Health insurance card, EHIC and other European regulations on health insurance
Health Insurance Card
Every person covered by Slovak public health insurance receives a health insurance card from their health insurance company. The card serves as proof of participation in the Slovak public health insurance system and may be requested when receiving healthcare.
If you need healthcare before your health insurance card has been issued, you can use a confirmation of insurance issued by your health insurance company as proof of your coverage.
European Health Insurance Card
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) gives persons insured in an EU/EEA country, Switzerland or the United Kingdom access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in another participating country.
This may apply, for example, during a study or research stay, business trip or holiday.
Healthcare is provided under the same conditions and at the same cost as for persons insured in the country of stay. Depending on the national healthcare system, some services may therefore be subject to patient fees or co-payments.
When using an EHIC in Slovakia, you are entitled to medically necessary healthcare within the Slovak public healthcare system under the same conditions and at the same cost as persons insured in Slovakia. You should use healthcare providers participating in the public health insurance system.
The EHIC covers healthcare that becomes medically necessary during your temporary stay, taking into account the nature of the treatment and the expected length of your stay. This may also include necessary treatment related to chronic or pre-existing conditions.
The EHIC does not cover:
- private healthcare;
- healthcare where the main purpose of your stay abroad is to obtain medical treatment;
- costs of repatriation or transport back to your home country; or
other costs normally covered by travel insurance.
The EHIC is therefore not a substitute for travel insurance.
The card is issued by the health insurance institution in the country where you are insured.
If you are covered by Slovak public health insurance but reside in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you may be entitled to comprehensive healthcare both in Slovakia and in your country of residence. To access healthcare in your country of residence, you should request a Portable Document S1 (PD S1) from your Slovak health insurance company and register it with the competent health insurance institution in the country where you reside. Your entitlement to healthcare will then be governed by the rules applicable in that country.
If your dependent family members reside with you or in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland, they may also be entitled to healthcare in their country of residence at the expense of the Slovak health insurance system. Their entitlement is assessed according to the applicable rules in the country of residence. Where the conditions are met, an S1 may be issued for eligible family members and should be registered with the competent health insurance institution in their country of residence.
Similarly, dependent family members residing in Slovakia whose healthcare entitlement is derived from a person insured in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland may be entitled to healthcare in Slovakia. Where applicable, they should register the S1 issued by the competent foreign health insurance institution with a Slovak health insurance company.
As individual circumstances and eligibility requirements may vary, it is recommended to contact the competent health insurance institution in the country where you are insured and/or reside before moving to or from Slovakia.