Free medical services in 2026: tests, consultations and screening covered by the state

The National Health Insurance House (CNAS) will reimburse a range of medical consultations, tests, and investigations in 2026, and access to these services is not limited to insured individuals. The state covers costs through two types of packages: the basic package, for insured persons, and the minimal package, designed for Romanians without health insurance. The condition is that the service must be carried out at a healthcare facility under contract with the insurance house.

Preventive consultations for all adults, including the uninsured

All adults, including those without health insurance, are entitled to preventive consultations with their GP, aimed at detecting cardiovascular disease, diabetes, cancer, and other chronic conditions at an early stage. To benefit from these consultations, uninsured persons must be registered with a GP – they may return to their previous GP or choose a different one.

The number of reimbursed consultations depends on age:

• 18–39 years: two consultations per year;
• over 40 years, with no known chronic conditions: up to three consultations per year;
• over 40 years, with chronic conditions already recorded by their GP: up to two consultations per year.

Following the consultation, the GP may issue referral letters for tests, marked with codes such as PREV 1, PREV 2, or PREV 3–7, depending on the patient's age and the recommended investigations.

Suspected cancer: reimbursed investigations with an SO referral

If the GP suspects an oncological condition, the patient may receive a referral letter marked with the initials SO (suspiciune oncologică – oncological suspicion), for additional reimbursed investigations: laboratory tests, X-rays, ultrasounds, specialist consultations, or day hospitalisation.

Uninsured persons also have access to consultations for cancer detection in specialist outpatient clinics, reimbursed for a maximum of two consultations per quarter. A new referral letter is not required for the second consultation within the same quarter.

Other free services for uninsured persons

The minimal package, designed for Romanians without health insurance, also includes: emergency care, consultations for the surveillance of diseases with endemic-epidemic potential, monitoring of pregnancy and the postnatal period, family planning services, diagnostic procedures for cancer, and services provided through mobile medical assistance, particularly in early detection programmes for breast and cervical cancer. In certain situations provided for by law, uninsured persons may approach a specialist directly, without a referral, for these services.

Preventive tests for children, by age group

• 2–5 years: investigations for anaemia and rickets – full blood count, ferritin, total and ionised serum calcium, phosphorus, alkaline phosphatase.
• 6–9 years: tests for dysmetabolic syndrome (for children with an elevated body mass index or a family history of hypercholesterolaemia) – total serum proteins, LDL cholesterol, triglycerides, fasting blood glucose, ALT, AST, TSH, and FT4.
• 10–17 years: investigations for dysmetabolic syndrome, screening for sexually transmitted infections (VDRL or RPR tests) following the onset of sexual activity, and anaemia tests for girls.

Free tests for adults aged 18–39

On the recommendation of their GP, asymptomatic adults in this age group may benefit from: full blood count, C-reactive protein, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, serum creatinine, and estimated glomerular filtration rate. AST, ALT, VDRL, or RPR may also be recommended.

For sexually active women, microscopic examination of vaginal secretions and HPV testing are provided, in accordance with the cervical cancer screening methodology. High-risk women aged 30–39 may benefit from annual breast ultrasound and 2D mammography.

Reimbursed tests for adults over 40

The preventive package for this category includes: full blood count, C-reactive protein, fasting blood glucose, total cholesterol, LDL cholesterol, serum creatinine, estimated glomerular filtration rate, AST, ALT, and the urine albumin-to-creatinine ratio. For sexually active women, microscopic examination of vaginal secretions and HPV testing may be indicated.

Additional reimbursed investigations, depending on age and sex:

• 50–74 years (women and men): immunological faecal occult blood test, once every two years, for colorectal cancer screening;
• high-risk women aged 40–49: annual breast ultrasound and 2D mammography;
• women aged 50–69: 2D mammography once every two years;
• women: TSH and FT4 tests;
• men from age 50: PSA testing once every three years;
• persons over 60: DXA bone densitometry.

Services for insured persons, based on a referral letter

Persons insured within the public health system are entitled, on the basis of a referral letter issued by their GP or, where applicable, by a specialist, to consultations in specialist outpatient clinics, laboratory tests, imaging investigations, and functional assessments reimbursed by the CNAS. These services are only covered if they are carried out at medical facilities under contract with the insurance house – otherwise, costs are borne entirely by the patient.