offering of new health insurance packages shall be carried out upon permit of the Agency on the grounds of a request of the health insurance company containing a description of the packages, the general terms and the tariffs thereof, as well as the technical bases of calculation of the premium rates and the technical plans.
(2) (amend., SG 8/03) Changes in approved health insurance packages shall be introduced upon approval by the Agency on the grounds of a request of the health insurance company containing the changes of the packages, the general terms, tariffs thereof or the technical plans.
(3) (amend,. SG 8/03) The deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" shall issue a permit under para 1 within one month, and approval under para 2 within one month from receipt of the request of the health insurance company. The deputy chairman may request a statement of the Minister of Health on the contents and feasibility of the offered health insurance packages.
(4) The Agency may refuse to issue permit or approval when:
1. the general terms of the contracts and the tariffs thereof do not cover the health insurance risk which shall be proved by the Agency through actuary calculations;
2. the offered health insurance packages contradict and/or do not cover the minimal requirements of the medical standards and/or the rules for the good medical practice.
3. (new, SG 8/03) the general terms of the health insurance packages and contracts violate the imperative provisions of the law or do not meet the requirements of art. 88, para 3 and the violation has not been removed within the period set by the deputy chairman of the Commission.

Section IV.
Transformation, termination, liquidation and bankruptcy of health insurance companies (New, SG 107/02)
Art. 99f. (New, (SG 107/02) The transformation, termination, liquidation and declaring bankruptcy of the health insurance companies shall be carried out by the order of the Commercial Law inasmuch as this law does not stipulate otherwise.

Art. 99g. (New, SG 107/02) (1) (prev. text of art. 99g - amend., SG 8/03; suppl. - SG 103/05, in force from 01.01.2006) The transformation through merger, fusion, division and separation of the health insurance companies shall be carried out by a permit of the Commission for financial supervision.
(2) (new, SG 8/03; revoked – SG 103/05, in force from 01.01.2006)
(3) (new, SG 8/03; amend. - SG 103/05, in force from 01.01.2006) Transformation of health insurance companies shall be carried out under the conditions and under the order of Chapter Eleven of the Insurance Code and of the Law of the Commission for financial supervision.

Art. 99h. (New, SG 107/02) (1) (amend., SG 8/03) Termination of a health insurance company shall be effected only upon permit of the Commission for financial supervision, regardless of the grounds of the termination.
(2) (amend., SG 8/03) Besides in the general cases according to the Commercial Law termination of a health insurance company shall also be effected by a decision of the Commission for financial supervision upon withdrawal of the licence for carrying out voluntary health insurance.
(3) (amend., SG 8/03) In the cases under para 1 the health insurance company, within 7 days from occurrence of the grounds, shall inform the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" and shall present for approval a liquidation plan which shall stipulate obligatorily transfer of the existing health insurance contracts and proposals for a liquidator. The deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" shall announce its decision within 30 days from the notification. The subsequent changes of the liquidation plan, the change of the term of liquidation, as well as the proposals for a change of the liquidator shall be approved by the same order.
(4) (amend. - SG 103/05, in force from 01.01.2006) On termination of a health insurance company the liquidation proceedings shall be held by the order of Chapter Twelve of the Insurance Code.

Art. 99i. (New, SG 107/02) (suppl., SG 8/03; amend. - SG 103/05, in force from 01.01.2006) Bankruptcy proceedings for a health insurance company shall be opened only upon request of the Agency for insolvency of the health insurance company after having withdrawn the licence for voluntary health insurance. For determining the cases of insolvency, as well as for the relations not settled by this law, related to a bankruptcy of a health insurance company, shall apply respectively the provisions of Chapter Twelve, Section II of the Insurance Code.

Section V.
State supervision of the activity on voluntary health insurance (New, SG 107/02; amend., SG 8/03)
Art. 99j. (SG 107/02) (1) (amend., SG 8/03) The Commission for financial supervision shall exercise the state supervision of the activity on the voluntary health insurance under the conditions and by the order of this law and of the Law of the Commission for financial supervision.
(2) (amend., SG 8/03) In carrying out the state supervision of the activity on the voluntary health insurance the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" shall:
1. extend proposals for issuance, refusal to issue or withdrawal of licence of health insurance company, for issuance or refusal to issue permits for merging, division or separation of health insurance companies and for imposing the enforcement measures under art. 99m, para 3;
2. issue permits for new health insurance packages, general terms and tariffs thereof and approve changes of the permitted ones;
3. permit incorporation of health insurance companies and opening of a branch of a Bulgarian health insurance company abroad;
4. permit transfer of an enterprise of a health insurance company or of health insurance contracts;
5. approve the persons under art. 97, para 2 - 7;
6. check up the regularity of the declarations under art. 95 and, where necessary, approach the bodies under art. 96, para 3;
7. approve other health insurance reserves in the context of art. 90c, para 3, item 4;
8. approve forms of declarations, reports, accounting reports, references and other documents stipulated by Chapter Three of this law;
9. extend a request for opening liquidation or bankruptcy proceedings of a health insurance company;
10. control the observance of the voluntarism in carrying out voluntary health insurance;
11. apply enforcement administrative measures and impose sanctions in the cases and by the order stipulated by the law;
14. take decisions on other issues related to the supervision of the activity of the health insurance companies which are not included in the range of competence of the Commission for financial supervision.
(3) (amend., SG 8/03, amend. SG 85/04) The documents necessary for issuance of permits and approvals, as well as for exercising the other supervisory legal capacities of the bodies under para q and 2, shall be determined by the ordinance of the Commission for financial supervision for the permissions and the current supervision under this law or by an order of the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision", with exception of the documents determined by this law.
(4) (revoked, SG 8/03) 
(5) (revoked, SG 8/03) 
(6) (amend., SG 8/03) The individual administrative acts of the Commission for financial supervision and of the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" shall be subject to appeal by the order of the Law of the Commission for financial supervision.

Art. 99k. (New, SG 107/02; amend., SG 8/03) (1) The Commission for financial supervision shall carry out inspections for the observance of Chapter Three of this law and of the by-laws for its implementation by the health insurance companies.
(2) The Commission for financial supervision shall issue an ordinance for the order of carrying out the inspections.
(3) (amend. - SG 103/05, in force from 01.01.2006) The health insurance companies shall notify in written the Commission of Financial Supervision about:
1. all newly occurred facts and circumstances which are subject to entry into the registers of the Commission of Financial Supervision;
2. the changes in the inscribed circumstances in the trade register;
(4) (new - SG 103/05, in force from 01.01.2006) The obligation under Para 3 shall be executed within seven days period from the occurrence of the facts and circumstances, and to the notification the documents certifying the performed change shall be attached. In the cases where the respective fact or circumstance is a subject to entry in the trade register, the term for notification shall be 7 days from pronouncing the entry.

Art. 99l. (New, SG 107/02) (1) (amend., SG 8/03)The health insurance companies shall work out and present to the Commission for financial supervision annual reports as follows:
1. annual financial report worked out in compliance with the requirements of the Accountancy Law - by March 31 of the year following the year of account;
2. annual references, reports and appendixes in formats and with contents approved by the Agency - by April 30 of the year following the year of account;
3. (amend., SG 8/03) annual actuary report in a form approved by the Commission for financial supervision - by April 30 of the year following the year of account.
4. (new, SG 8/03) quarterly accounting, references, reports and appendixes in a form approved by the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" - by the end of the month following the respective quarter.
5. (new – SG 85/04) monthly references according to a model, approved by the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing department "Insurance supervision" – till the end of the following month. 
(2) (amend., SG 8/03) The annual actuary report shall be worked out and signed by an actuary proposed by the health insurance company and approved by the Commission for financial supervision.
(3) (new – SG 85/04) The Commission for financial supervision shall issue ordinance for the form and the content of the annual financial report of the health insurance companies.

Art. 99m. (New, SG 107/02; amend., SG 8/03) (1) The deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" shall apply the measures under para 2 when he establishes that the health insurance company, each and every one of the persons under art. 97, para 2 - 7 or a stock holder, holding 10 and more percents of the stocks, have committed offences expressed in:
1. violation of the provisions of this law, of the by-laws for its implementation, of the Law of the Commission for financial supervision, of acts of the Commission for financial supervision and of the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision", as well as proposal of general terms and clauses which have not been approved by the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision";
2. threatening the interests of the health insured persons;
3. violation of the terms under which the permit or the licence has been issued;
4. carrying out transactions and activities which affect the organisational or financial stability of the health insurance company;
5. obstruction for the fulfilment of the state supervision of the activity on the voluntary health insurance.
(2) In the cases under para 1 the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" shall apply the following enforcement administrative measures:
1. order in writing the stopping or removal of the admitted offences or undertaking definite measures;
2. give prescription for achievement of profitability, security and liquidity of the investments of the health insurance reserves and of the own capital;
3. impose measures for recovery of the financial status of the health insurance company;
4. oblige in writing the health insurance company to increase its own resources within a set period;
5. determine the structure of the assets for the purpose of guaranteeing the payments on the health insurance contracts;
6. prohibit temporarily the payment of dividends;
7. prohibit temporarily to a stock holder to exercise his voting right;
8. order in writing to a stock holder to transfer the stocks possessed by him within a set period.
(3) In especially severe cases of offences under para 1 the Commission for financial supervision, at a proposal of its deputy chairman managing division "Insurance supervision":
1. order in writing the health insurance company to dismiss one or more persons authorised to manage or represent it, or each and every one of the persons under art. 97, para 2 - 7, or
2. appoint receivers with legal capacities under art. 99c, para 3 for a definite period.

Chapter four.
MEDICAL CONTROL (Title amend., SG 107/02; amend. – SG 41/09, in force from 02.06.2009)
Art. 100. (Amend., SG 107/02; amend.– SG 41/09, in force from 02.06.2009; revoked – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009)

Art. 101. (Amend., SG 107/02; amend.– SG 41/09, in force from 02.06.2009) Executive Agency "Medical Audit" shall:
1. (amend. – SG 41/09, in force from 02.06.2009; suppl. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) see to whether NHIF provides the main package of healthcare activities guaranteed by the RHIF budget;
2. (amend. – SG 41/09, in force from 02.06.2009; amend. and suppl. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) see to whether the voluntary health insurance companies provide the healthcare activities in compliance with the health insurance contract;
3. (amend., SG 8/03; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) submit to the Deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" information obtained while exercising its legal capacities according to this law regarding individuals and corporate bodies, medical establishments carrying out activity of voluntary health insurance without a licence;
4. work out, within 7 days, upon request of the Deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision", a statement by the Minister of Health on the contents and feasibility of the health insurance packages offered by the health insurance companies;
5. work out an annual report to the Minister of Health on the state and the entire activity of the health insurance.

Art. 102. (Amend., SG 107/02) (1) (amend.– SG 41/09, in force from 02.06.2009; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) In exercising its legal capacity under this law Executive Agency "Medical Audit" shall have the right to require and inspect contracts between:
1. regional health insurance funds and providers of medical care;
2. health insurance companies and providers of medical care;
3. (revoked – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010)
(2) (amend. – SG 41/09, in force from 02.06.2009; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The National Health Insurance Fund and the voluntary health insurance companies shall be obliged to present to Executive Agency "Medical Audit" a six-month reference by the end of the month following the expiration of the six months of account. The reference shall be made out in a form approved by the Minister of Health and shall contain data about the number of serviced persons, the type and the size of the provided services under contracts with RHIF and voluntary health insurance companies.
(3) (amend. – SG 41/09, in force from 02.06.2009; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The health insurance companies shall present to Executive Agency "Medical Audit" a list of the providers of medical care with whom they have concluded contracts, as well as information necessary for the health statistics and monitoring of the health status of the population in a format and with contents determined by an order of the Minister of Health.
(4) (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) Access to personalised information under para 2 and 3 shall have only the employees of the Agency, and in this form it can be used only by them for the purpose of exercising control functions under this law. The information shall be processed and used for the needs of the health statistics.
(5) (amend. – SG 41/09, in force from 02.06.2009; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The employees of Executive Agency "Medical Audit" shall have the right to carry out inspections on the spot in NHIF, RHIF, the health insurance companies, as well as to require and receive the necessary documents and information related to the exercising of their legal capacities under this law.
(6) (amend. – SG 41/09, in force from 02.06.2009; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The National Health Insurance Fund, the regional health insurance funds, the health insurance companies shall be obliged to render assistance and submit to the employees of Directorate Executive Agency "Medical Audit" the required documents, references, information and other carriers of information related to the exercising of their legal capacities under this law.
(7) (amend. – SG 41/09, in force from 02.06.2009; amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The employees of Executive Agency "Medical Audit" shall be obliged to keep secret the information having become known to them in exercising the legal capacities under this law. The disclosure of such information can be done only by the consent of the persons who have submitted it, as well as in the cases explicitly stipulated by a law.

Chapter five.
ADMINISTRATIVE AND PUNITIVE PROVISIONS
Art. 103. (1) (suppl. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) Official or employer who does not present information, due under this law, or who presents untrue information about the insurance relations with NHIF shall be fined with 500 to 1 000 levs regarding natural persons, by a property sanction from 500 to 1000 levs regarding sole traders and by a property sanction from 2000 to 4000 levs regarding legal persons.
(2) (suppl. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) For repeated and every next offence the fine shall be 2 000 levs regarding natural persons, by a property sanction amounting to 2000 levs regarding sole traders and by a property sanction amounting to 8000 levs regarding legal persons.
(3) (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) If the offence under para 1 is committed by an insured person the fine shall be from 300 to 500 levs and in the cases under para 2 - 150 levs.

Art. 104. (1) (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) An official of employer or an employer who does not pay the instalments for the insured persons, which are due, shall be fined with BGN 2000 to 4000 for natural persons or shall be punished by a property sanction amounting from BGN 4000 to 8000 for sole traders and legal persons.
(2) For repeated and for each next offence the fine shall be from BGN 2000 to 4000, and the property sanction – from BGN 10 000 to 15 000..
(3) Self-insured person who does not pay the due insurance instalments for a period longer than three months shall be fined by BGN 50 to 100, and for repeated violation - by a fine of BGN 10000 to 300.
(4) A person who fails to fulfil his/her obligation for submitting a declaration under Art. 40, para 5, item 2, shall be punished by a fine from BGN 500 to 1000, and for repeated offence – by a fine from BGN 1000 to 3000.

Art. 105. (1) (amend., SG 110/99amend., SG 107/02, amend. - SG 105/05, in force from 01.01.2006) The offences under Art. 103 and 104 shall be established by acts of the control bodies of the National Revenue Agency.
(2) (amend., SG 110/99; amend., SG 107/02, amend. - SG 105/05, in force from 01.01.2006) The penalty decrees shall be issued by the executive director of the National Revenue Agency or by an official, authorized by him.

Art. 105a. (new - SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) (1) A provider of out-patient medical care who violates the terms and procedure for medical care provision as per Art. 55, para 2, item 2 as laid down in the NFA shall be punished by a fine from BGN 50 to BGN 100 for natural persons or with a pecuniary sanction from BGN 50 to BGN 100 for sole traders and legal persons.
(2) Any repeated violation of para 1 shall be punished by a fine of BGN 100 to BGN 200 for natural persons and a pecuniary sanction of BGN 100 to BGN 200 for sole traders and legal persons.
(3) A hospital medical care provider who violates the terms and procedure for medical care provision under Art. 55, para 2, item 2 as set out in the NFA shall be punished by a pecuniary sanction of BGN 200 to BGN 500.
(4) Any repeated violations under para 3 shall be punished by a pecuniary sanction of BGN 400 to BGN 1000.

Art. 105b. (new - SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) (1) Any out-patient medical care provider who provides medical care in violation of the requirements for available and operational medical equipment and facilities shall be punished by a fine of BGN 50 to BGN 150 for natural persons and with pecuniary sanction of BGN 50 to BGN150 for sole traders and legal persons.
(2) Repeated violations under para 1 shall be punished by a fine of BGN 100 to BGN 300 for natural persons and the pecuniary sanction shall be in the amount of BGN 100 to BGN 300 for sole traders and legal persons.
(3) Any hospital medical care provider who provides medical care in violation of the requirements for available and operational medical equipment and facilities shall be punished by a pecuniary sanction of BGN 100 to BGN 500.
(4) Any repeated violation under para 3 shall be punished by a fine amounting from BGN 200 to BGN 1000.

Art. 105c. (new - SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) (1) Any out-patient medical care provider who violates the established requirements for handling medical or financial documentation, with the exception of the cases of a obvious factual error, shall be punished by a fine of BGN 50 to BGN 150 for natural persons or pecuniary sanction of BGN 50 to BGN 150 for sole traders and legal persons.
(2) Any repeated violation under Art. 1 shall be punished by a fine of BGN 100 to BGN 300 for natural persons and the pecuniary sanction shall be from BGN 100 to BGN 300 for sole traders and legal persons.
(3) A hospital medical care provider who violates the set requirements for handling medical or financial documentation, except for the cases of obvious factual error, shall be punished by a pecuniary sanction of BGN 200 to BGN 500 for sole traders and legal persons
(4) Any repeated violation under para 3 shall be punished by a pecuniary sanction of BGN 400 to BGN 1000.

Art. 105d. (new - SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) (1) Any medical care provider who violates the requirements for prescribing medicinal products for home treatment, medical items and dietetic foods for special medical purposes under Art. 55, para 2, item 2, set by the NFA, shall be punished by a fine of BGN 50 to BGN 100 for natural persons or a pecuniary sanction of BGN 50 to BGN 100 for sole traders and legal persons.
(2) Repeated violations shall be punished by a fine of BGN 100 to BGN 200 for natural persons and the pecuniary sanction shall be from BGN 100 to BGN 200 for sole traders and legal persons.

Art. 105e. (new - SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) Any medical care provider who violates the set requirements for provision of information under Art. 64a, shall be punished by a fine of BGN 20 to BGN 50 for natural persons or pecuniary sanction of BGN 20 to BGN 50 for sole traders and legal persons.

Art. 105f. (new - SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) (1) Any medical care provider who hinders the NHIF and RHIF officials in exercising their rights and performing their duties set out in this Law shall be punished by a fine amounting from BGN 50 to BGN 150 for natural persons or pecuniary sanction of BGN 50 to BGN 150 for sole traders and legal persons
(2) Any repeated violations shall be punished by a fine of BGN 100 to BGN 300 for natural persons and a pecuniary sanction of BGN 100 to BGN 300 for sole traders and legal persons.

Art. 105g. (new - SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) (1) Any medical care provider who does not perform their obligations for notifying RHIF about changes in the circumstances related to the signing of the individual contract shall be punishable by a fine of BGN 50 to BGN 100 for natural persons or pecuniary sanction of BGN 50 to BGN 100 for sole traders and legal persons
(2) Any repeat violations shall be punishable by a fine of BGN 100 to BGN 200 for natural persons and a pecuniary sanction of BGN 100 to BGN 200 for sole traders and legal persons.

Art. 105h. (new - SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) (1) The acts establishing administrative violations under Art. 105a - 105g shall be drawn up by the officials referred to in Art. 72, para 2.
(2) The penal decrees shall be issued by the RHIF Director or by officials authorized by him/her.

Art. 106. (1) (New, SG 107/02; amend. - SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) Director of RHIF who refuses to conclude a contract with a medical care provider without legal grounds and the refusal has been revoked by the order of art. 59b, para 3 shall be fined by 300 to 500 levs, and for repeated violation - by 600 to 1000 levs.
(2) (New, SG 107/02) Official of NHIF or RHIF who violates the provisions of art. 59 shall be fined by 100 to 300 levs, and for repeated violation - by BGN 200 to levs.
(3) (Prev. para 1 - amend., SG 107/02; suppl. - SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) For violation of the provisions of this law or of the normative acts for its implementation, except in the cases under para 1 and 2, Art. 103, Art. 104, Art. 105a – 105g and Chapter Three a fine of 100 to 500 levs shall be imposed, and for repeated violation - from BGN 200 to 1000.
(4) (Prev. para 2 - amend., SG 107/02; amend. – SG 41/09, in force from 02.06.2009; amend. - SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010) The offences under para 1, 2 and 3 shall be established by acts issued by officials from Executive Agency "Medical Audit" and the penalty decrees shall be issued by the director of Executive Agency "Medical Audit".

Art. 106a. (New, SG 107/02; revoked, SG 8/03)

Art. 106b. (New, SG 107/02) (1) Members of managing bodies of a medical establishment providing medical services under a contract, representing voluntary health insurance in the context of this law, shall be punished: by a fine of 100 to 200 levs - for medical establishments under art. 8, para 1, item 1, letter "a" and item 2, letter "a" of the Law of the medical establishments, by a fine of 200 to 500 levs - for members of managing bodies of medical establishments for non-hospital care, and by a fine of 500 to 1500 levs - for members of managing boards of medical establishments for hospital care. For repeated offence the fine shall be respectively from 200 to 400 levs, from 500 to 1000 levs and from 1000 to 3000 levs.
(2) Members of managing bodies or individuals representing a corporate body in the managing bodies of other corporate bodies, other than the cases of para 1, carrying out activity representing voluntary health insurance in the context of this law, shall be fined by 5000 to 10 000 levs. For repeated offence the fine shall be from 10 000 to 20 000 levs.
(3) (amend., SG 8/03) Official of an employer or health insurance company who discloses data related to a contract for voluntary health insurance in violation of art. 88, para 5 shall be fined by 500 to 1000 levs, and for repeated violation the fine shall be from 1000 to 2000 levs.
(4) A person who is obliged to file a declaration under art. 95 and does not file it in time or files an untrue declaration shall be fined by 1000 to 2000 levs, and for repeated offence the fine shall be from 2000 to 4000 levs.
(5) A health insurance company carrying out health insurance in violation of the issued licence under art. 98 or of the permit under art. 99e, para 1, or in violation of art. 82, para 3 shall be punished by a property sanction of 5000 to 10 000 levs. For repeated violation the property sanction shall be from 10 000 to 15 000 levs.
(6) A health insurance company violating the provisions of art. 90c, para 1 or para 4, art. 90e, art. 90f or art. 90g shall be punished by a property sanction of 2500 to 10 000 levs. For repeated offence the property sanction shall be from 5000 to 15 000 levs.
(7) (amend., SG 8/03) A health insurance company which does not inform the Commission for financial supervision for opening liquidation proceedings in the cases of art. 99h, para 1, or does not fulfil its obligations under art. 99h, para 3 shall be punished by a property sanction of 1000 to 5000 levs.
(8) (amend., SG 8/02) For violation of the provisions of Chapter Three of this law or of the normative acts for its implementation, in cases other than those under para 1 - 7 the guilty person shall be fined by 500 to 1000 levs for an individual, or a proprietary sanction shall be imposed from 1000 to 2500 levs for a corporate body. For repeated violation the fine shall be from 1000 to 2000 levs and the property sanction - from 2000 to 5000 levs.
(9) (amend., SG 8/03) The offences under para 1 - 8 shall be established by acts of officials of the administration of the Commission for financial supervision duly authorised by its deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision". The penal provisions shall be issued by the deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision".

Art. 107. (amend., SG 110/99) The imposition of penalties under Art. 103 and 104 does not exclude the obligation to pay the due instalments together with the legal interest for the period.

Art. 108. (1) (Suppl., SG 107/02) The issuance of acts, the issuance, the appeal and the fulfilment of the penalty decrees under this law shall be carried out according to the Law of the administrative offences and penalties, and if the fine is imposed on an employee of NHIF or RHIF - to the revenue of the republican budget..
(2) (suppl., SG 8/03) The imposed fines shall be deposited to the revenue of NHIF. Deposited to the revenue of the republican budget shall be the fines and the property sanctions imposed on the health insurance companies for offences under Chapter Three of the law.
(3) (New, SG 107/02; amend. – SG 105/06, in force from 01.01.2007) Up to 25 percent of the sums restored by performers of medical care as per Art. 45 along with the interest due by them of can be spent for stimulation of the officials in NHIF.

Art. 109. (amend., SG 110/99, amend. SG 111/04) (1) The health insurance rights of insured persons obliged to pay insurance instalments for their account, shall be interrupted if they have not paid more than three due monthly insurance instalments for a period of 36 months till the beginning of the month, preceding the month of the provided medical care. The persons whose health insurance rights are interrupted shall pay for the provided medical care. 
(2) Health insurance rights of persons under para 1 shall be restored on the condition that the person has paid up all health insurance installments due during the preceding 36 months.
(3) Health insurance rights of persons under para 1 shall be restored from the date on which the installments due as of para 2 have been paid up, however the amounts paid for rendered medical assistance shall not be restored.
(4) In those cases where the employer or another person is obliged to make insurance installments, if such have not been paid, the insured person shall not be deprived of insurance rights.
(5) Paragraphs 1 through 3 shall not apply to the persons referred to in Art. 40a.

Art. 110. (amend., SG 110/99) For failure to appear for prophylactic examinations stipulated by NFA the insured shall lose the remaining rights for a period of 1 month.

Art. 111. (amend., SG 107/02) (1) The resources paid by NHIF for treatment of diseases caused by a deliberate damage to the own or other persons health in case of an indictable crime, as well as for damaging the health of third persons committed in a state of alcoholic intoxication or use of narcotic or intoxicating substances shall be reimbursed to NHIF by the person who has caused it along with the legal interest and the expenses related to the reimbursement.
(2) (amend. – SG 59/07, in force from 01.03.2008) For the due amount under par. 1 the RHIF may require issuing of an order for immediate execution pursuant to the provisions of Art. 418 of the Civil Proceedings Code on the grounds of an excerpt from the accountancy records books.

Additional provisions

§ 1. (Amend., SG 107/02) In the context of this law:
1. "Highly specialised medical activity" is an activity requiring special medical skills and equipment necessary for resolution of complex diagnostic and medical cases.
2. "Basic package of health activities guaranteed by the budget of NHIF" are activities determined by type and scope, on individual specialities, activities for treatment of definite diseases or group of diseases, accessible by all health insured persons, in a size, under conditions and by an order determined by the National Frame Agreement.
3. "Health activity" is every activity aimed at preservation, maintaining and recovery of health.
4. "Health insurance package" is a group of health services and commodities, defined by type and scope, covered entirely or partially by the health insurance companies under conditions and by an order stipulated by the health insurance contracts.
5. "Health insurance instalment" is the sum paid by an individual or corporate body for obligatory health insurance, formed as a percentage of the insurance income determined by this law.
6. "Health insurance premium" is the sum paid by an individual or corporate body under a contract to a voluntary health insurance company.
7. "Person under proceedings for granting refugee status" is a foreign citizen or a person without citizenship who has requested a statute of refugee in the Republic of Bulgaria until the conclusion of the proceedings by an enacted decision on his application.
8. "Personal professional code" is an identifying code regarding data for the provider of medical care, consisting of digits and signs.
9. "Medical care" is a system of diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitation and prophylactic activities provided by medical specialists.
10. "Size of medical care" is the quantity of medical activities, services and commodities access to which have the insured persons under definite conditions stipulated by the National Frame Agreement and the contracts for voluntary health insurance.
11. "Scope of medical care" are the provided specific types of prophylactic, diagnostic, therapeutic, rehabilitation activities and services and the type of provided medical commodities covered entirely or partially by NHIF or by the voluntary health insurance companies.
12. "General terms of the health insurance packages and contracts" are standard terms stipulating the rights and the obligations of the parties, the conditions, the order and the terms of payment of the health insurance instalments and premiums, the conditions and the order of using the health insurance services and receiving the health insurance commodities, the order and the term of covering the expenses thereof, as well as other terms of the contracts.
13. "Insured person" is an individual insured under the conditions and by the order of this law. 
14. "Insurer" is the National Health Insurance Fund or a company for voluntary health insurance.
15. "Insuring party" is an individual or corporate body paying in full or partially health insurance instalment or premium for a third person.
16. "Repeated" is an administrative offence made within 1 year from the enactment of the penalty decree by which the offender has been punished for the same offence.
17. "Enterprise are all corporate bodies, sole entrepreneurs and companies which are not legal entities carrying out trade activity.
18. "Self insured person" is an individual paying in full a health insurance instalment or premium for himself.
19. "Tariffs for health insurance packages and contracts" are the sizes of the health insurance instalments and premiums for one or several health insurance packages differentiated according to the number of packages, the number of insured persons under the contract, the age, the health status of the insured persons and other factors.
20. "Members of the family" are the spouse and the children under 18 years of age, and if they continue their education - until 26 years of age, and if they are incapacitated or permanently labour incapacitated - regardless of the age.
21. (new – SG 111/04) "Dietetic foods for special medical purposes" are group of foods with special designation, produced or combined for satisfying the specific food needs of patients and they are used under medical control.
22. (new – SG 95/06, in force from 24.11.2006) "Rules for coordination of the social security schemes" shall be the rules, introduced by Council Regulation (EC) No 1408/71 of 14 June 1971 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons, to self-employed persons and to members of their families moving within the Community, who are not obligatory health insured on another ground by Council Regulation 574/72/EEC laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation 1408/71/EEC of the Council and by any other regulations, which amend, supplement or replace it.
23. (new – SG 99/09, in force from 01.01.2010) "maritime person" is a natural person in the meaning of the Code of Social Insurance.
24. (new – SG 59/10, in force from 31.07.2010) "Main Labour contract" is the main labour contract as per § 1, item 7 of the Additional Provision of the Law on the Medical Establishments.

§ 1a. ( new - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) (1) The National Health-Insurance Fund, the regional health-insurance funds and the Commission of Financial Supervision shall provide opportunity to provide information and acceptation of applications and documents envisaged in this Law by electronic way observing the conditions and procedure of the Law on the Electronic Document and Electronic Signature and the Law on the Electronic Management.
(2) Provision of information and acceptation of applications and documents by electronic way shall be executed after ensuring the relevant technical and organizational conditions, as well as the relevant software products.

Transitional and concluding provisions

§ 2. (1) The payment of the health insurance instalments under Art. 41 shall begin on July 1, 1999.
(2) The Minister of Health and the Minister of Finance can determine health establishments and surgeries where the payment shall be made on the basis of contracts before the introduction of the health insurance.

§ 3. (amend. SG 113/99 ) (1) (Amend., SG 62/99) The fulfilment of the contracts between RHIF and the medical care executives on non-stationary level shall begin on July 1, 2000.
(2) The fulfilment of the contracts between RHIF and the hospitals shall begin on July 1, 2001.
(3) Until the commencement of the fulfilment of the contracts between the RHIF and the medical care executives under para 1 and 2 the financing of the state and the municipal medical care and health establishments shall be carried out by the republican and municipal budgets in a way applied till their transformation.
(4) (New, SG 41/01) The medical establishments for hospital care - trade companies with state and/or municipal property shall be financed for their activity by the republican or the municipal budgets according to art. 206 of the Law for the medical establishments and by the National Health Insurance Fund by payment according to contracts with them. The subsidising shall be carried out on the grounds of a one-year contract between the financing body and the health establishment in compliance with the Law for the state budget of the Republic of Bulgaria for the respective year. The financing of the National Health Insurance Fund shall be carried out on basis of contracts in compliance with the budget of NHIF.

§ 4. The draft law for the budget of NHIF for 2000 shall be presented at the Council of Ministers in 1999 within the period determined for presentation of the draft law for the state budget of the Republic of Bulgaria.

§ 5. Upon enactment of the law the Minister of health shall begin the establishment of the structures and bodies stipulated by it. Upon constituting the bodies of NHIF the tasks on the establishment of the structures and carrying out the activities related to the obligatory health insurance shall be taken over by themselves.

§ 6. The Council of Ministers, the assemblies of the regions and the representative organisations of the employers and of the workers and employees shall, within 3 months from the enactment of the law, appoint its representatives in the assembly of the representatives of NHIF.

§ 7. (1) Within 5 months from the enactment of the law the first meeting of the assembly of the representatives of NHIF shall be held for election of management board and control board.
(2) Within 1 month from constitution of the assembly of the representatives regulations for the structure and activity of NHIF shall be adopted.
(3) Within 1 month from the constitution of the managing board a competition shall be held for appointment of director of NHIF.

§ 8. (1) Within 1 month from constitution of the bodies of NHIF the managing board shall open a procedure for preparation and negotiations under NFA.
(2) Within 3 months from the constitution of the bodies of NHIF the regulations stipulated by this law shall be worked out and adopted.

§ 9. (1) The Council of Ministers, the regional governors and the municipalities shall, within 6 months from the enactment of the law, submit buildings and other material basis to the central management of NHIF and for RHIF.
(2) The Minister of Finance, at the proposal of the Minister of health shall provide financial resources for the organisation of the process of establishing NHIF and RHIF.

§ 10. (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009) The Bulgarian National Bank shall open accounts of the health insurance companies under Art. 3 as the resources shall bear interest to the basic interest rate for the period.

§ 11. (revoked – SG 111/04; new – SG 11/07) In 2007, considered from the 1st of January, shall be applied:
1. the provisions of the National Framework Agreement of 2006 as per Art. 55, para 2, items 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10 and 11;
2. the requirements, specified by the Managing Board of NHIF, which the contractors of medical care shall satisfy, the procedure of concluding the contracts with the latter and other terms pursuant to Art. 55, para 2, items 2, 4 and 6.

§ 11a. (new – SG 113/07, in force from 01.01.2008) In event that a NFA for 2008 is not concluded by 15 December 2007, the rules of Art. 55, Para 3, Items 1 and 2 and Para 6 shall apply from 1 January 2008.

§ 12. The administrative support of NHIF and of RHIF for the periods under § 4 shall be for the account of the republican budget.

§ 12а. (new – SG 98/10, in force from 01.01.2011) (1) The provision of Art. 24, item 8 shall apply till December 31 2011.
(2) During the period mentioned in para 1 the activities under Art. 24, item 8 shall be paid \under terms and following a procedure set out by the Law on the Budget of the National Health Insurance Fund for the year 2011.

§ 12b. (new – SG 08/10, in force from 01.01.2011) (1) In order to carry out the activities envisaged in this Law, during 2011 shall be applied the National Frame Agreement for medical operations and the National Frame Agreement for dental activities, concluded for the period till December the 31, 2010 under the terms and following the procedure as per Art. 54 and 55.
(2) In case the National Frame Agreements under para 1 have not been concluded during 2011, the National Frame Agreement for 2010 shall apply, except for the volumes, prices and methods for evaluation and payment of medical care adopted pursuant to Art. 55c.

§ 13. Item 7 is created in Art. 6, para 1 of the Law for transformation and privatisation of state and municipal enterprises (prom., SG, No 38 of 1992):
"7. For the National health insurance fund - from the receipts under item 5 but not less than 50 percent of them."

§ 14. The following amendments and supplements are introduced to the Law for the national health (prom., SG, No 88 of 1973):
1. In Art. 2, para 1 is amended as follows:
"(1) Every Bulgarian citizen shall have the right to accessible medical care and health insurance stipulated by a law."
2. New Art. 3a is created:
"Art. 3a. The republican budget and the municipal budgets shall finance the activities of health care right to which have the citizens free of charge and related to:
1. emergency medical care;
2. stationary psychiatric care;
3. haemotransfusion;
4. obligatory immunisation and obligatory treatment under the Law for the National Health;
5. epidemiological and anti-epidemiological studies and activities;
6. health programmes and projects of national, regional and local importance;
7. state sanitary control;
8. investment expenses;
9. education, science and qualification;
10. construction for health purposes, basic repair, modernisation, improvement and reconstruction, as well as equipment over 10 million levs;
11. health administration;
12. national centres and institutes without direct treatment activity;
13. expensive treatment beyond the range of the obligatory health insurance by an order determined by the Minister of health;
14. expenses related to the public health care;
15. expertise of the permanent labour disability and professional diseases."
3. The previous Art. 3a becomes Art. 3b.
4. The following amendments and supplements are introduced to Art. 4:
a) in para 2, item, 1, after the words "medical care" is added "for the activities under Art. 3a";
b) para 3 is revoked.
5. In Art. 4b, para 1, after the words "the municipal budget" is added "revenue from the health insurance and payment in cash".
6. In Art. 25i para 4 is created:
"(4) The regulations under para 3 shall not apply for activities under contracts with the National health insurance fund."
7. The following amendments and supplements are introduced to Art. 26:
a) para 1 is amended as follows:
"(1) The persons under Art. 2, para 1 shall have free choice and treatment by the physician and dentist for primary and specialised out-patient treatment on the territory of the respective regional health insurance fund.";
b) para 2, 3, 4 and 5 are revoked.
8. In Art. 53, para 2 the words "the order of Art. 26, para 5" are replaced by "an order determined by the Minister of health".
9. In Art. 55, para 4 the words "and medical treatment" are deleted.

§ 15. In Art. 161, para 3 of the Commercial Law the words "or insurance activity" are replaced by "insurance activity or activity on voluntary health insurance".

§ 16. In Art. 237, letter "c" of the Civil Procedural Code, after the words "the banks" is added "the Central management of the National health Insurance Fund and the regional health insurance funds".

§ 17. The following amendments are introduced to the Law for the defence and the armed forces:
1. In Art. 242, para 1 and 2 are revoked.
2. In Art. 243, para 1, 2 and 3 are revoked.

§ 18. In the Law for the Ministry of Interior (prom., SG, No 122 of 1997, No 29 of 1998 - Decision No 3 of the Constitutional Court of 1998) Art. 224 is revoked.

§ 19. (1) (new, prev. § 19 - SG 110/99) Within 6 months from the enactment of the law the Council of Ministers, at the proposal of the Minister of Health shall adopt the normative acts related to its implementation.
(2) (new, SG 110/99, revoked – SG 105/05, in force from 01.01.2006)

§ 19a. (new, SG 114/03) (1) (suppl. SG 49/04) The persons owing more than three health insurance instalments for the period until December 31, 2003 for themselves and/or for members of their families till September 30, 2004 may file a written request for rescheduling of the payment of the due sums until December 31, 2004.
(2) Rescheduled by the order of para 1 shall be obligations for health insurance instalments with a size of the principal over 50 levs.
(3) The persons shall file request for rescheduling in the territorial division of the National Insurance Institute, indicating the deadline for payment of their liabilities.
(4) The liability shall be rescheduled from the date of filing the request by a decision of the head of the territorial division of the National Insurance Institute or of officials authorized by him. The decision shall indicate the size of the liability, the deadline for payment of the rescheduled liability and total due sum until the expiration of this period. A copy of the decision shall be submitted to the person.
(5) The persons whose liability is rescheduled shall retain their rights of health insured persons.
(6) For fulfilment of the requirements under para 1 – 4 the persons shall not be fined according to art. 104, para 3 and the provision of art. 109, para 1 shall not apply.
(7) The person shall loose his health insurance rights if:
1. he does not acquit his liability under para 4 by the deadline of the rescheduling;
2. he has not paid more than three due health insurance instalments for 2004; in this case the rescheduling shall be terminated.
(8) Due for the period of the rescheduled payment shall be 1 percent monthly interest on the due sum, and the term of limitation for the rescheduled liability shall stop running.
(9) (amend. SG 111/04) Persons working under employment and official legal terms shall retain their health insurance rights if the instalments have not been paid by the employer.
(10) To employers who, by December 31, 2004 pay the health insurance instalments due by December 31, 2003 shall not be imposed fines under art. 104, para 1 and 2.

§ 19b. (new, SG 28/04) The Council of Ministers, by April 30, 2004, shall adopt and promulgate in the State Gazette the ordinance under art. 45, para 4.

§ 19c. (new – SG 45/05) (1) The Bulgarian citizens who have been out of the country more than 183 days during one calendar year for the period January 1, 2000 – December 31, 2004 and owe health insurance installments for their account for the time they have been abroad, may be exempt from the obligation for payment these installments if they have made free choice of performer of medical care, concluded contract with regional health insurance fund under art. 4, para 1 for the respective calendar year.
(2) (amend. - SG 105/05, in force from 01.01.2006) In the cases of para 1 the persons can personally or through authorized person submit till December 31, 2006 application – declaration by order, determined with instruction issued by the executive director of the National Revenue Agency, coordinated with the director of the National Health Insurance Fund.
(3) The health insurance rights of the persons of para 1 shall be restored by the order of art. 40a.

§ 19d. (new – SG 45/05) (1) The persons who owe health insurance installments for their account till June 1, 2005 can require deferring of the payment of the liability till December 31, 2006 if for the period October 1, 2004 – March 31, 2005 have average monthly income of member of the family up to 200 levs inclusive.
(2) By the order of para 1 shall be deferred liabilities for health insurance payments with amount over 50 levs.
(3) (amend. SG 99/05, amend. - SG 105/05, in force from 01.01.2006) For deferring of the liability the persons of para 1 shall till December 31, 2005 submit in the territorial directorates of the National Revenue Agency application – declaration according to model, approved by the executive director of the National Revenue Agency.
(4) The liability shall be deferred from the date of submitting of the request with decision of the chief of the territorial division of the National Insurance Institute or persons authorized by him. In the decision shall be entered the amount of the liability, the final term for redemption of the deferred liability and the total due sum till the elapse of this term. One copy of the decision shall be handed over to the person.
(5) At determining the income of para 1 shall be taken in consideration all gross incomes of the family, which are leviable under the Law of levying of the incomes of the individuals as well as the received pensions, indemnifications, supports and scholarships except the monthly allowances paid under the Law of integration of the people with disabilities, the addition for other’s help under art. 103 of the Code for social insurance, the scholarships of the students till graduating high school but not later than rounding 20 years of age as well as the support received under the Law of family support for children.
(6) The persons of para 1 who do not pay more than three health insurance instalments for the period of deferring, shall pay to the performers the medical care rendered to them.
(7) For the period of deferring the limitation period for the receivables shall stop.
(8) Upon fulfilment of the conditions of para 1 – 4 to the persons shall not be imposed fines under art. 104, para 3, the provision of art. 109, para 1 shall not be applied and no compulsory measures for collecting the liabilities shall be undertaken.

§ 19e. (new – SG 45/05) For the liabilities for health insurance instalments of persons who owe them for their account, occurred till June 1, 2005 interest shall not be due for the period June 1, 2005 – December 31, 2006.

§ 19f. (new – SG 102/05) The Council of Ministers shall submit for approval to the National Assembly the drafts of art. 22, para 3 if till December 18, 2005 the National framework agreement for 2006 has not been signed.

§ 19g. (new - SG 103/05, in force from 01.01.2006) (1) The Ordinance under Art. 97a, Para 2, item 5, Para 3 and Art. 97c, Para 6 shall be adopted within one year from the Insurance Code becomes effective. The first examination for obtaining actuary capability shall be conducted within six months from the entering of the ordinance in force. 
(2) Within three years term from the entering of the Insurance Code in force, the health insurance companies shall be obliged to conclude contracts for actuary servicing with persons with recognized capability of liable actuary.
(3) Till the elapse of the term under Para 2, the persons who have been approved for actuaries of the health insurance company in the procedure for issuance of approval under Art. 97 and under the order of Art. 99, may execute the obligations of liable actuary, as well as to be elected for liable actuaries of health insurance companies. Till the elapse of the term under Para 2 for liable actuaries of health insurance companies may be elected persons, who have been approved for actuaries of insurance or re-insurance companies or have acquired license for actuaries of pension insurance companies and the managed by them funds for additional pension insurance.

§ 19h. (new – SG 100/07, in force from 20.12.2007) By 30 September 2012 the Financial Supervision Commission shall adopt a report on the application of Art. 88a, Para 1 containing conclusions regarding the use of the sex as an actuary factor in the calculation of health insurance premium, taking under consideration the latest actuary data and statistical information, as well as the report of the European Commission on the application of Art. 5 of Council Directive 2004/113/EC of 13 December 2004 implementing the principle of equal treatment between men and women in the access to and supply of goods and services.
(2) The report referred to in Para 1 shall be presented to the Minister of Labour and Social Policy for the purpose of notifying the European Commission.

§ 19i. (new – SG 37/08) (1) Bulgarian citizens, having resided outside the country for more than 183 days within one calendar year in the period from 1 July 1999 to 31 December 2007 and are liable to pay health insurance contributions at their expense for the period of their stay abroad, shall be released from the obligation to deposit these contributions, provided that they have not used medical services, paid by the NHIF.
(2) (amend. - SG 100/10, in force from 01.07.2011) In the cases of par. 1 the individuals in person or through an authorized person shall submit to the competent territorial Directorate of the National Revenue Agency a declaration in a form, approved by an order, issued by the Minister of Finance. The declaration may also be submitted through a licensed post operator or electronically using the applicant’s qualified electronic signature.
(3) (amend. – SG 101/09, in force from 01.01.2010; amend. – SG 19/10) The health insurance rights of the persons of par. 1 shall be reinstated following the provisions of Art. 40a, par. 2 and 3.
(4) (revoked – SG 101/09, in force from 18.12.2009)

§ 19j. (new – SG 49/10, in force from 01.07.2010; amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) For the period by 31 December 2010 the health insurance instalments on the remunerations under § 22n, Item 1 of the Transitional and Concluding Provisions of the Code of Social Insurance shall be due as set out in Art. 40, Para 1, Item 1.

§ 19k. (new – SG 58/10, in force from 30.07.2010) Till 31st of December 2010, for the person who are in not-paid vacation, provided under the procedure of § 3e, Para 1 of the Transitional Provisions of the Labour Code, and who are not subject to insurance on another ground, the health insurance installment, determined under the procedure of Art. 29, Para 3 shall be fully on the account of the employer. The installment shall be determined on the base of the half of the minimal monthly amount of the insurance income of the self-insured persons, as per Law on the Budget of the State Social Insurance for year 2010, and shall be paid through the respective enterprise or organization at the end of the month, coming after the relevant month.

§ 19l. (new – SG 98/10, in force from 14.12.2010) The provisions of Art. 55a and 55b shall be applied till February 28, 2011.

§ 19m. (new – SG 98/10, in force from 14.12.2010) During the year 2011 the medical care under Art. 55, para 2, item 2 shall be paid in volumes and prices and by methods defined in the decrees of the Council of Ministers as per Art. 55c, para 1. The fixed volumes, prices and methods may be amended and supplemented where necessary upon proposal by the Minister of Finance in conformity with the Minister of Health Care.

§ 19n. (new – SG 98/10, in force from 14.12.2010) During the year 2012 the medical care as per Art. 55, para 2, item 2 shall be shall be paid in volumes and according to prices and methods determined as per Art. 55d, 55e and 55f.

§ 20. (amend. - SG 105/05, in force from 01.01.2006) The fulfilment of the law is assigned to the Minister of Health, to the bodies of NHIF representing it and to the National Revenue Agency in the part for collection of health insurance instalments.
The law was adopted by the 38th National Assembly on June 4, 1998 and was affixed with the official seal of the National Assembly.

Transitional and concluding provisions

§ 94. (1) Within 15 days from the enactment of this law the Council of Ministers, the representative organisations of the workers and employees and of the employers, the National Association of the Municipalities and the representative organisations for protection of the rights of the patients shall appoint their representatives in the assembly of the representatives of the National Health Insurance Fund.
(2) Held within 10 days from expiration of the term under para 1 shall be the first meeting of the assembly of the representatives for election of new managing and control boards. The assembly shall be convened by the managing board of the National Health Insurance Fund.
(3) Within 15 days from the first meeting of the representatives it shall adopt, at the proposal of the managing board, rules for holding a competition for Director of the National Health Insurance Fund, and the managing board shall announce the competition.
(4) Within one month from the election of Director of the National Health Insurance Fund the managing board shall determine the requirements for the position, rules for holding competitions and shall announce competitions for directors of RHIF.
(5) The organisations under para 1 which have not appointed their representatives in the assembly of the representatives in compliance with the requirements and by the order of this law shall acquire a right for participation in it upon their appointment. The assembly shall be legitimate without their participation in compliance with the requirements of art. 11.

§ 95. Within two months from the enactment of this law the Council of Ministers shall adopt and amend the by-laws for its implementation.

§ 96. Within one month from the enactment of this law the Minister of Health shall issue the ordinances under art. 45, para 2 and 3 and the other by-laws and their amendments related to the implementation of the law.

§ 97. (amend., SG 8/03) Within one month from the enactment of this law the Ministry of Health and the Deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" shall submit to the Deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" the registers and dossiers for the companies under § 101 and 102.

§ 98. (amend., SG 8/03)Within three months from the enactment of this law the Deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" shall adopt and amend the internal acts related to its implementation.

§ 99. The National Frame Agreement for 2003 shall be adopted in compliance with the provisions of this law.

§ 100. By December 31, 2002 NHIF shall bring the regulations and the other internal acts in compliance with the provisions of this law.

§ 101. (1) (amend., SG 8/03)The filed applications for licensing companies for voluntary health insurance before the enactment of this law, for which there is no licence or refusal to issue licence for carrying out voluntary health insurance by the Deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision", shall be considered by the Deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" under the conditions and by the order of this law.
(2) In order to obtain licence under this law the companies under para 1 shall be obliged to bring their organisation and activity in compliance with its requirement.

§ 102. (1) (amend., SG 8/03)The licences, issued by the Deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" before the enactment of this law, for carrying out voluntary health insurance for individual packages of activities shall retain their effect, while the companies having obtained them shall be obliged to bring the organisation and activity in compliance with the requirements of the law within 9 months from the enactment of the law.
(2) (amend., SG 8/03)Within the term under para 1 the licensed health insurance companies shall present to the Deputy chairman of the Commission for financial supervision managing division "Insurance supervision" the documents and the information required for issuance of licence under this law.

§ 103. (1) Individuals and corporate bodies carrying out activity of voluntary health insurance without having obtained licence for it, regardless of whether it is explicitly indicated in their subject of activity, shall be obliged, within 6 months from the enactment of this law, to bring their constituent and structural acts, as well as their activity, in compliance with the requirements of this law and to file applications for licensing.
(2) The persons under para 1 who have not filed applications for licensing within the term under para 1, or to whom licence has been refused, shall not have the right to carry out voluntary health insurance.

Concluding provisions
(SG 49/04)
§ 4. The registered agricultural producers and tobacco producers, producing not processed plant and/or animal products, shall not determine ultimate amount of the insurance income for this activity for 2004.

Transitional and concluding provisions
(SG 111/04)
§ 13. (1) The persons who owe more than three health insurance instalments till this law enters into force shall restore their health insurance rights if they pay till January 31, 2005 one time sum in extent of three health insurance instalments, determined by the order of art. 29, para 3 on the minimum monthly extent of the insurance income for the self insured persons, determined with the Law of the budget of the state social insurance by the moment of payment of the instalments.
(2) The payment of the sum of para 1 shall not redeem the liabilities of the persons for health insurance instalments.
(3) The sums of para 1 shall be paid by the order of art. 41.

§ 14. (1) For the persons, who by the order of § 13 have restored their health insurance rights, art. 109, para 1 shall be applied from January 1, 2006.
(2) The insured persons of para 1 who do not pay more than three health insurance payments for the period February 1, 2005 – January 1, 2006, shall pay for the medical care, rendered to them, to the executers.

§ 15. The persons of art. 40, para 2, item 4, who till the entering in force of this law owe more than three health insurance instalments, shall restore their health insurance rights after January 1, 2005 upon payment of the first instalment for the account of the republican budget.

§ 16. The Bulgarian citizens, obliged to insure themselves, who till the entering into force of this law have stayed abroad more than 183 days during at least one calendar year and have not paid the due health insurance payments for this time, may restore their health insurance rights under the conditions and by the order of art. 40 without submitting application to the National Insurance Institute.

Transitional and concluding provisions
(SG 99/05)
§ 2. (1) Till December 31, 2005 the territorial divisions of the National Insurance Institute shall send additional prescriptions to the persons who have not exercised their right under § 19d, para 1 and are not with restored health insurance rights by October 31, 2005. In the prescriptions shall be pointed out the extent of the liability and the period for which they refer.
(2) With the sending of the obligatory prescriptions shall be terminated the negative prescription for deferred liabilities.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE INSURANCE CODE
(PROM. – SG 103/05, IN FORCE FROM 01.01.2006)

§. 28. Тhe code shall enter in force from 1st of January 2006, except:
1. Art. 45, Para 3, Art. 47, Chapter Four, Art. 71, Para 4, Art. 77, Para 5, Art 80, Para 5, Art. 88, Para 3, Art. 89, Art. 99, Para 4, Art. 112-116, Art. 127, 137, 139 -149, Chapter Seventeen, Chapter Twenty Two, Art. 254, Para 1, item 2, Art. 258, Para 1, items 2, 3 and 5, Art. 282, Para 2 and §. 13, item 2, letter "b", item 3, item 4, letter "c" and item 5 of the transitional and concluding provisions, which shall enter in force from the date of the Pre-accession to the European Union of the Republic of Bulgaria Agreement becomes effective; 
2. Art. 254, Para 2 which shall enter in force from the date of the Decision of the European Commission, after the data about conclusion of an agreement between the National Bureau of the Bulgarian Automobile Insurers and the Bureaus of the Automobile Insurers of the Member States in accordance with Art. 2, Para 2 of Directive 72/166/EEC for harmonization of the legislation of the Member States, related with the insuring against civil liability with regard to the usage of motor vehicles and for imposing of obligation to insure against such liability is provided;
3. Art. 266, which shall enter into force from 11th of June 2012;
4. Art. 282, Para 4 and Art. 284 – 286, which shall enter in force from the date of the Decision of the European Commission, after the data about conclusion of an agreement between the National Bureau of the Bulgarian Automobile Insurers and the Bureaus of the Automobile Insurers of the Member States in accordance with Art.6, Para 3 of Directive 200/26/EU for harmonization of the legislation of the Member States related with the insuring against civil liability with regard to the usage of motor vehicles and for amendment of Directives of the Council 73/239/ EEC and 88/357/EIO is provided. Until the date the Pre-accession to the European Union of the Republic of Bulgaria Agreement enters in force, the National Bureau of the Bulgarian Automobile Insurers shall establish the organization for execution of the functions as a compensatory body.
5. Art. 288, Para 2, which shall enter into force from 11th of June 2007 shall be applied for all filed claims for compensation on which up to this date the managing council of the Guarantee Fund has not pronounced; up to the date on which shall enter in force the Pre-accession to the European Union of the Republic of Bulgaria Agreement, the Guarantee Fund shall pay compensations only if the road-transport accident has occurred on the territory of the Republic of Bulgaria; the Guarantee Fund shall establish the organisation for execution of the functions of Information Centre within a six-months term from the code enters in force.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE TAX-INSURANCE PROCEDURE CODE
(PROM. – SG 105/05, IN FORCE FROM 01.01.2006)

§ 88. The code shall enter in force from the 1st of January 2006, except Art. 179, Para 3, Art. 183, Para 9, § 10, item 1, letter "e" and item 4, letter "c", § 11, item 1, letter "b" and § 14, item 12 of the transitional and concluding provisions which shall enter in force from the day of promulgation of the code in the State Gazette.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW OF MINISTRY OF INTERIOR
(PROM. – SG 17/06)

§ 24. The law shall enter in force from 1st of May 2006.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW FOR AMENDMENTAND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE
(PROM. – SG 18/06)

§ 5. The rights and the obligations referred to in § 2 shall arise when this Law comes into force.

§ 6. The Law comes into force from 1st of January 2007.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE ADMINISTRATIVE PROCEDURE CODE
(PROM. – SG 30/06, IN FORCE FROM 12.07.2006)

§ 142. The code shall enter into force three months after its promulgation in State Gazette, with the exception of:
1. division three, § 2, item 1 and § 2, item 2 – with regards to the repeal of chapter third, section II "Appeal by court order", § 9, item 1 and 2, § 15 and § 44, item 1 and 2, § 51, item 1, § 53, item 1, § 61, item 1, § 66, item 3, § 76, items 1 – 3, § 78, § 79, § 83, item 1, § 84, item 1 and 2, § 89, items 1 - 4§ 101, item 1, § 102, item 1, § 107, § 117, items 1 and 2, § 125, § 128, items 1 and 2, § 132, item 2 and § 136, item 1, as well as § 34, § 35, item 2, § 43, item 2, § 62, item 1, § 66, items 2 and 4, § 97, item 2 and § 125, item 1 – with regard to the replacement of the word "the regional" with the "administrative" and the replacement of the word "the Sofia City Court" with "the Administrative court - Sofia", which shall enter into force from the 1st of May 2007;
2. paragraph 120, which shall enter into force from the 1st of January 2007;
3. paragraph 3, which shall enter into force from the day of the promulgation of the code in State Gazette.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW OF THE COMMERCIAL REGISTER
(PROM. – SG 34/06, IN FORCE FROM 01.10.2006)

§ 56. This law shall enter into force from the 1st of October, with the exception of § 2 and § 3, which shall enter into force from the day of the promulgation of the law in State Gazette.

Concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW OF HEALTH
(PROM. - SG 59/06, IN FORCE FROM 01.01.2007)

§ 21. This Law shall enter into force from 1 January 2007 except § 4, 5 and 14 which shall enter into force from the day of promulgation of the Law in the State Gazette.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW OF AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENT OF THE LAW FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE 
(PROM. - SG 95/06, IN FORCE FROM 24.11.2006)
§ 13. Till the 1st of December 2006:
1. the Minister of Health shall issue the ordinance referred to in Art. 80a, para 3;
2. the director of the NHIF shall approve a model of European health insurance card.
__________________________________________________

§ 15. The law shall enter into force from the date of its promulgation in State Gazette, except for § 2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 10, which shall enter into force from the date of coming into effect of the Treaty of Accession of the Republic of Bulgaria to the European Union.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON TAXES ON THE INCOME OF NATURAL PERSONS 
(PROM. - SG 95/06, IN FORCE FROM 01.01.2007) 
§ 13. In the Law for the Health Insurance (Prom SG 70/1998; amend., SG 93 and 153/1998, SG 62, 65, 67, 69, 110 and 113/1999, SG 1, 31 and 64/2000, SG 41/2001, SG 1, 54, 74, 107, 112, 119 и 120/2002, SG 8, 50, 107 and 114/2003, SG 28, 38, 49, 70, 85 and 111/ 2004, SG 39, 45, 76, 99, 102, 103 and 105/2005, SG 17, 18, 30, 33, 34 and 59/2006 г.) in Art. 42, para 1 and 3 and § 19d, para 5 of the Transitional and concluding provisions the words "the Law of taxation of the income of individuals" shall be replaced by "the Law on Taxes on the Income of Natural Persons".
___________________________________________________

§ 21. The Law shall enter into force from the 1st of January 2007, except for § 10, which shall enter into force from the date of promulgation of the Law in State Gazette.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON MEDICINAL PRODUCTS IN HUMAN MEDICINE
(PROM. – SG 31/07, IN FORCE FROM 13.04.2007)

§ 37. The Law shall enter in force from the day of its promulgation in State Gazette, except for § 22, which shall enter in force one year after the entry into force of this Law.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW ON DEFENCE AND ARMED FORCES OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
(PROM. - SG 46/07, IN FORCE FROM 01.01.2008)

§ 77. This Law shall enter into force from 1 January 2008 except:
1. Paragraph 1, § 2, Item 1, § 4, Item 1, Letter "a" and Item 2, § 5, 13, 15, 32, 33, 34, 35, 36, 37, § 38, Item 1, Letter "a" and Item 2, § 40, 43, 44, 46, 55, 59 and 75 which shall enter into force three days after its promulgation in the State Gazette.
2. Paragraph 2, Item 2, § 3, § 4, Item 1, Letter "b", § 6, 7, 60, 61 (regarding addition of the words "and 309b") and 63, which shall enter into force 6 months after its promulgation in the State Gazette.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE CIVIL PROCEDURE CODE
(PROM. – SG 59/07, IN FORCE FROM 01.03.2008) 
§ 61. This code shall enter into force from 1 March 2008, except for:
1. Part Seven "Special rules related to proceedings on civil cases subject to application of European Union legislation";
2. paragraph 2, par. 4;
3. paragraph 3 related to revoking of Chapter Thirty Two "a" "Special rules for recognition and admission of fulfillment of decisions of foreign courts and of other foreign bodies" with Art. 307a – 307e and Part Seven "Proceedings for returning a child or exercising the right of personal relations" with Art. 502 – 507;
4. paragraph 4, par. 2;
5. paragraph 24;
6. paragraph 60,
which shall enter into force three days after the promulgation of the Code in the State Gazette.

Concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW ON PROTECTION FROM DISCRIMINATION
(PROM. – SG 100/07, IN FORCE FROM 20.12.2007)

§ 7. This Law shall enter into force from 20 December 2007.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON THE STATE BUDGET OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA
(PROM. – SG 113/07, IN FORCE FROM 01.01.2008)

§ 99. This Law shall enter into force from 1 January 2008.

Concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON THE BUDGET OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE FUND FOR 2008
§ 18. This Law shall enter into force from 1 January 2008, except § 15, Item 5 and 6, which shall enter into force from 1 December 2007.

Concluding provisions
TO THE LAW FOR AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE
(PROM. – SG 37/08)

§ 7. The provision of § 4 shall enter into force from 1 July 2008.

Concluding provisions
TO THE LAW FOR AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW FOR THE MEDICINAL PRODUCTS IN HUMANITARIAN MEDICINE 
(PROM. – SG 71/08, IN FORCE FROM 12.08.2008)

§ 75. This law shall enter into force from the day of its promulgation on the State Gazette, except for the provision of § 64q item 2, which shall enter into force from 14 April 2008, and of the provisions of § 9, item 4, § 41, 42 and 43, which shall enter into force from 26 July 2008.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON THE STATE BUDGET OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA FOR 2009
(PROM. – SG 110/08, IN FORCE FROM 01.01.2009)

§ 104. This Law shall enter into force from 1 January 2009 except § 100, Item 7 which shall enter into force from 1 April 2009, if the conditions of § 102 have been fulfilled.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW OF DEFENCE AND ARMED FORCES
(PROM. - SG 35/09, IN FORCE FROM 12.05.2009)

§ 46. The Law shall enter into force from the date of its promulgation in the State Gazette.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW OF HEALTH
(PROM. – SG 41/09, IN FORCE FROM 02.06.2009) 

§ 72. The following amendments and supplementations shall be made in the Law of Health:

. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

§ 8. The words "Directorate "Specialized Medical Supervision" shall be replaced by "Executive Agency "Medical Inspectorate" everywhere in the Law.

§ 96. The Law shall enter into force from the date of its promulgation in the State Gazette, except for the following: 
1. paragraphs 3, 5, 6 and 9, which shall enter into force from 1 January 2009;
2. paragraphs 26, 36, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44, 65, 66, 69, 70, 73, 77, 78, 79, 80, 81, 82, 83, 88, 89 and 90, , which shall enter into force from 1 July 2009;
3. paragraph 21, , which shall enter into force from 1 June 2010.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW OF THE STATE BUDGET OF THE REPUBLIC OF BULGARIA IN 2010
(PROM. – SG 99/09, IN FORCE FROM 01.01.2010)

§ 84. The law shall enter into force from 1 January 2010, except for § 80, which shall enter into force from 15 December 2009.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW OF THE BUDGET OF THE STATE SOCIAL INSURANCE IN 2010
(PROM. – SG 99/09, IN FORCE FROM 01.01.2010)

§ 12. The law shall enter into force from 1 January 2010, except for § 4, which shall enter into force from the day of its promulgation in the State Gazette.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW OF THE BUDGET OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE FUND IN 2010
(PROM. – SG 99/09, IN FORCE FROM 01.01.2010)

§ 11. The law shall enter into force from 1 January 2010.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW FOR THE HEALTH INSURANCE
(PROM. - SG 101/09, IN FORCE FROM 18.12.2009; AMEND. – SG 19/10, IN FORCE FROM 28.02.2010; AMEND. – SG 59/10, IN FORCE FROM 31.07.2010; AMEND. - SG 62/10, IN FORCE FROM 10.08.2010)

§ 65. (1) Within two months from the entry into force of this Law the National Assembly shall elect a Director of NHIF under the terms and following the procedure herein and the decision shall be promulgated in the State Gazette.
(2) The mandate of the NHIF Director which has not expired by the date of entry into force of this Law shall be discontinued from the date of promulgation of the decision under para 1 in the State Gazette.

§ 66. (1) Within 20 days from the entry into force of this Law the Council of Ministers, the representative organizations for the protection of patients rights, the representative organizations of the workers and employees and the representative organizations of employers under Art. 13 shall designate their representatives to the NHIF supervisory board and shall inform the NHIF Director of the elected representatives.
(2) The organizations under para 1 which have not managed to designate representatives to the Supervisory Board in compliance with the requirements and procedures laid down in this Law shall be entitled to take part in it after designating them. The sittings of the NHIF supervisory board shall be considered legitimate without their participation if the quorum requirements set out in Art. 16, para 3 are met.
(3) Within 14 days from the promulgation of the decision under § 65, para 1 the NHIF supervisory board shall be established in accordance with the requirements of this Law by summoning and holding its first sitting.
(4) The first sitting of the NHIF supervisory board under para 3 shall be summoned by the NHIF Director shall send invitations to the board members of the elected according to the procedure of para 1 within 7 days from the promulgation of the decision under § 65, para 1.
(5) The powers of the previous members of the NHIF management bodies - the assembly of representatives, the managing board and the control board, shall be terminated with the constitution of the NHIF supervisory board as set out in para 3.

§ 67. (1) (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010)Within three months from the entry into force of this Law the Governor of NHIF shall announce and hold the competitions for the positions of RHIF Directors under the terms of Art. 15, para 1, item 11.
(2) The persons holding the office of RHIF Directors until the entry into force of this Law shall preserve their rights until the holding of a competition under para 1 for the respective position but no longer than three months from the entry into force of this Law.

§ 68. (1) For the carrying out of the activities laid down in this Law, in 2010 the National Frame Agreement for 2010 shall be applied as concluded by 23.12.2009 between the NHIF, the Bulgarian Medical Association and the Bulgarian Dental Association by not less than 8 NHIF representatives and 8 representatives of the professional associations of physicians and dental medicine doctors. The agreement shall be signed by the Minister of Health and promulgated in the State Gazette by 29.12.2009.
(2) The National Frame Agreement under para 1 shall include the following:
1. the conditions to be met by the medical care providers as well as the terms for concluding contracts with them;
2. the individual types of medical care under Art 45;
3. the conditions and procedure for rendering the care under para 2;
4. the volume, prices and methodology for payment of the medical assistance under para 2;
5. the quality and accessibility of the contracted medical assistance;
6. documentation and documentation flow;
7. the duties of the parties in relation to provision of information and information exchange;
8. other issues which of importance for health insurance.
(3) If no National Framework Agreement is signed under the terms of para 1 the NFA for 2006 shall be applied in 2010 as well as Decision РД-УС-04-17 of NHIF of 20.01.2009 on defining the conditions to be met by the medical and dental care providers, the procedure for contracting them and other conditions of Art. 55, para 2, items 2, 4, 6 and 7 of the law for the Health Insurance (prom. - SG 8/09; amend. - SG 37 and SG 43/09) except for the provisions on:
1. the lists of the medical items and dietetic food for special medical purposes and the prices for full or partial NHIF reimbursement; the conditions for the prescription and receipt of medicines, medical items and dietetic food for special medical purposes;
2. the conditions and terms for supervision on performance of the contracts;
3. sanctions in the cases of non-performance.
(4) (amend. - SG 62/10, in force from 10.08.2010) The powers of the managing board provided for in the acts under para 1 and para 3 shall be carried out by the supervisory board or by the Governor of NHIF in line with the powers laid down in this Law.

§ 69. (In force from 01.01.2010 - SG 101/09; amend. – SG 19/10, in force from 28.02.2010) The persons whose obligation for insurance under Art. 40, para 3 has been effected before 01.01.2010 shall be obliged to submit declarations as per Art. 40, para 5, item 2 by 30 June 2010.

§ 70. (1) The litigations which have been initiated before 01.01.2010 for the imposition of sanction by the NHIF control bodies shall be continued by the same bodies following the previous procedure used until then.
(2) The litigations which have been initiated before 01.01.2010 for protesting imposed sanctions shall be continued following the previous procedures used until then.

§ 71. In case of non-execution of the income of the NIHF budget for 2009, the deduction of the positive balance shall be at the expense of operations in the funding part, including changes in funds in accounts.
. . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . . .

§ 77. The Law shall enter into force from the date of its promulgation in the State Gazette, except for: 
1. paragraphs 4, 5, 10 (in relation to Art. 15, para 1, item 2), 26, 27 (item 1, letter "b", items 2, 4, 5 and 6), 28, 29, 30, 33, 34, 35, 37, 38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 44, 45, 46, 47, 48, 49, 50, 51, 52, 53, 56, 57, 58, 59, 60, 61, 62, 64 (item 2), 69, 72 (items 3, 4, 5, 6, 7 and 8), 73 and 75, which shall enter into force from January the 1st 2010;
2. paragraphs 25 and 27, item 1, letter "а", which shall enter into force from January the 2nd 2010;
3. paragraph 63, which shall enter into force from February the 1st 2010;
4. paragraph 36 (in relation to Art. 55c), which shall enter into force from January the 1st 2011;
5. paragraphs 31 and 43 (т. 1), which shall enter into force from January the 1st 2012;
6. paragraph 27, item 3, which shall enter into force from January the 1st 2013;
7.(revoked – SG 59/10, in force from 31.07.2010)

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE CODE OF SOCIAL INSURANCE
(PROM. – SG 19/10)

§ 17. Paragraph 2 shall enter into force 6 months after entry into force of this Law and shall apply also to posted persons subject to the Bulgarian legislation that is applicable pursuant to Regulation (EEC) No 1408/71 of the Council of 14 June 1971 on the application of social security schemes to employed persons and their families moving within the Community, and § 16, Item 2 shall enter into force from 28 February 2010.

Concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE CODE OF SOCIAL INSURANCE
(PROM. – SG 49/10, IN FORCE FROM 01.07.2010)

§ 10. This Law shall enter into force from 1 July 2010.

Concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE CODE OF SOCIAL INSURANCE
(PROM. – SG 58/2010, IN FORCE FROM 30.07.2010)

§ 25. This Law shall enter into force from the day of its promulgation in the State Gazette except for:
Paragraph 21, item 1, which shall enter into force from 1st January 2011;
Paragraph 11 and § 21, item 4, letter "a", which shall enter into force from 1st January 2012.

Concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW ON THE MEDICAL ESTABLISHEMENTS
(PROM. – SG 59/2010, IN FORCE FROM 31.07.2010)

§ 77. This Law shall enter into force from the day of its promulgation in the State Gazette, except for:
Paragraphs 9 (regarding Art. 10, Para 4), 53, 60 and 66 (regarding Art. 98, Para 5 and 6), which shall enter into force from 1st January 2011;
Paragraph 75, which shall enter into force from 30 September 2011.

LAW ON AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW ON THE HEALTH INSURANCE
(PROMULGATED – SG 62/2010, IN FORCE FROM 10.08.2010)

§ 7. In the rest of the texts of the Law, the words "Director of National Health Insurance Fund", and "Director of NHIF" shall be respectively replaced by" Governor of National Health Insurance Fund" and "Governor of NHIF".

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW ON THE HEALTH INSURANCE
(PROMULGATED – SG 62/2010, IN FORCE FROM 10.08.2010)

§ 12. (1) Powers of the Governor of the NHIF shall be executed by the actual before the moment of entering into force of this Law Director till the elapse of his/her mandate.
(2) The labour contracts of the actual Deputy Directors before the moment of entering of this Law into force shall be terminated with notification as per Art. 328, Para 1, item 2 of the Labour Code.

…………………………………..

§ 18. This Law shall enter into force on the day of its promulgation in the State Gazette, except for:
1. Paragraph 6, which shall enter in force from 1st of January, 2011;
2. Paragraph 8, which shall enter into force from 30th of September 2011.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW ON PREVENTION AND ESTABLISHMENT OF CONFLICTS OF INTERESTS 
(PROM. - SG 97/10, IN FORCE FROM 10.12.2010)

§ 61. The Law shall enter into force from the date of its promulgation in the State Gazette, except for:
1. paragraph 11 regarding Art. 22a – 22e, which shall enter into force from January 1, 2011;
2. paragraphs 7, 8, 9, § 11 regarding Art. 22f – 22i and § 12, 13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22 and 23, which shall enter into force from April 1, 2011.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON THE STATE PUBLIC INSURANCE BUDGET FOR THE YEAR 2011
(PROM. - SG 98/10, IN FORCE FROM 01.01.2011)

§ 10. The Law shall enter into force from January 1, 2011.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON THE BUDGET OF THE NATIONAL HEALTH INSURANCE FUND FOR THE YEAR 2011 
(PROM. - SG 98/10, IN FORCE FROM 01.01.2011)
§ 15. The Law shall enter into force from January 1, 2011, except for § 10, which shall enter into force from the date of its promulgation in the State Gazette.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW OF HEALTH 
(PROM. - SG 98/10, IN FORCE FROM 01.01.2011)

§ 121. The Law shall enter into force from January 1, 2011, except for the following:
1. paragraphs 1, 16, 20, 29, 30, 32, 33, 34, 35, 42, 44, § 56, item 1 and 2, § 65, 68, 70, 76, 80, 81, 90, 92, 96, § 102, item 3, 4, 5, 7 and 8, § 105, item 1, 3 and 5, § 107, item 1, 2, 3, 4, 6, letter "a”, item 7, 10, 11, 13 and 15, letter "a", § 109, 110, 112, 113, § 115, item 5, § 116, item 4 and 6, § 117, item 5 and 7 and § 118, item 1, which shall enter into force from the date of its promulgation in the State Gazette;
2. paragraph 102, item 1, 2 and 6, which shall enter into force from March 1, 2011;
3. paragraphs 22, item 1 (regarding Art. 36, para 1,sentence two), § 37, § 48, item; 2, § 51 and 59, which shall enter into force from July 1, 2011;
4. paragraph 107, item 15, letter "b", which shall enter into force from September 30, 2011.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE LAW FOR THE ELECTRONIC DOCUMENT AND ELECTRONIC SIGNATURE
(PROM. - SG 100/10, IN FORCE FROM 01.07.2011)

§ 54. The Law shall enter into force from July 1, 2011, except for the provision of § 31 regarding Art. 38, para 4, which enter into force from the date of its promulgation in the State Gazette.

Transitional and concluding provisions
TO THE LAW ON AMENDMENT AND SUPPLEMENTATION OF THE SOCIAL 
(PROM. - SG 100/10, IN FORCE FROM 01.01.2011)

§ 65. The Law shall enter into force from January 1, 2011, except for § 32, 33, 36 and 51, which enter into force from January 1, 2012.