LTC Systems in Slovenia

Legal basis of the long-term care in Slovenia


On 21 July 2023, the National Assembly of the Republic of Slovenia adopted the Long-Term Care Act (ZDOsk-1). The main goal of the Act is to regulate the field of long-term care, placing the individual receiving care at the center of attention to preserve their independence and ensure personalized care. The law addresses key areas (forms of care) such as home care, residential care, the option of an employed family member or a cash benefit, e-care services, and services that support independence. These measures aim to provide preventive care and enable individuals to remain in their home environment for as long as possible. The implementation of ZDOsk-1 began in 2024.

Prior to the adoption of the LTC Act, various areas of long-term care were regulated by separate acts, including the Social Assistance Act, the Healthcare and Health Insurance Act, and the Pension and Disability Insurance Act. The LTC Act now integrates these services under one framework, defining both non-monetary and monetary rights. Non-monetary rights include residential care, community care, and employed family carers, while the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia will manage monetary rights.

The conditions for entitlement to long-term care in Slovenia

A person insured for long-term care can access long-term care rights if, due to illness, age-related decline, injury, disability, lack of, or loss of intellectual abilities, they are dependent on the help of others for an extended or permanent period to perform basic and supportive daily activities.To qualify, they must meet the following conditions:
  1. They have been insured for long-term care for 24 months out of the last 36 months prior to applying for long-term care rights.
  2. They have permanent or temporary residence in the Republic of Slovenia.
  3. They fall into one of the categories of long-term care based on a rating scale or medical assessment.
  4. They do not receive comparable benefits, such as assistance and care allowances, institutional care under the Social Welfare Act, personal assistance (unless specified by the Personal Assistance Act).

Most popular forms of long-term care

In 2022, a total of 74,283 individuals received long-term care services, marking a 2.9% increase from the previous year. The distribution of care types was (SURS, 2022) as follows:
  1. Home-based care: Approximately 38.3% of recipients (around 28,500 individuals).
  2. Institutional care: About 30.6% of recipients (around 22,700 individuals).
  3. Cash benefits: Approximately 30.1% of recipients (around 22,400 individuals).

Financing


The LTC Act establishes a funding framework and introduces mandatory long-term care insurance. Detailed provisions of the insurance will be outlined in a separate act in the coming years. At present, long-term care services in residential care homes are financed by the Health Insurance Institute of Slovenia for health-related services, with additional costs typically borne by users. The right to long-term care in institutional settings will come into effect in December 2025, and the corresponding financing structure is expected to be clearly defined by that time.