Poistenec means an insured person. This is your status and record with a health insurance company (zdravotná poisťovňa). It gives you the right to medical care paid for by insurance, not from your own pocket.
What this means in practice
- You choose one of the insurance companies and get an insurance card — preukaz poistenca.
- You show this card to the doctor, at the emergency room, and at the pharmacy.
- You can usually change your insurance company once a year during a specific period.
For employees, the employer pays the contributions. For self-employed people, they pay for themselves. For some categories (like children), the state pays. For people with temporary protection, the coverage conditions may be different from regular insurance. Therefore, you should check your status and the scope of care directly with your insurance company.
