Do you live in Slovakia and plan to spend a weekend in Austria, a holiday in Italy or a business trip in Germany?

For many foreigners, travelling around the Schengen Area is a normal part of life. But before travelling, it is important to consider one key question: what happens if you need a doctor while abroad?

The answer depends on what type of health insurance you have, where you are insured and what kind of medical care you need.

This article explains what foreigners living in Slovakia should know about health insurance when travelling around Schengen.

What is Schengen and why is health insurance important?

The Schengen Area allows travel between participating countries without regular checks at internal borders.

However, this does not mean that health insurance automatically works in the same way in every country.

If you live in Slovakia and travel to another country, your healthcare coverage may depend on the rules of your insurance and the country where you are insured.

It is therefore useful to know whether you have:

·Slovak public health insurance,
·commercial health insurance for foreigners,
·a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC),
·or another type of health coverage.

Does Slovak health insurance cover healthcare abroad?

You should not automatically assume that Slovak health insurance covers all healthcare abroad.

If you have Slovak public health insurance, you may be entitled to necessary healthcare during a temporary stay in another EU country through the EHIC.

If you have commercial health insurance, the exact terms of your insurance contract are decisive.

This is why it is important to distinguish between public health insurance, EHIC and commercial insurance.

EHIC: What should foreigners know?

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a document confirming that you are insured in a country within the EU.

If you are insured in an EU country and temporarily travel to another EU country, the EHIC may give you access to necessary healthcare under the same conditions as locally insured people.

EHIC is not the same as commercial travel insurance

The EHIC:

·does not cover private healthcare,
·does not cover planned treatment abroad,
·does not automatically cover all costs of transport back home,
·and does not mean that all healthcare will be free.

It is therefore important to understand what your insurance actually covers.

Can I use EHIC if I am a foreigner?

Yes, a non-EU citizen may also be entitled to an EHIC if they are covered by the public health insurance system of an EU country. However, a non-EU national's EHIC is not valid in Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

However, this does not mean that every foreigner automatically receives an EHIC.

What matters is whether you are covered by the relevant public health insurance system.

Before travelling, check whether you have a valid EHIC and whether it can be used in the country you are visiting.

What if I have commercial health insurance for foreigners?

If you have commercial health insurance, it is important to check the territorial validity and scope of coverage when travelling around Schengen.

Some insurance products provide coverage outside Slovakia. For example, both Union plans offered at klido.sk, SIMPLE and SAFETY, cover urgent care and repatriation also in the Schengen Area.

However, this does not mean that every policy automatically covers every situation.

Before travelling, check:

·whether the insurance is valid in the country you are visiting,
·whether it covers acute medical care,
·whether it covers hospitalisation,
·whether it covers possible transport,
·and whether any exclusions apply.

The exact terms of your insurance contract are decisive.

Does insurance cover holidays abroad?

If your insurance has territorial validity that includes Schengen, it may also be relevant during short trips.

However, with commercial insurance it is important to distinguish between:

·healthcare in Slovakia,
·acute medical care abroad,
·planned treatment abroad,
·and other insured risks.

Before travelling, check what coverage you have outside Slovakia.

What if I become ill while travelling?

If you need a doctor abroad, the procedure depends on your type of insurance.

If you have an EHIC, look for a provider working within the public healthcare system of the country you are visiting.

If you have commercial insurance, we recommend contacting your insurer or assistance service first and checking the next steps.

When travelling, it is useful to carry:

·identification,
·your insurance card,
·your insurance contract or confirmation of insurance,
·and assistance service contact details.

What if I have to pay for treatment abroad?

In some cases, you may need to pay for healthcare directly.

With an EHIC, you may have to pay costs that local insured people also pay, or costs incurred when the EHIC cannot be used.

With commercial insurance, you may need to apply for reimbursement according to the terms of your insurance contract.

Always keep:

·medical reports,
·diagnosis,
·proof of payment,
·a breakdown of medical services,
·prescriptions,
·and proof of payment for medication.

What does EHIC not cover?

The EHIC is useful, but it has limitations.

It does not cover, for example:

·private healthcare,
·planned treatment abroad,
·all costs of transport back to your home country,
·or all costs associated with rescue services.

If you want broader protection while travelling, you may also want to consider separate travel insurance.

What if I travel to a country outside the EU?

The Schengen Area and the European Union are not the same thing.

Not all Schengen countries are EU Member States, and not all EU countries are part of Schengen.

When travelling to a country outside the EU, it is therefore important to check whether your insurance covers that country and whether any special rules apply.

Do not automatically assume that insurance valid in Schengen is also valid outside it.

Travel and long-term residence in Slovakia

If you live in Slovakia long-term, it is useful to think about health insurance not only when travelling but also in everyday life.

You may:

·work in Slovakia,
·study,
·have a family,
·travel for work,
·or regularly visit another country.

Your insurance situation may change.

It is therefore important to regularly check whether your current health insurance still matches your circumstances.

SIMPLE or SAFETY when travelling?

If you have commercial health insurance for foreigners, it is important to consider territorial validity and the scope of coverage.

SIMPLE

SIMPLE focuses mainly on acute medical conditions and shorter stays.

Under Union's insurance terms, it covers urgent care and repatriation also in the Schengen Area, so it protects you on a trip if you suddenly fall ill or have an accident.

SAFETY

SAFETY provides broader healthcare coverage in Slovakia according to the specific terms of the insurance. In the Schengen Area it covers, like SIMPLE, urgent care and repatriation, not planned treatment or check-ups.

For a longer stay or when broader healthcare protection is needed, it may be a more relevant option.

However, the exact terms of the insurance contract always determine the coverage.

Common mistakes when travelling around Schengen

❌ Assuming that Schengen means automatic healthcare coverage Free movement does not automatically mean the same health insurance applies everywhere.

❌ Confusing EHIC with commercial insurance EHIC has a different purpose and scope from commercial insurance.

❌ Not checking territorial validity Not every insurance policy is valid in every country.

❌ Not reading exclusions Some situations may be excluded from coverage.

❌ Travelling without insurance documents Carry your insurance card and important contact details.

Checklist before travelling around Schengen

Before leaving, check:

·☐ validity of your passport or ID
·☐ validity of your health insurance
·☐ territorial validity of your insurance
·☐ whether you have an EHIC, if eligible
·☐ insurer or assistance service contacts
·☐ coverage for acute medical care
·☐ possible exclusions and limitations
·☐ documents needed for possible reimbursement

Travelling around Schengen and want to understand your insurance?

If you live in Slovakia and need commercial health insurance for foreigners, you can explore the available options at Klido.sk.

You can arrange your insurance online.

If you are unsure which type of insurance is suitable for your stay or travel, contact us:

info@klido.sk

When contacting us, you can include:

·your country of origin,
·age,
·type of residence,
·planned duration of stay,
·and the countries you plan to visit.

We will be happy to help you understand your health insurance options.