Author
Beneficiaries of international protection are entitled to health care under the same conditions as nationals. The Slovenian national system of health insurance, set out in the Health Care and Health Insurance Act,[1] is comprised of compulsory health insurance and complementary health insurance. Compulsory health insurance covers only part of the medical costs. In order to enjoy full benefits of the health insurance system, one has to apply for the complementary health insurance. The system was changed during the year and since January 2024 the compulsory and complementary health insurance have been combined, meaning that insured individuals all have full health insurance coverage.[2]
Beneficiaries of international protection are covered by compulsory health insurances on the basis of their international protection status.[3] They are encouraged by the integration officers to also apply for complementary health insurance, without which the costs for medication and medical treatment can become very high. Individuals who receive financial social assistance – which is the case for most beneficiaries upon being granted status – do not require complementary health insurance and enjoy full access to health care without it.[4]
The provisions for child beneficiaries of international protection are more favourable: they are entitled to health care services under the same conditions as Slovenian children,[5] which means they do not require complementary health insurance until they reach the age of 18 (or until 26, as long as they are enrolled in school as regular students).[6]
Beneficiaries suffering from mental health problems, including torture survivors and other traumatised persons, are entitled to the services covered by the compulsory health insurance for free.[7]
In order to help bridge the language barrier, a manual – the “Multilingual Aid for Better Communication in Healthcare”,[8] has been issued by the Ministry of the Interior in cooperation with other stakeholders in 2017. In the initial phase after being granted status, beneficiaries also enjoy assistance from the UOIM staff and NGOs. Nevertheless, practical access to healthcare remains challenging in practice because of difficulties from a language and cultural perspective.
[1] Official Gazette of RS, No. 9/1992 and subsequent amendments.
[2] MMC, Dopolnilnega zdravstvenega zavarovanja ni več. Nov prispevek se trga od dohodka, 1 January 2024, available at: https://bit.ly/3QetYAk.
[3] Article 98 IPA.
[4] Article 24 Health Care and Health Insurance Act.
[5] Article 94(2) IPA.
[6] Article 22 Health Care and Health Insurance Act.
[7] Article 98(1).
[8] Ministry of the Interior, Multilingual Aid for Better Communication in Healthcare, available in Slovenian at: https://bit.ly/48tTpEp.