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Are your citizen’s rights protected?

The health care, social security and pensions provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement cover a wider group of people than the residence provisions.

The Withdrawal Agreement protects all those UK nationals who, at the end of the transition period (31 December 2020), were in a situation involving both the UK and Slovakia at the same time. Their family members and their survivors are also protected. Unlike the UK nationals, their family members and survivors don’t need to be in a cross-border situation.

In the context of Slovakia, the Withdrawal Agreement protects:

  1. UK nationals who are subject to the Slovak legislation at the end of the transition period, as well as their family members and survivors,
  2. UK nationals who reside in Slovakia, and are subject to the UK legislation at the end of the transition period, as well as their family members and survivors,
  3. UK nationals not covered by points (a) or (b) pursuing an economic activity in Slovakia at the end of the transition period, but are subject to the UK legislation, as well as their family members and survivors,
  4. Persons who do not, or who no longer, fall within points (a) to (c) and who are covered by the residence provisions of the Withdrawal Agreement, as well as their family members and survivors.

The persons under points (a) to (c) are covered for as long as they continue without interruption to be in one of the situations involving both Slovakia and the UK.

The persons under point (d) are covered for as long as they continue to have a right to reside, or a right to work in Slovakia.

The persons above will maintain their right to health care, pensions and other social security benefits.

You can access state-provided health care in Slovakia in different ways, depending on your situation.

Paying health insurance contributions

Health insurance in Slovakia is compulsory and everybody must be insured. There are exceptions to this. The health insurance pays for the provided health care in full amount or partially.

If you are employed, do business, or have permanent residence in Slovakia, you must generally have the compulsory public health insurance. Please check who is and who isn’t covered by the compulsory public health insurance. If you are covered, you can chose which of the three health insurance companies in Slovakia you wish to be insured by.

The health insurance contributions are paid for by:

  • You and your employer (jointly,) if you are employed
  • You, if you do business
  • You, if you are voluntarily unemployed (unless the state pays for you)
  • The state, in specific cases

If you are registered as resident in Slovakia or if you are lawfully residing in Slovakia before 31 December 2020, your right to access state health care will stay the same after 1 January 2021, on the same basis as Slovak citizens.

If you are returning to the UK or leaving Slovakia permanently, you should inform your health insurance company.

Find out more:

UK-funded health care

In some cases, you can be entitled to state health care in Slovakia paid for by the UK, based on an S1 form. You must register your UK-issued S1 form in the Slovak system, by opting for one of the three health insurance companies in Slovakia. The S1 form enables you and your dependants access to state health care on the same basis as Slovak citizens.

If you are registered as resident in Slovakia or if you are lawfully residing in Slovakia before 31 December 2020 and hold an S1 form, your right to access state health care based on your S1 form will stay the same after 1 January 2021.

Find out more:

European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you are in Slovakia only short-term for a temporary stay (e.g. holiday), you can continue using your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued in the UK as you did before. You can also use your EHIC if you travel to other countries of the EU, the EEA or Switzerland.

Your EHIC is valid in the EU until it expires. 

Once your EHIC has expired, you’ll be able to replace it with a new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). More details about this are available here.

Certain categories of persons may apply for a new UK-issued EHIC. Find out who can apply and other important details.

The EHIC may be used only to access medically necessary, unplanned, state health care. You should complement your EHIC with travel health insurance.

Find out more:

Emergency health care

Even if you don´t have health insurance in Slovakia, you have the right to emergency (urgent) health care. Everybody is entitled to emergency health care, regardless of their citizenship and status in Slovakia. Read more about what is considered emergency health care.