Getting an assistive product with state support isn’t complicated, but it can be held up by small slips: a document left at home, a green card (the medical record of your condition) that doesn’t describe how you are now, a relative without a power of attorney, or an email address nobody checks. If you prepare the documents in advance and keep them in one folder, you save time and worry. Below are eight mistakes that are easy to avoid; the rules and the full list of documents are in our State funding guide.
Imagine waiting days for the committee, only to find one sheet of paper is missing. This article is here so that doesn’t happen.
The route in brief
There are five steps: the documents, the medical committee, the application, the decision and choosing the product in a shop.
- The documents. You gather your medical documents, the green card and the electronic referral.
- The medical committee. A specialised medical advisory committee (СЛКК) for your condition, or a territorial or national expert medical committee (ТЕЛК/НЕЛК), establishes the need and issues an electronic medical protocol.
- The application. With the protocol, you fill in an electronic application confirming that you agree to the prescribed aids and need them. It is sent to the Regional Health Insurance Fund (РЗОК).
- The decision. The expert committees of РЗОК/НЗОК issue an approval or a reasoned refusal and tell you by the email address you gave and/or by phone.
- The choice. The approval is a code of several digits. With it, you choose the product in a shop.
There is more on each step in our article “How to get a medical device with state support”.
Before the committee: mistakes 1–4
Much of the work comes before the committee, so give yourself time to prepare.
1. The medical documents aren’t gathered
Take your medical documents about the illness or disability to the committee: an interim or final discharge summary, and a ТЕЛК/НЕЛК decision if you have one. Sort them by date, newest first, so they are quick to find.
2. The green card is out of date
The green card describes your current condition and which assistive products you need. If your condition has changed, or the card doesn’t mention the product you are applying for, talk to your doctor before you go to the committee.
3. The electronic referral is missing
The specialised medical advisory committee (СЛКК) for your condition needs an electronic referral. Make sure you have it before you set off.
4. The need isn’t described clearly
The committee needs to understand what you find hard day to day. Write it down beforehand: whether you walk on your own and for how long, whether there are stairs at home, who helps you. For a wheelchair or a bed, also note the width of the doors, whether there is a lift and how much space there is in the room. We explain what to measure for a wheelchair in our article “Wheelchairs”.
State funding
If you have a disability, you may be able to get an assistive device funded by the state. We explain the steps and which documents to prepare; our advice is free.
We will call you to confirm the day and the time.
Or call the nearest shop
With the application: mistakes 5–6
The application is filled in on the spot and sent electronically, so think ahead about who will submit it and where the answer will arrive.
5. A relative goes without a power of attorney, or wastes time at a notary
If you can’t submit the application yourself, someone you have authorised can do it. They need a power of attorney from you, but it doesn’t have to be notarised.
6. Nobody checks the email or phone
You are told the decision in writing at the email address you gave and/or by phone. You don’t need to go to РЗОК. So give an email address that you or your relative actually check, and a phone number you answer. If the email belongs to your son or daughter, ask them to keep an eye on the spam folder too.
After the decision: mistakes 7–8
Once the approval arrives, all that’s left is not to lose the code and not to rely on old instructions.
7. The approval code gets lost
The approval is a code of several digits, and you bring it to the shop. Write it down on paper and put it in the folder with your documents, and if it came by email, don’t delete the message.
8. Relying on old rules
The rules change, and old instructions still circulate online and among friends. The current conditions for your case are confirmed by РЗОК and the Social Assistance Directorate for your current address. We follow the changes and keep them up to date in our State funding guide.
The folder: everything in one place
One folder of documents prevents most of the mistakes above. Here is what to keep in it:
| Document | What it is for | What to check |
|---|---|---|
| Medical documents (discharge summary, ТЕЛК/НЕЛК decision) | Show the illness or disability | Are they all there, sorted by date |
| Green card | Describes your current condition and the aids you need | Is it up to date, does it mention the product |
| Electronic referral | For the СЛКК for your condition | Was it issued before the committee |
| A note on daily life and home measurements | Helps you explain your need | Are the difficulties, doors and stairs written down |
| Power of attorney (if a relative applies) | Lets your relative submit the application | Is it signed; no notary needed |
| Contact email and phone | Where the decision arrives | Is the email checked, is the phone answered |
| The approval code | Lets you choose the product in the shop | Is it written down on paper |
If you receive a refusal
A refusal is reasoned, which means the reasons are given. Read them calmly: sometimes it is about a missing or out-of-date document. РЗОК will tell you what you can do next. We will help you understand what the decision says.
When to talk to your doctor
Talk to your doctor if you don’t know which product would help you, if your condition has changed since your last check-up, or if you’re not sure the green card and the referral are in order. Your doctor knows your condition and can refer you to the committee.
Frequently asked questions
Does the power of attorney have to be notarised?
No. A relative who submits the application for you needs a power of attorney, but it doesn’t have to be notarised.
Do I have to go to РЗОК to find out the decision?
No. You are told the decision in writing at the email address you gave and/or by phone.
Who decides which products are provided?
The state decides which products are provided and on what conditions. Ask us about the product you need and we will check whether it can be obtained with state support.
Can I buy the product without state support?
Yes. You can buy any product in the catalogue yourself, and advice on choosing is free in that case too.
Our advice is free: we explain the steps before you go to the committee, and after the approval we help you choose the product. Call the nearest of our shops in Gabrovo, Stara Zagora and Sevlievo or write to us, and you will find the steps and the checklist in the State funding guide.
Sources
State funding
If you have a disability, you may be able to get an assistive device funded by the state. We explain the steps and which documents to prepare; our advice is free.
We will call you to confirm the day and the time.
Or call the nearest shop
