How Czech healthcare contributions can help you keep your 2025 resolutions

As the new year kicks off, many of us are focusing on New Year’s resolutions, with weight loss and improving health leading the charge. However, research shows that while nearly a third of Czechs vow to shed some pounds, more than half fail to follow through.

If your goal this year is to fight lifestyle diseases like obesity, good news awaits: Starting in 2025, health insurance companies in Czechia will focus more on prevention, with increased funding for exercise and health-related contributions.

Public health insurer VZP (Všeobecná zdravotní pojišťovna) will offer up to CZK 3,000 for vaccinations and cancer prevention. They will also raise support for children’s sports, making it easier for parents to promote an active lifestyle.

Minors can receive up to CZK 2,000 from VZP for exercise activities, including skiing courses or dental hygiene.

Some VZP benefits, however, will shrink. The dental hygiene allowance will be combined with the exercise allowance for adults, which will now be CZK 500, rather than the previous higher amount. Additionally, the allowance for adult rehabilitation activities will be reduced to a maximum of CZK 1,000, halving the previous amount.

"Preventive care is a top priority for us, which is why we've increased our funding by four times compared to five years ago. In order to maintain some of our larger contributions, such as for celiac diets or therapy sessions for both adults and children, we had to reduce support in other areas," Ivan Duškov, Deputy Director of VZP for Client Services told Novinky.cz.

Oborová zdravotní pojišťovna (OZP) will begin offering support in January. They will reimburse half the cost of sports club memberships for children aged 6 to 14 as long as the programs last at least three months. The maximum reimbursement for the first half of the year is CZK 1,000. Parents can apply for this contribution between January 10 and April 30, 2025. However, unlike VZP, this benefit is only available to those who attend regular preventive check-ups with a pediatrician.

OZP is also increasing contributions by CZK 200 for certain health programs, such as those focused on preventing heart attacks (to CZK 1,200) and kidney cancer (to CZK 1,000).

The Military Health Insurance Company (VoZP) will also increase contributions for children. They will offer CZK 700 for swimming and CZK 500 for preventive sports check-ups. Additionally, blood donors can now receive CZK 700 for every third donation.

VoZP’s Healthy Policyholder program encourages clients to participate in preventive care. Participants who report all preventive exams and screenings receive a bonus of CZK 1,000 for other selected activities. Registration for the program will open in early 2025, according to Josef Křivánek, Director of Communications and Marketing at VoZP.

The Czech Industrial Health Insurance Company (ČPZP) will also offer more generous support for active lifestyles, with details to be announced in January 2025. Other health insurance companies will follow suit with similar contributions.

Czechia, like many other countries, is grappling with a growing obesity problem. The World Health Organization estimates that by 2030, more than one-third of Czechs will be obese. This is a stark reality that is prompting the government and insurance providers to take action. In response, there are more opportunities than ever to receive support for weight loss and healthier living through preventative programs and subsidies.