Financing Mental Health Services in Bulgaria

The financing of health care in Bulgaria is based on obligatory health insurance model with a large range of solidarity. In spite of that Bulgaria faces the problem of a large number of non-insured persons that do not pay insurance premium. According to estimates, one million persons are not insured for various reasons. Bulgaria has a dual financing of mental health services. All the inpatient mental health services have been financed by the government. On the other hand, the outpatient mental health services are financed by the National Health Insurance Fund. A new health law with a separate mental health chapter was adopted and the most urgent needs for changes in the mental health were met. Despite many problems the conditions for success are present. There is an effort to prepare strategic mental health documents and update them if necessary. Even if the implementation of some plans failed, the strategic vision of community-based mental health services was prepared and disseminated.