Dentist under the NHIF (НЗОК)

A dentist under the NHIF at SF Dent: the clinic works with Bulgaria's National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF, НЗОК). If your health insurance rights are uninterrupted, part of basic dental care – within the NHIF's annual package – can be done under the health fund, and adults pay a user fee per visit, while children under 18 are exempt from it.

This page explains how dental care under the health fund works, what to check before your visit and what is paid separately. If you have a question about a particular treatment, the quickest way is to call us.

Who is entitled to a dentist under the health fund

• Patients with uninterrupted health insurance rights. You can check your status in the National Revenue Agency's (НАП) e-services.
• Children – their NHIF package differs from the one for adults.

The choice of dentist is free and personal: you can choose any dentist with a contract with a regional health insurance fund (РЗОК), anywhere in the country. You do not need a referral to see the dentist you have chosen. A referral (form МЗ-НЗОК No. 3) is issued when your dentist sends you on to specialised dental care – for example to an oral surgeon.

The user fee – who pays it and who does not

Under the Health Insurance Act (art. 37), insured patients pay a user fee for each visit to a dentist, in an amount set by a decree of the Council of Ministers. The dentist must give you a receipt for it.

According to the NHIF, the following, among others, do not pay the user fee:

• children under 18;
• pregnant women, and mothers up to 45 days after giving birth;
• patients with cancer and with conditions on the list annexed to the National Framework Contract;
• people with more than 71% reduced working capacity;
• medical professionals;
• war veterans and war invalids, and people on social assistance.

The full list and the current amount of the fee are on the NHIF website (nhif.bg, section "Потребителска такса").

At SF Dent the user fee for an NHIF visit is 1.53 €, and 0.51 € for pensioners.

If you are not sure whether you are insured, check before your visit. When insurance rights are interrupted, treatment is paid according to the clinic's price list.

What the NHIF package includes

The NHIF pays for a defined set of dental services within one calendar year – as a rule a preventive examination and a limited number of treatments (such as fillings and extractions). Their type and number are set by the National Framework Contract for dental services 2026–2028 (published on nhif.bg) and differ for children and adults. Once the annual limit has been used, further treatment is paid according to the clinic's price list.

The services we provide under the NHIF

This is what you pay yourself for treatment under the health fund at SF Dent – the fees and co-payments on the clinic's price list:

Service	Price
User fee for an NHIF visit	1.53€
NHIF user fee for pensioners	0.51€
NHIF filling with self-cured composite (adults) – co-payment	2.05€
NHIF extraction (adults) – co-payment	2.05€
Top-up to a light-cured composite filling under the NHIF – 1 surface	69.02€
Top-up to a light-cured composite filling under the NHIF – 2 surfaces	79.25€
Top-up to a light-cured composite filling under the NHIF – 3 surfaces	89.48€
Top-up to a light-cured composite build-up under the NHIF	99.70€

Prices are from the clinic’s price list. The final cost depends on your case and is confirmed after an examination. See the full price list

For a self-cured composite filling and for an extraction under the health fund, adults pay 2.05 € each. If you choose a light-cured composite filling instead, you pay the difference to its price – from 69.02 € for one surface to 89.48 € for three. We will tell you the current list of services SF Dent provides under its NHIF contract by phone or when you book.

What the health fund does not cover

Cosmetic procedures are not part of the NHIF package. They are paid in full according to the clinic's price list:

• teeth whitening;
• bonding and veneers;
• dental implants;
• scaling and Airflow polishing.

If a treatment also needs a service that is not covered, the dentist will tell you in advance which part is under the health fund and which is paid. That way there are no surprises when you pay.

How to book under the health fund

1. Check your health insurance status in the National Revenue Agency's e-services.
2. Call us on +359 87 666 2785 and say you would like a visit under the health fund. We will confirm what can be done under the NHIF in your case.
3. Come for the examination. The dentist examines your teeth and discusses which treatment you need, which part is under the health fund and which is paid.

We are open Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 18:00, at 22 Elemag St in Izgrev.

If treatment is not fully covered

Sometimes one treatment includes both services under the health fund and services that are paid. For example, when the annual NHIF limit has already been used, when treatment is needed that is not in the package, or when you prefer a material or method other than the covered one. In such cases the dentist will explain the options and their cost before starting, so you can decide with full information.

Prices of services outside the NHIF package are on the price list. If you have a question about whether a particular service is covered, call us before your visit.

What to prepare before your visit

• check your health insurance status;
• prepare a list of the medicines you take and information about long-term conditions or allergies;
• if you have recent dental X-rays, bring them with you;
• for a child – bring information about previous check-ups and treatment, if you have it.

Who will see you

At SF Dent adults are seen by Dr. Sandy Festok and children by our children's dentist (see Children's dentist). For more about treating decay, fillings and root canals see General dentistry.

Why the preventive check-up matters

A regular check-up lets decay and gum problems be found early, when treatment is simpler. If you are entitled to an NHIF check-up, use it – for yourself and for your children. For children see also the article "At What Age Do Children's Dental Examinations Begin?".

NHIF terms are set by the National Framework Contract and can change. The information on this page is general – for your own case, please call the clinic.

Frequently asked questions

Does SF Dent work with the health fund (NHIF)?

Yes. SF Dent works with the NHIF (НЗОК). With uninterrupted health insurance rights, part of basic dental care within the annual package can be done under the health fund.

What do I pay at a dentist under the health fund?

For each visit under the NHIF, adults pay a user fee whose amount is set by a decree of the Council of Ministers; at SF Dent it is 1.53 €, or 0.51 € for pensioners. Children under 18, pregnant women and mothers up to 45 days after birth, and some other groups are exempt. Services outside the package, or after the annual limit is used, are paid according to the clinic's price list.

How many fillings does the health fund cover per year?

The number and type of services per calendar year are set by the National Framework Contract for dental services and differ for children and adults. When you book we will check how many you have used this year and what can still be done under the health fund.

Do I need a referral for a dentist under the health fund?

No. The choice of dentist is free, and you do not need a referral to see the dentist you have chosen. A referral is issued only when your dentist sends you on to specialised dental care, for example to an oral surgeon.

Can I have a tooth extracted under the health fund?

Some extraction work can be done under the NHIF within the annual package. We will confirm when you book whether your extraction can be covered. Prices outside the package are on the tooth extraction page.

Does the health fund cover whitening, bonding or implants?

No. Cosmetic procedures such as whitening, bonding and veneers, and dental implants, are not part of the NHIF package and are paid according to the clinic's price list.

How do I check whether I am health insured?

You can check your health insurance status in the National Revenue Agency's (НАП) e-services. If your rights are interrupted, treatment is paid according to the clinic's price list.