The Slovak health insurance market has undergone its most significant changes in recent years. On October 30, the insurance company Dôvera completed its acquisition of its competitor, Union zdravotná poisťovňa. Once all procedures are finalized, only two players will remain in the country: the state-owned Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa and the private company Dôvera.
Hundreds of thousands of customers of both companies have many questions. We’ll explain what will change for you and what to expect.
What will change for Union and Dôvera customers right now?
In short—nothing. Despite the change in ownership, both insurance companies are still operating as separate legal entities. Representatives from Dôvera and Union assure customers that everything remains the same for them.
Your insurance cards (preukaz poistenca) remain valid.
All the benefits and perks you had will continue to apply.
You’ll still have access to doctors and medical facilities that have contracts with your insurance provider.
You do not need to go anywhere, fill out new forms, or notify your doctor or employer of any changes.
All procedures, including payment for medical services and premiums, continue as before.
How did the acquisition take place?
The merger process took several months. The agreement to transfer all Union shares from the Dutch company Achmea to Dôvera (part of the Penta investment group) was signed on July 14, 2026.
The deal then had to be approved by regulators. At the end of September, it was approved by the Slovak Úrad pre dohľad nad zdravotnou starostlivosťou (Health Care Supervision Authority). The final approval came from the European Commission, allowing the deal to close on October 30.
Dôvera assured that no money from mandatory health insurance contributions was used for the purchase—the funds were provided by a shareholder.
When will the full merger take place, and what happens next?
Although Dôvera is already the sole owner of Union, the full merger of the companies is expected around the summer of 2027. By that time, Dôvera must submit a merger application to the regulator and integrate its internal systems.
After that, the Union zdravotná poisťovňa brand will disappear, and all Union customers will automatically become Dôvera customers. The company promises that the new offering will combine the best benefits from both insurers, but a specific list of benefits will be announced later.
Important: Union’s commercial insurance will continue to operate as usual
The merger applies exclusively to mandatory health insurance (zdravotné poistenie).
Union poisťovňa, which sells travel, property, auto, and other commercial insurance policies, was not part of the agreement. It remains owned by the Dutch Achmea Group and will continue to operate in Slovakia under its own brand. In other words, if you have, for example, travel insurance from Union, nothing will change for you.
