How do I change my family doctor in Lithuania and what does it cost?
Yes - you can change your family doctor freely, and you need neither the old institution's consent nor any reason. If you want a different doctor within the same clinic, the change is free. If you choose a different institution, you fill in an application at the new one and pay only 0.29 Eur for processing the paperwork - you are deregistered from the old institution automatically. The popular myth that you are 'tied' to one doctor, or that you need the old clinic's permission, is false. But the key point people miss: if you switch institution less than 6 months after registering, the fee rises to 2.90 Eur. Schoolchildren and full-time students do not pay this higher fee. Registration takes effect immediately, and family-doctor services are paid for from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund if you are insured.
📋 The rules
- You can change your family doctor freely - without the old institution's consent and without a reason
- Choosing another doctor within the same institution is free
- Registering at a different institution costs a 0.29 Eur paperwork fee
- Switching institution within 6 months of registering costs 2.90 Eur
- Schoolchildren and full-time students do not pay the higher 2.90 Eur fee
🔓 Exceptions
- Schoolchildren and full-time students do not pay the 2.90 Eur fee even when switching institution more than once in six months
- You register by paper or electronic application; you are deregistered from the previous institution automatically
- You can register with a specific doctor only if their patient list is not full - otherwise another doctor is offered
⚠️ Penalties & fines
The procedure itself costs almost nothing, but it is worth knowing where the extra costs and pitfalls lie. Registering at a new institution costs only 0.29 Eur, and if you switch institution more than once every 6 months it costs 2.90 Eur; this fee covers processing the paperwork, not the doctor's services themselves, which are paid from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund. What people miss: after you switch, your outpatient record and data are transferred, so it may take some time before the new institution completes registration, and some planned referrals may have to be started again. If you are not registered with any institution, planned primary health-care services may not be guaranteed, so it is important to register straight away. Students and schoolchildren are not charged the higher fee, but they may have to prove that they are studying.
📎 Official sources
- National Health Insurance Fund · choosing a family doctor →
- Ministry of Health · primary health care →
- e-seimas · health insurance and registration rules →
❓ Frequently asked
How much does it cost to change my family doctor?
Choosing another doctor within the same clinic costs nothing, while registering at a different institution carries a 0.29 Eur paperwork fee. If you switch institution less than six months after registering, the fee rises to 2.90 Eur, and schoolchildren and students do not pay it.
Do I need the old clinic's consent?
No, you can change doctor or institution freely, and no consent or certificate from the old clinic is required. It is enough to submit an application at the new institution, and you are deregistered from the previous one automatically on the same day.
Can I choose a specific doctor?
Yes, you can ask to register with a specific family doctor, but this is possible only if their patient list is not full. If there are no free places, the institution will offer another doctor, and later, when a place opens up, you can change doctor again.
How often can I switch institution?
You can switch institution as many times as you need, but if you do so more than once every six months, each registration carries the higher 2.90 Eur fee. This restriction does not apply to schoolchildren and full-time students, who pay only the ordinary small fee.
Can I register electronically?
Many health-care institutions accept registration applications both on paper and electronically, so visiting the front desk is not always necessary. It is worth checking the exact procedure and the documents required at your chosen institution or on the National Health Insurance Fund website.
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