Insurance card and payments for health care

Participation in the health insurance system for each insured person is proven by an insurance identity card known as an "insurance card".  An insurance card issued by any health insurance company providing health insurance uses it to identify insured persons who deal with the member branches of an insurance office, and with healthcare facilities in Slovakia. 

Each health insurance office issues an insurance card to policyholders who provide this when visiting a doctor. When changing health insurance companies, the policyholder is required to return the insurance card to the insurance company who issued it within 8 days.

Individual entitlement to health care covered by health insurance, however, is not bound to the showing of the insurance card, just the proof of insurance. Thus, if a foreigner needs to see a doctor and he is still waiting for an insurance card to be issued, he need only show the doctor a confirmation from the insurance company that he has insurance. 

European Health Insurance Card

As of the January 1st, 2006, health insurance companies began issuing its members a European Health Insurance Card. The policyholder is required to return it within eight days to the health insurance company when changing health insurance providers or has terminated his public health insurance. The card is valid for five years.

Payments for Health Care

If a foreign national has health insurance, health insurance will pay for the health care provided. According to the type of services provided, the health insurance company shall pay the service fully or partially. If the insurance company pays for part of the health care provided, the foreign national pays the rest to the person who provided him health care.

If the foreign national does not have health insurance, he must pay the full amount for the health care received.

Any foreigner coming to Slovakia can buy travel insurance in their home country. Travel insurance can often be paid for via the internet, even if the foreign national is already present in Slovakia. Thus, the foreign national pays for health care in the full amount, keeps the proof of the provided health care including the payment receipt, and these costs will be reimbursed to him.

Other fees in the health sector, which are also shared by policyholders, are clearly stated on the website.