Healthcare in Slovakia

Healthcare in Slovakia has features of the Bismarck, the Beveridge and the National Health Insurance systems. It has public health system paid largely from taxation. The cost of national health insurance is shared between the employees and the employers. The part of these taxes are paid by the employees as a deduction from theirs wages and the remaining part of these taxes is paid as compulsory contribution by employers. Sole traders pay the full amount of these taxes.  

These taxes are managed by health insurance companies. Current healthcare system has 3 health insurance companies, namely Union (12,4%), Dôvera (32,4%) and Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (55,2%)(market share). Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa is a state-run insurance company, the other two are private. These insurance companies have contracts with outpatient clinics, hospitals, rehabilitation centres, pharmacies, etc. Despite this, not everywhere and not always the insurance company covers the costs. The costs are not covered for all medicines, or the full price of them. Also, it is not covered dental treatment.

The government pays health insurance for childrens, students, pensioners, invalids, people performing activities for a church, religious or charitable community etc.^[1]

According to the new legislation valid from 1.1.2024, the employees contribute 4% (at least 10,75 EUR) and the employers contribute 11% (at least 29,57). In case of invalidity, contribution is reduced by half.^[2]  

Medical procedures are assigned an artificial value in ‘points’ which is converted to real monetary value by the health insurance company. General practitioners get a capitation payment for each registered patient. There are reimbursement limits, and these can be exceeded in respect of individual patients by negotiation.