Important changes to the rules governing compulsory health insurance in Slovenia have officially come into force on May 27, 2026. These updates, introduced by the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia (ZZZS – Zavod za zdravstveno zavarovanje Slovenije), focus heavily on the regulation, reporting and monitoring of sick leave.

If you are an expatriate, employee or business owner in Slovenia, understanding these stricter rules is essential to ensure you maintain your rights to sick leave compensation and medical benefits.

1. Hard Deadlines for Reporting Sick Leave

The rules for reporting an illness to your doctor have become much stricter.

  • Same-day reporting: Employees are now required to report their illness to their personal physician on the same day they become ill, or no later than the first business day following the physician’s office visit.
  • No retroactive approvals: If you fail to report your absence on time, your personal physician cannot retroactively grant you sick leave. They can only approve it from the date you make contact.
  • Special exceptions: If there are exceptional circumstances that have caused a delay, your personal physician may submit a proposal to the designated ZZZS physician (Medical Commission), who will evaluate whether the delay was justified.
  • Hospital or spa treatment: If you are hospitalized, you must report your absence as soon as you return home. In these cases, your primary care physician may retroactively record the period of temporary absence because the hospitalization is considered undeniable proof.

2. Mandatory In-Person Doctor Check-Ups

In order to prevent abuse of sick leave and to detect possible underlying chronic illnesses, personal medical examinations are now mandatory under the following conditions

  • Whenever your personal physician requests a clinical evaluation.
  • No later than the fourth day of absence, if your sick leave is expected to continue.
  • Before your doctor submits the first proposal to the medical committee appointed by ZZZS to extend your sick leave beyond the initial 30 working days.
  • If you have been absent more than twice in the last three months, even if the previous absences were very short.

What happens if you skip a check-up? If you do not attend a mandatory check-up without a valid, justifiable reason (e.g. risk of infectious disease transmission), your doctor will make a decision based solely on the paperwork on file. In addition, the doctor is required by law to notify the ZZZS regional office, which may suspend your pay.

3. Monitoring, Violations, and Financial Impact

The ZZZS has increased its field monitoring by employing “lay controllers” to visit patients at home and verify that they are following their prescribed exercise regimen (e.g., bed rest or allowed walks).

  • If an inspector visits you and you are not at home, you have three days to provide the ZZZS with a valid reason.
  • Engaging in gainful employment or violating your doctor’s exercise instructions while on sick leave may result in the complete loss of your net compensation.
  • The five-year grace period: Your compensation will not be canceled for a first violation of the exercise regime within a five-year period.

These measures are already having a strong positive impact on the economy. Between January and April this year, Slovenian employers and the ZZZS saved tens of millions of euros through a massive reduction in lost workdays.

4. Upcoming IT Solutions (Launching July 1st)

To make things easier for both patients and businesses, a new digital solution will launch on July 1, 2026:

  • Patients will be able to view their doctor’s prescribed movement regime directly on the national online patient portal, zVem (managed by the NIJZ – National Institute of Public Health).
  • Employers will be able to easily check their employees’ approved movement regimes through the Slovenian Business Point (SPOT) portal.

5. Expanded Rights to Medical Devices and Care Abroad

Alongside sick leave changes, new rules have expanded the accessibility of certain medical devices:

  • Glucose meters for Type 2 diabetes patients can now be prescribed directly by personal doctors.
  • The durability periods (how often you can receive new ones) for orthoses for minors have been shortened, making it easier for children to get replacement gear as they grow.
  • Treatment Abroad: Under specific conditions, insured persons can continue pre-approved treatments abroad with the same provider. Additionally, in life-threatening emergencies, the costs of medical transport to and from abroad can be reimbursed without prior ZZZS approval.

About Us

At SIBIZ, we pride ourselves on being the best in Slovenia in the areas of business migration and corporate and individual relocation. We specialize in helping business professionals, corporate clients and individuals navigate the complex landscape of Slovenian regulations. Whether you need assistance with employment law, compliance with the Slovenian Tax Office (FURS), or resolving social security issues, our team of experts is here to ensure that your transition and business operations run smoothly and legally.

For more information: www.sibiz.eu