Why do foreigners need health insurance?
Slovak Act No. 404/2011 Coll. on the Residence of Foreigners requires every foreigner with a residence permit to have health insurance and to prove it if the police check (§111(1)(d)). For a first temporary residence, however, health insurance is not a required attachment to the application, nor a condition for the Foreign Police to accept it.
The insurance must be taken out no later than 3 working days after you collect your residence card, and you should keep it for as long as you live in Slovakia. For some purposes of stay, you also hand proof of it to the Foreign Police (see below).
Commercial vs. public health insurance
Depending on the purpose of your stay, a different type of health insurance applies to you. It is important to know which one is right for you.
Commercial health insurance
Commercial insurance is primarily needed by foreigners who are not employed under an employment contract in Slovakia - for example, those applying for a residence permit for study, business, or family reunification.
It primarily covers:
- ·Emergency medical care (accidents, sudden illnesses)
- ·Hospitalisation in urgent situations
- ·Ambulance and transport services
This insurance is accepted by the Foreign Police as proof of health insurance during your stay. It is taken out directly with an insurer - for example through klido.sk, where you can sign a contract with Union poisťovňa, a.s. online.
Public health insurance
If you work in Slovakia for an employer with its seat or establishment in Slovakia and earn at least the minimum wage, you belong to the public health insurance system (§3(3)(a) of Act No. 580/2004 Coll.). You file the application with a health insurance company yourself (§6(1)). In that case you are insured in the same way as a Slovak employee and have access to planned and preventive care.
Public insurance also applies to self-employed persons who hold a residence permit in Slovakia and are authorised to carry out self-employment here.
Note: If you are starting a business and are not yet enrolled in public insurance, you need commercial insurance until you register in the public system.
What must insurance cover?
Act No. 404/2011 Coll. sets no minimum scope, insured sum or requirement on the insurer's licence. Under §123, the confirmation of health insurance is a certificate that:
- ·Is issued in your name
- ·Confirms that you are health insured in Slovakia, or that you have insured reimbursement of treatment costs in Slovakia
Both klido plans (Simple and Safety) come with such a confirmation from Union poisťovňa.
What is and is not covered
Commercial insurance is not the same as public insurance. It is important to know what it covers and what it does not.
Typically covered:
- ·Accidents - emergency treatment, hospitalisation
- ·Sudden illnesses (appendicitis, heart attack, etc.)
- ·Emergency medical service and transport
Generally not covered (depends on the plan):
- ·Planned operations and examinations
- ·Dentistry (except for acute pain)
- ·Pregnancy and childbirth
- ·Illnesses that began before the insurance, including chronic ones - covered only if Union accepts you into a special type of insurance after the health questionnaire (Safety's dispensary care covers only conditions that arise during the insurance)
How much does it cost?
Both plans are accepted by the Foreign Police.
How to take out insurance
Klido is an insurance intermediary - the contract is concluded directly with Union poisťovňa, a.s. The entire process is online:
- ·Visit klido.sk
- ·Choose a plan (Simple or Safety) and enter your insurance dates
- ·Fill in your personal details and review the contract
- ·Sign online - no printing, no branch visit
- ·Pay the premium - Union then sends you the confirmation for the Foreign Police by email (you also find it in your klido account)
Keep the confirmation: you show it at a police check, and for some purposes of stay you hand it to the Foreign Police (see below).
When should you take out insurance?
Insurance must be taken out no later than 3 working days after you collect your residence card (§111(1)(d)). If your residence is for business, a special activity, research and development or family reunification, or you are a long-term resident of another EU state, you also hand proof of insurance to the Foreign Police within 30 days of collecting the card; if you are already insured when you apply, you can attach it to the application (§32(9)). With klido you choose the start date yourself, today at the earliest.
If you get a 1-year permit, you need to be insured for that whole year, either with one policy or by taking out a new one in time. When renewing your permit, you need to take out new insurance for the next period.
What if insurance expires during your stay?
If your commercial insurance expires before your residence permit does and you have no other health insurance, you are breaking your obligation to be insured, and the police can fine you up to €1,600 (§118). When renewing your permit, you usually attach a document not older than 90 days proving health insurance during your stay (§34(3)(c)); for residence for employment or study, it is not required.
We recommend tracking your expiry date and taking out new insurance in good time - ideally with a small overlap.
Frequently asked questions
Does the Foreign Police accept Union poisťovňa? Yes, Union poisťovňa, a.s. is a registered insurer authorised to operate in Slovakia. The Foreign Police accepts its insurance confirmation as proof of health insurance.
Can I visit a doctor with commercial insurance? Yes - at Union's contracted doctors and healthcare facilities. In life-threatening emergencies you can go to any healthcare facility.
What if something happens to me abroad? Both plans taken out through klido.sk (Simple and Safety) cover urgent care and repatriation not only in Slovakia but also in the Schengen area. For trips outside the Schengen area, consider separate travel insurance.
Will I receive a physical insurance card? The insurance confirmation is digital: after you pay the premium, Union sends it by email, and you also find it in your klido account. If you need a paper copy, simply print it. For anything beyond that, contact Union poisťovňa directly.