Background information

The invasion of Russian troops into Ukraine resulted into a mass migration of civilians from Ukraine to Slovak territory as well. They need health care during their stay in Slovakia. By Act No. 92/2022 Coll. on some other measures in connection with the situation in Ukraine the Government amended, inter alia, the Act No. 580/2004 Coll. on health insurance to ensure that refugees from Ukraine are reimbursed for emergency medical services.

Content of measure

The law guarantees a person without the public healthcare insurance in Slovakia, resides in the territory of Ukraine and enters the territory of the Slovak Republic in connection with the armed conflict in the territory of Ukraine, that they are entitled to reimbursement of urgent medical care.

This right arises upon arrival in Slovakia and ends on the day on which they apply for asylum, or applies for the provision of subsidiary protection, or for the provision of temporary refuge. This reimbursement in such a regime may last for a maximum of 30 days from the date of entry into the territory of the Slovak Republic. The costs incurred are reimbursed by the Ministry of Health to the health insurance company with the largest number of policyholders (Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa).

If Slovakia is just a transiting country for war refugees from Ukraine, the persons will have to pay full costs for health care provided. If a citizen from Ukraine acquires the status of temporary refugee, they will be entitled to urgent medical care. If war refugees apply for asylum in Slovakia, they will be entitled to urgent medical care and, in justified cases, to full medical care. After asylum or subsidiary protection being granted, they will be entitled to the full range of healthcare.

Use of measure

Due to the considerable uncertainty (unknown duration of the conflict, unknown total number of refugees who will apply for temporary refuge in the Slovak Republic), it is not possible to quantify the costs of necessary health care precisely.

The government material estimates the costs at about €27 million for the year 2022: with the number of applicants for temporary refuge in the Slovak Republic about 40,000. However, this estimate may vary significantly depending on the continuing development of the war. The TASR report states that as of 14 May 2022, a total of 75,790 applicants have been granted temporary refuge since March.

In Slovakia, for the period until March 2024, healthcare for emigrants from Ukraine cost around €24 million. As of May 15, 2024, the General Health Insurance Company (VšZP) had 127,873 Ukrainian citizens registered in the system with the right to healthcare under the title of "persons granted temporary refuge" or "applicant for temporary refuge". (Zdravotnícky denník 29.5.2024) https://www.zdravotnickydenik.cz/2024/05/zdravotna-starostlivost-odidencov-z-ukrajiny-doteraz-stala-slovensko-24-milionov-eur/

Target groups

Workers	Businesses	Citizens
Does not apply to workers	Does not apply to businesses	Migrants or refugees

Actors and funding

Actors	Funding
National government Social insurance	National funds

Social partners

Social partners' role in designing the measure and form of involvement:

	Trade unions	Employers' organisations
Role	No involvement	No involvement
Form	Not applicable	Not applicable

Social partners' role in the implementation, monitoring and assessment phase:

• No involvement
• Main level of involvement: N/A

Involvement

Involvement of social partners was requested by institutional setting.

Views and reactions

The social partners - both employers and trade unions - welcomed the government's decision.

Sectors and occupations

This case is not occupation-specific.

Sources

• 22 March 2022: Lex Ukrajina II: Act No. 92/2022 Coll. on Other certain measures referred to the situation in Ukraine (Zákon č. 92/2022 Z. z. o niektorých ďalších opatreniach v súvislosti so situáciou na Ukrajine) (www.slov-lex.sk)
• 22 March 2022: Dôvodová správa k Zákonu č. 92/2022 Z. z. (rokovania.gov.sk)
• 14 May 2022: Dennik N: Migracia z Ukrajiny (dennikn.sk)
• 29 May 2024: Zdravotná starostlivosť odídencov z Ukrajiny stála Slovensko €24 million (www.zdravotnickydenik.cz)