The healthcare system in Slovakia falls under the competence of the Ministry of Health. In Slovakia there are state and private health care providers. An initial medical examination is provided by state or private general practitioners. Everybody can choose a GP who usually provides basic health care and can refer a patient to an appropriate specialist for further medical examination.

 

Major applicable legislation:

§          Act no. 580/2004 on Health insurance

§          Act no. 577/2004 on the Scope of health care provided on the basis of public health insurance

 

There are two types of health insurance: public health insurance (statutory or voluntary) and individual health insurance. Public health insurance covers the following benefits in full or to a partial extent, depending on specific conditions: diagnostics, treatment and preventative care, outpatient and inpatient care including rehabilitation, compulsory vaccination, provision of drugs, medical aid and dietetic food, spa treatment can be provided in accordance upon the recommendation of a doctorwhere such care is an inevitable component of the treatment procedure.

Foreigners, who have permanent residence on the territory of the SR are entitled to

 

Health insurance and coverage

EU/EEA and Swiss nationals are entitled to health care under the same conditions as the nationals of the Slovak Republic.

 

European Health Insurance Card

For entitlement to medical treatment on the basis of health insurance in another Member State (EU, EEA, Switzerland), an EU/EEA national must present a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to the health care provider. (EHIC shall be issued at your request by a health insurance company to which you pay health insurance premiums.) In such a case, the treatment of an EU/EEA national will be covered by a Slovak health insurance company in the same amount as to a Slovak national, provided the relevant physician has concluded a contract with at least one health insurance company. The European Health Insurance Card ensures necessary medically treatment within the system of public health care, including treatment related to chronic diseases, if such a need arises, to enable the holder to continue his/her stay without having to return home for treatment. It covers all age groups, with a maximum unlimited financial amount. On the other hand it does not cover the individual contribution of the insured person to treatment, transport to the country of origin or repatriation. EHIC is mostly applied for short-term temporary stays such as e.g. in case of tourists, students, posted workers (see the section on Social security).

 

+ Photo of Slovak version of EHIC

 

Employment

When a foreign national takes up employment with an employer who has permanent residence in the Slovak Republic or commences to perform self-employment activities in the Slovak Republic, he/she becomes subject to statutory public health insurance in the SR. The Slovak health insurance company of his/her choice will issue a Slovak health insurance card after registering. Dependants of EU nationals coming to stay in the Slovak Republic should also register in a Slovak health insurance company and have the Slovak health insurance card. However, each case is treated individually because the terms vary from case to case. For details it is highly recommended to contact your home health insurance company before arrival in the Slovak Republic.

 

Levies into statutory health insurance funds of employees

 

Insurance charge of an employee (%)	Insurance charge of employer on behalf of an employee (%)	Basis of assessment (SKK)
		Minimum * (for 2006, based on minimum wage as of January 1st, 2006 )	Maximum** (for 2006)
4	10	6 900	47 475

 

* Minimum basis of assessment is equal to the minimum wage effective on January 1^st of the respective calendar year, for which the health insurance is to be paid

** Maximum basis of assessment is treble the average wage of 2 years ago (Hence for 2006 the average wage from 2004 is taken into account).

 

EU/EEA nationals employed in the Slovak Republic who reside in another Member State are entitled (together with their dependant family members) to comprehensive health care (full coverage) (contrary to EHIC) in the country of residence as well as in the Slovak Republic. The entitlement is applied by means of the E 106 form, which can be obtained from health insurance companies in the Slovak Republic after submission of the home country residence certificate and copies of the labour contract in the Slovak Republic. After obtaining the E 106 form, EU/EEA national shall submit it to a health insurer at the place of residence and register. If his/her family members live together with the employee, their entitlement to health care will be reviewed according to the regulations of the health insurance company at the place of residence.

 

EU/EEA nationals working in the Slovak Republic whose dependant family members live in another Member State must apply to a selected Slovak health insurance company in order to  draw the E 109 form. This form must be submitted to their home health insurance office. On the basis of the E 109 form the dependant family members will be registered in their home country and they will be entitled to comprehensive health care while all expenses will be covered by the selected Slovak health insurance company. Their home health insurance office is in charge of issuing the EHICs, that entitles them for medical treatment also in the Slovak Republic among others.

 

International students (also PhD students)

A foreign student, coming to Slovakia to study within a programme arising from an international treaty that is binding for the SR is subject to statutory health insurance, the SR being the payer of such insurance. The student shall submit the necessary documents certifying his/her study at a higher education institution in the SR, its international status – proved by the Ministry of Education of the SR.

 

List of Health Insurance companies („zdravotné poisťovne“ in Slovak language):

§          Apollo Health Insurance Company - www.apollo.sk (only in Slovak)

§          Common Health Insurance Company (Spoločná zdravotná poisťovňa) - www.szp.sk (only in Slovak)

§          Dôvera+ Health Insurance Company - www.zpdovera.sk  (only in Slovak)

§          European Health Insurance Company (as of September 2006)– www.ezp.sk (only in Slovak)

§          General Health Insurance Company (Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa) - www.vszp.sk  (only in Slovak)

§          Union Health Insurance Company (as of September 2006)- www.unionzp.sk (only in Slovak)

 

Additional individual health insurance

Foreigners who are not duly insured can take out contractual health insurance on the territory of the Slovak Republic.

 

Obtaining health care

 

Doctors

General practitioners and specialists have their consulting rooms in hospitals or in health centres. Upon your arrival you should ask for details of a local doctor, who will be able to provide information on the standards. There are specialists taking care of children and youth. Family doctors are not very common.  If you cannot acquire te necessary information, visit the web site of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic (www.health.gov.sk) or the list of health care establishments (Zoznam zdravotníckych zariadení) at www.zzz.sk (look for “ambulancie” - www.zzz.sk/?page=zoznam_ambulancii - only in Slovak)

 

Dentists

In every town there is either a private or state dental practice (“zubár”, “stomatológ” in Slovak language). Upon arrival you should ask for details of the chosen dentist. There are specialised dental technicians that have their own consulting rooms.

If you cannot obtain the necessary information, visit the Yellow Pages website (www.zlatestranky.sk) or list of dentists at www.uniadent.sk/stomatologovia.htm (only in Slovak)

Notice: It is usually essential to book an appointment with a dentist in advance.

 

Hospitals

In every town there is a hospital (“nemocnica” in Slovak) with an Accident and Emergency department (“pohotovosť” in Slovak) and many special clinics.

If you cannot acquire the necessary information, visit the web site of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic (www.health.gov.sk – only in Slovak) or the list of health care establishments (www.zzz.sk – only in Slovak) that state hospitals, clinics, specialists and agencies providing domestic nurses.

Notice: Be prepared for long queues, but it is usually possible to call and book an appointment with a GP in advance

 

Emergency

If you need the emergency services (“pohotovosť” in Slovak), dial telephone number “112”. Ambulances are well staffed and equipped with life-sustaining apparatus needed to safely transport patients to hospital. Hospitals provide 24 hour emergency services. Some emergency health care providers can be found at: www.zzz.sk/?page=pohotovost (only in Slovak).

 

Pharmacies

You can buy medicaments only at pharmacies (“lekáreň” in Slovak), located in every town and in most villages. Every town has to have at least one emergency pharmacy („pohotovostná lekáreň“ in Slovak) open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week – for further details consult the information posted on the door of every pharmacy. If you require treatment at night, look for the sign “nočná služba”. Pharmacies sell domestic and foreign medical products. Certain medicines are obtainable only with a prescription from a physician. For a list of pharmacies see: www.zzz.sk/?page=lekarne (only in Slovak).

 

Useful links for different types of insurance (e.g. life insurance, household insurance, car insurance, etc.)

Slovak Association of Insurance companies: www.slaspo.sk

Slovak Insurer’s Bureau: www.skp.sk

Insurance agencies portal: www.poistovne.sk

On these websites you can find a list of insurance companies with their contact data.