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Ron,
As a pensioner you can transfer to the BG health system free. Most medical things will be free including operations, maybe a small charge for hospital stay. Dentists and optitions not included and pay for prescriptions.

Thanks for the reply. Do I need to bring any papers or anything to register for Bulgarian health care?
Ron

It's a few years since we changed over. You will probably need proof of residence and your long stay card and your NHS card. It should all be fairly straight forward.

State run hospitals won`t charge you for medical tests or basic surgery. Medication is paid by you. Keep in mind free service hospitals are quite old and usually in a bad condition. If you want to take use of the better, privately run ones, you`d better get some form of medical insurance from the local insurers or BUPA. Medical insurance is cheap, usually between 20 to 180 leva per year and can be used for tax deferral here, up to 10% of your taxable income.

Thanks scanspeak from this information private health insurance looks the best option. Now can anyone recommend a good Bulgarian health insurance company?

Ron

BUPA is the best but is quite pricey, as far as I know, there is an israeli-bulgarian company that distributes them here. ING is a reputable provider and has excellent plans and good ties to local private hospitals. PM me if you want more info.

Can you provide the name of 1 or preferably 2 private clinics in Sofia that in addition to providing specialist services also have English speaking general practitioners.  Thanks. Stephen. stephen.katz@getmail.no