Slovenia runs a single-payer system through ZZZS. Since 2024 the old two-policy setup is gone — one enrolment plus a flat €39.36 monthly contribution covers you. The catch for movers: you enrol on a legal basis, and you need to know which one is yours.
Figures verified 9 July 2026Everything routes through one public insurer: ZZZS (Zavod za zdravstveno zavarovanje Slovenije). Coverage isn't automatic with residence — you (or your employer, or the pension institute) register you on one of the enrolment bases in the Healthcare and Health Insurance Act, and you pay the contribution that basis carries. Once enrolled, you pick a personal physician (GP), who refers you onward to specialists and hospitals. Family members can be insured through you: immediate family qualify with permanent residence or a temporary residence of at least three months.
For decades, Slovenians carried two policies: compulsory insurance plus "supplementary" insurance (~€35/month) that covered co-payments. On 1 January 2024, supplementary insurance was abolished and replaced with a flat compulsory health contribution collected with the main system — €39.36/month from March 2026, indexed to wage growth each March. The practical upshot for you: one system, one card, and out-of-pocket costs that are modest by North American standards. There is no US-style deductible landscape to navigate.
| Stage | What you need |
|---|---|
| Permit application | Private or travel health insurance valid in Slovenia, covering at least emergency care for the whole intended stay — the administrative unit checks the cover, not a minimum sum. |
| First months as a resident | Keep private/international cover until your ZZZS enrolment basis is active — there can be a gap, and you bridge it yourself. |
| Settled resident | ZZZS enrolment on your applicable basis (employment, self-employment, foreign pension recipient, or permanent-residence catch-all) + the €39.36/month contribution. Optional private policies exist for speed and comfort, but the hybrid habit is far less common than in Portugal or Spain. |
The enrolment bases that matter — including the one for foreign pension recipients — and the M-form paperwork.
Read the guide →What happens to your US Medicare when you leave, and why most people keep Part A.
GP capacity by region, private clinics in Ljubljana, and what specialists cost without a referral.
Every permit requires proof of cover before you apply. We'll match you with an expat health insurance specialist we've independently vetted for Slovenia. Free, no obligation.