Slovenia
In emergencies, call 112 for help.
Sudden illness and access to treatment in Slovenia
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles you to medically necessary treatment whilst staying temporarily in Slovenia.
Medically necessary treatment refers to treatment that cannot wait for your return home.
You can receive medically necessary treatment, for example, for:
- a sudden illness
- an accident
- pregnancy and childbirth
- a chronic illness
If your medical condition requires regular treatment while abroad, please contact the healthcare provider in advance to arrange your treatment.
Please note the following:
- The European Health Insurance Card does not guarantee treatment free of charge, but gives you the right to medically necessary treatment on the same terms and at the same cost as for local residents.
- It is also advisable to carry a paper copy of the card with you.
- If you do not have a card or it is not accepted, you will have to pay the costs of treatment yourself. In this case, you can apply for reimbursement from Kela afterwards.
- Medically necessary treatment is fully covered by the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia (Zavod za zdravstveno zavarovanje Slovenije, ZZZS). With a European Health Insurance Card, you can receive treatment from the public healthcare and from private doctors who have an agreement with the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia.
Doctor in Slovenia
See a general practitioner (zdravnik splošne medicine) at a health centre or a private doctor who has a contract with ZZZS. Present your European Health Insurance Card and your identity card. You can see a specialist after receiving a referral from a general practitioner.
Dentist in Slovenia
Dental care is available at health centres or from dentists who have contracts with the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia. Present your European Health Insurance Card when you visit the dentist.
Medication in Slovenia
You can obtain medicines from pharmacies (lekarna) by presenting the doctor’s prescription and your European Health Insurance Card. The costs of medicinal products classified on the positive list are fully covered by compulsory health insurance. You can purchase medicines at any pharmacy that has an agreement with the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia. Medicines provided during hospitalisation are included in the treatment and do not incur additional costs.
In Slovenia, prescriptions are valid for 30 days. However, prescriptions for antimicrobial medicines to treat acute illnesses are valid for only 3 days.
You can find more information about prescription medicines in Slovenia on the website of the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia.
Hospital treatment in Slovenia
A general practitioner or specialist will usually provide you with a referral for hospital care. In an emergency, you can go straight to the first aid unit (urgenca) at the nearest hospital. At reception, show your European Health Insurance Card and your identity card. Emergency care is free of charge.
You do not have to pay for emergency ambulance transport if the attending physician confirms that urgent transport was needed.
If your illness requires you to use special transport when returning to Finland, you will be responsible for covering the full cost of travel. It is recommended that you take out travel insurance that will cover these costs.
Patient data in Slovenia
Remember to make sure that your patient data is transferred between countries. You can provide those responsible for your follow-up care or your health centre with the patient records concerning the treatment you received abroad. If the patient records need to be translated, you will be responsible for arranging that yourself.
Quality and safety of treatment in Slovenia
Doctors and dentists practicing in Slovenia belong to the Slovenian Medical Association. They are required to renew their doctor’s or dentist’s licence every seven years.
The Ministry of Health of the Republic of Slovenia, the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia, and professional associations supervise the quality and safety of healthcare service providers and professionals operating in Slovenia.
In the event of a treatment injury, the legislation and patient insurance of the country where you received treatment apply. If you are dissatisfied with the treatment you received, you should first try to resolve the matter with the treatment provider. The national contact point can help you find the appropriate authority if you wish to file a complaint.
Healthcare system in Slovenia
Slovenia has a social health insurance system with a single public insurer, the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia (Zavod za zdravstveno zavarovanje Slovenije, ZZZS), providing universal compulsory health insurance. The Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia represents the interests of the insured population in negotiations concerning health service programmes and their implementation. As the main purchaser of health services, the Health Insurance Institute also plays a key role in setting the prices of these services.
Most of the care is provided by state-owned healthcare providers (hospitals, most specialised polyclinics, and highly specialised care units) and municipal healthcare providers. However, there is also an increasing number of private healthcare providers, particularly in primary and specialised care.
More than half of the country’s dental care providers are private. If you use a service provider that does not have an agreement with the Health Insurance Institute, you must cover the costs yourself.
How do I find a place of treatment in Slovenia?
You can search for a healthcare provider using the search engine provided by the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia.
If you plan to travel to Slovenia for healthcare services, please visit our website for general information about seeking treatment abroad.For questions about healthcare in Slovenia, contact the Slovenian National Contact Point for cross-border healthcare.
How much does treatment cost in Slovenia?
Treatment is free of charge if you seek care at a healthcare provider that has an agreement with a Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia. Remember to present your ID and your European Health Insurance Card.
If you use a healthcare provider that does not have an agreement with the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia, you will have to pay the full cost yourself.