Bulgaria's 2026 Social, Health and Education Budgets Approved by Parliament

The Bulgarian National Assembly gave first‑reading approval to the 2026 budget packages for the State Social Insurance system (DOO) and the National Health Insurance Fund (NHIF). The DOO plan projects an average pension of €543.46, a real increase of 4.5%, removal of the COVID‑19 supplement and coverage for about 2.07 million retirees, with total pension outlays of €13.5 billion. Contributions will rise, setting the minimum insured income at €620.20 and the maximum at €2 300, while civil servants will initially pay personal contributions on an 80:20 employer‑employee split, moving to 60:40 from 2027 for all workers.

The health budget allocates €5.2 billion – an 8.5% rise of €412 million – with 93.8% of spending covering health‑insurance payments. Outlays for outpatient care, dental, diagnostics and medicines increase (medicines up 10.2%). For the first time, medicines are split into separate budgets for original‑product and generic drugs. The education budget reaches €5.6 billion (4.5% of GDP), up €365.8 million, and includes a 5% salary rise for teaching staff and aligns the minimum wage with the €620.20 insured‑income threshold.

The combined fiscal plan shows a deficit of about 5.7% of GDP, exceeding Maastricht limits. While parties such as Progressive Bulgaria supported the measures, business groups, trade unions and opposition parties voiced criticism over contribution increases and the adequacy of funding for health and education services.