Expert Info
on 11 Jul 2018
There is a possibility that my Czech husband and I may move to (or even retire in) Czech Republic. My husband is a Czech citizen who was born, raised and educated in Prague. He is a native speaker. I am an American. It's my assumption that if we were to move there, I would not have too much difficulty obtaining healthcare coverage. Actually, I'm not exactly sure what the process would be for me, and any costs, etc.
I speak very little Czech other than some very very basic phrases and perhaps an oddly large number of words relating to foods (I'm a cooking enthusiast) and animals. [I know that's odd.] Most of my husband's family members living in Czech Republic do speak English, and some of his friends do, too. But I know that I would have to study intensely to really function well long-term. However, from the very beginning, I would need to find a psychiatrist and hopefully a therapist who speak English. I'm sure many professionals in those fields do speak some English, but I'm not sure how hard they are to find, and what the usual arrangements are. I suppose that with my husband's help, a psychiatrist need not be totally fluent in English, but I'd really want the therapist to be. I have a mental illness that will require life-long treatment. I also believe that my early months/years in Czech Republic would be very stressful for me (learning a new language, adjusting more to the culture, being away from my own family, friends, support system, etc.) I would need the mental healthcare support from the beginning.
Does anyone have any information on the above-mentioned issues?
I certainly hope that I would never need psychiatric hospitalization in Czech Republic, but a Czech relative has had one in the well-known Bohnice psychiatric hospital in Prague. He seemed to feel that hospital provided good care and a relatively decent environment. From what I've read, other psychiatric hospitals in Czech Republic are not nearly as good. Of course I do imagine there is a lot of stigma against mental illness in Czech Republic, but there is still plenty of it in the US, too.
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Hi Elaine,
Where in the Czech Republic are you planning on staying? Prague has a huge expat population. Generally, many Czechs who have studied to become therapists will have picked up one or two languages along the way, including English.
Otherwise, the expat population should help in the decompression/settling in process.
This Expat Arrivals Healthcare in the Czech Republic page might be useful regarding general healthcare.
This reply has been general, but hopefully, someone might have specifics.
Best,
Kyle
I'm not sure how to obtain health care, easiest would be for you to become citizen. Then if you are going to be working you will get health care trough your job and then retirement. If you won't work, but are citizen you pay 1600 kc a month. Less then $100. The mental facilities are OK, my mom has been to Bohnice once and U Honzicka in Pisek, she like better that one. But I assume that all doctors there and people won't speak English . There are many expats in Czech , a specially in bigger cities, so depends where you go. But even in small towns or villages you can sometimes find Germans or Swiss people . A specially close to the borders. Good luck! Czech is beautiful!