Smaller hospitals to cancel contracts with insurer

On Wednesday, 25 small and medium-sized hospitals from the Košice and Prešov regions, which are members of the Association of Slovak Hospitals, will cancel their contracts with the private health insurance company Union. The association is displeased that the smallest of the three health insurance companies which manage compulsory contributions to the healthcare system wants to obtain money back from hospitals. Union argues that, because next year the funds allocated from the state will be approximately €1 million lower than originally forecast, it will activate a clause in its contracts with hospitals asking them to pay back the money given to them in surplus based on the forecast. Union assures its clients that their health issues will be dealt with at least for the entire period of next year.