- Procedure for EU insured persons
- Procedure for third-country nationals
- Frequently asked questions
- Who to contact
1. Procedure for EU insured persons
EU REGULATIONS:
Persons covered by public health insurance in another EU Member State, a State party to the Agreement on the European Economic Area, or Switzerland (an ‘EU insured person’):
1. Temporary stay
Necessary medical care
EU insured persons are entitled (by virtue of participating in the public healthcare and social security system in the country where they are insured) to necessary medical care in Slovakia if they are here on a short stay (on holiday, visiting relatives, etc.).
To receive this medical care, they must present an European Health Insurance Card (‘EHIC’) issued to them by a competent institution in the country where they have healthcare insurance.
If they do not have their EHIC with them, they may ask their health insurance institution to provide a Provisional Replacement Certificate.
The Provisional Replacement Certificate and the European Health Insurance Card are used for subsequent arrangements to cover the cost of the medical care.
These documents entitle EU insured persons to receive necessary medical care from a healthcare provider providing services in the public system (i.e. a healthcare provider that has a contract with at least one health insurance company in Slovakia) under the same conditions as a person covered by the Slovak public health insurance system.
Scheduled medical treatment
If EU insured persons wish to receive scheduled medical treatment during a stay in Slovakia, they are entitled to do so on the basis of an E112 form or portable document S2 (‘Entitlement to scheduled treatment’). They apply for this form or portable document from the institution with which they hold their health insurance (prior to travelling to Slovakia). Before travelling for this treatment, you must consult a healthcare provider in Slovakia who provides services in the public system (a ‘public healthcare provider’) regarding the required medical procedure.
If EU insured persons, once in Slovakia, submit an E112 form or a portable document S2 that has been issued by their health insurance company in the EU for scheduled treatment in Slovakia (this may also be palliative care) from a public healthcare provider, they are entitled to the treatment precisely specified in the forms and pay only the fees that are paid by persons insured in Slovakia.
No Provisonal Replacement Certificate or EHIC
If EU insured persons are unable to produce any of the above-mentioned documents and require necessary medical care a public healthcare provider, relative, embassy or the Healthcare Surveillance Authority may ask the competent health insurer in the EU to issue a Provisonal Replacement Certificate, and then proceed as described above.
If a Provisional Replacement Certificate or EHIC is not requested, the patient must be made aware that they will have to pay the healthcare provider directly for the medical treatment they receive.
EC DIRECTIVE
Cross-border healthcare under DIRECTIVE 2011/24/EU OF THE EUROPEAN PARLIAMENT AND OF THE COUNCIL of 9 March 2011 on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare
Another situation made possible by the Directive on cross-border healthcare is that insured persons are allowed to go to any other EU Member State to receive medical treatment. It is up to the Member State concerned whether (and to what extent) it defines procedures that are subject to prior approval and may be carried out by any healthcare provider, regardless of whether that provider provides services in the public system.
EU insured persons are entitled to receive cross-border healthcare in Slovakia from a healthcare provider to which they pay the price of such treatment directly. The prices set by a healthcare provider for insured persons from other EU Member States must the same as the prices charged to an insured person in Slovakia. The healthcare provider issues an insured person from another EU Member State with a report on the medical treatment provided.
The healthcare provider issues an EU insured person with a report on the medical treatment provided, which indicates:
- the date and time of the report;
- the method used to provide the patient with information, the content of that information, and any refusal of such information;
- informed consent, any refusal of informed consent, and any revocation of informed consent;
- the date and time of healthcare provision, if different from the date and time of the report;
- the scope of the treatment provided and related services;
- the results of other examinations, if these are included in the treatment for which the report is being drawn up;
- the identity of the attending healthcare professional;
- the identity of the person to whom the healthcare has been provided;
- the diagnosis and corresponding code;
- an invoice itemising the medical procedures provided, the price thereof, and a medical prescription for any drugs prescribed;
- a medical prescription for any medical devices prescribed, where warranted.
In accordance with the legislation in force in the country where they are insured, EU insured persons subsequently provide the documentation to the health insurance institution in their home country and submit an application, with precisely defined documents, for the costs of their treatment to be reimbursed.
In this context, a National Contact Point has been set up at the Healthcare Surveillance Authority, which is required to provide information to EU insured persons, persons insured in Slovakia and healthcare providers (Section 20d of Act No 581/2004, as amended by Act No 220/2013).
Details are set out in Implementing Act of the Ministry of Health of the Slovak Republic No 232/2014 laying down the procedures of healthcare providers, health insurance companies and the Healthcare Surveillance Authority in cross-border healthcare.
2. Long-term stays
If EU insured persons are staying in the country long term and have declared that Slovakia is their place of residence but their public health insurance is in another EU Member State, they need to ask for the E106 form or the portable document S1.
An E106 form or portable document S1 is issued to them by their competent EU health insurance company following their application, based on the fact that they are declaring residence in Slovakia.
On arrival in the country, they register this form with a health insurance company of their choice in Slovakia. They are then issued a card with the ‘EU’ designation. This entitles them to the provision and coverage of the same full range of healthcare as a person insured under Slovakia’s health insurance system.
2. Procedure for third-country nationals
No international treaty
This information applies to third-country nationals who are not publicly insured for health in another EU Member State or Slovakia, and where no international treaty exists.
These persons are entitled to receive emergency medical treatment from a public healthcare provider provided that they pay the provider the full cost of such healthcare provision.
If these persons have taken out a valid commercial medical expenses insurance policy, they may subsequently request the reimbursement of the treatment costs they have paid from their commercial insurer in line with the terms and conditions applicable to their specific insurance contract.
International treaty
Slovakia also has bilateral social security agreements with certain third countries, under which citizens of contracting States may be entitled to a wider range of healthcare provision than persons from third countries with which no agreements are in place.
Specific information on the extent of healthcare and rights is set out in the individual agreements.
Agreements exist with the following third countries:
Republic of Serbia
Social Security Agreement between the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Serbia (Notice of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic No 26/2013).
Montenegro
Social Security Agreement between the Slovak Republic and Montenegro (Notice of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic No 119/2017).
North Macedonia
Social Security Agreement between the Slovak Republic and the Republic of Macedonia (Notice of the Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of the Slovak Republic No 310/2015).
Bosnia and Herzegovina
Social Insurance Agreement between the Czechoslovak Republic and the Federal People’s Republic of Yugoslavia, signed in Belgrade on 22 May 1957.
Jordan
Agreement between the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and the Government of the Hashemite Kingdom of Jordan on Cooperation in the Fields of Healthcare and Medical Sciences, signed in Prague on 19 February 1986.
Yemen
Agreement between the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and the Government of the Yemen Arab Republic, signed in Prague on 12 October 1989, and Agreement between the Government of the Czechoslovak Socialist Republic and the Government of the People’s Democratic Republic of Yemen, signed in Prague on 9 January 1990.
3. Frequently asked questions
How can I get a European Health Insurance Card?
You can obtain a card through the local branch of your health insurer, since each country is responsible for the production and distribution of cards in its territory.
Where can I get an E112 form or S2 document?
Request this form or portable document from the institution where you are insured for health (prior to travelling to Slovakia).
Where can I get an E106 form or S1 document?
An E106 form or S1 document will be issued to you by your EU health insurer following your application, based on the fact that you are declaring that you reside in Slovakia.
4. Who to contact
National Contact Point for Cross-border Healthcare in the Slovak Republic
Healthcare Surveillance Authority
Tel: +421 2 20856 789
Slovak national contact point (only in Slovak)
List of national contact points in the EU
Last modified: 18. 8. 2021
Publication date: 11. 12. 2020