X-Ray Cost in Slovakia
What you actually pay through VšZP, Dôvera and Union, at hospital emergency departments and as a self-payer at Slovak hospitals and private clinics. Last reviewed October 2026.
Short answer: how much does an X-ray cost in Slovakia?
If you are insured with VšZP, Dôvera or Union (or hold an EHIC) and a doctor refers you, an X-ray is free. Paying yourself, Slovak X-rays are among the cheapest in the EU: Nemocnica Bory in Bratislava charges €20 for a chest or pelvis X-ray and €28–32 for a spine region, knee, ankle, hand or wrist — roughly €20–32 per area (about $22–36). At a hospital emergency department insured patients pay a statutory fee of €10 per visit (€2 in some cases), and any X-ray during that visit is covered.
Quick Overview
Slovakia runs a compulsory public health insurance system with three insurers: the state-owned Všeobecná zdravotná poisťovňa (VšZP), the largest, and the private Dôvera and Union. All three cover the same statutory benefit package. A diagnostic X-ray ordered by your GP (všeobecný lekár) or a specialist on a request form (žiadanka) or referral (výmenný lístok) is billed directly to your insurer at a contracted facility, with no co-payment. You pay only when you request an exam yourself, use a provider without a contract, or are not insured in Slovakia or the EU. Self-pay prices are set by each hospital in its cenník pre samoplatcov — often by multiplying the points value of the procedure in the national catalogue by a price per point.
🏥 Public insurance
- VšZP, Dôvera or Union — identical basic coverage
- Requires a doctor's request (žiadanka / výmenný lístok)
- At hospitals and clinics contracted with your insurer
- EHIC holders covered on the same terms
🚑 Emergency department
- Statutory fee at the urgentný príjem (Act 577/2004, §38)
- €2 in certain evening/weekend cases or after APS referral
- X-rays done during the visit are covered
- Exemptions include children under 3
💳 Self-pay (samoplatca)
- Per X-ray area at hospital price lists
- Two spine regions: about €56
- Extra projections and image copies cost more
- A doctor's request is still normally needed
X-Ray Prices in Slovakia by Exam: Public vs Self-Pay
The self-pay prices below come mainly from the published price list of Nemocnica Bory in Bratislava (part of the Penta Hospitals network), valid from 7 August 2026 — one of the few Slovak hospitals that publishes an itemised X-ray list, in English as well as Slovak. Other hospitals price exams by points: Nemocnica AGEL Levice (list valid from 1 January 2026) charges €0.03 per point for radiology and lists a chest X-ray at €20, which is in line with Bory. Prices are per examined area; additional projections increase the price.
| Exam | Public (VšZP / Dôvera / Union) | Self-pay (EUR) | USD (≈) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Chest X-ray (RTG hrudníka / pľúc) | Free with referral | €20 | $22 |
| Hand / wrist X-ray | Free with referral | €32 | $36 |
| Ankle / foot X-ray | Free with referral | €32 | $36 |
| Knee X-ray | Free with referral | €32 | $36 |
| Shoulder or hip X-ray | Free with referral | €32 | $36 |
| Cervical spine X-ray (one region) | Free with referral | €28 | $31 |
| Lumbar spine X-ray (one region) | Free with referral | €28 | $31 |
| Two spine regions (e.g. C-Th, Th-LS) | Free with referral | €56 | $63 |
| Pelvis X-ray | Free with referral | €20 | $22 |
| Abdomen X-ray | Free with referral | €28 | $31 |
| Skull X-ray | Free with referral | €32 | $36 |
| Dental intraoral X-ray | Dental practice — often billed separately | €17 | $19 |
| Dental panoramic (OPG) | Dental practice — often billed separately | €22 | $25 |
| Dental 3D CBCT (small / large) | Usually self-pay | €55 / €75 | $62 / $84 |
| Copy of images on CD / USB | — | €2–10 | $2–11 |
General X-ray prices: Nemocnica Bory self-payer radiodiagnostics price list valid from 7 August 2026 (chest €20, pelvis €20, one spine region €28, abdomen €28, two spine regions €56, shoulder/knee/ankle/elbow/hand/wrist €32). Dental prices: City Clinic Bratislava price list. CD copy €2 at Nemocnica AGEL Levice; USB copy €10 at Nemocnica Bory. USD at approximately €1 = $1.12 (ECB reference rate, October 2026); exchange rates move.
CT, MRI and Ultrasound Prices in Slovakia
CT and MRI are also free with a referral under public insurance, but waits for non-urgent scans can run to weeks. Self-pay prices are published by several Bratislava providers.
| Exam | Public | Self-pay (EUR) | USD (≈) |
|---|---|---|---|
| Ultrasound, one organ | Free with referral | €20–24 | $22–27 |
| Ultrasound, abdomen | Free with referral | €50–68 | $56–76 |
| Ultrasound, joints / soft tissues | Free with referral | €20–40 | $22–45 |
| CT, limb (non-contrast) | Free with referral | €135 | $151 |
| CT, cervical spine / brain | Free with referral | €175–185 | $196–207 |
| CT, chest or lumbar spine | Free with referral | €215 | $241 |
| CT contrast supplement | — | +€90 | +$101 |
| MRI, knee / shoulder / ankle / wrist | Free with referral | €155–200 | $174–224 |
| MRI, brain / one spine region / hip | Free with referral | €300 | $336 |
| MRI contrast supplement | — | +€70 | +$78 |
CT, MRI and most ultrasound prices from the Nemocnica Bory self-payer list (August 2026). Lower ultrasound figures (€20 one organ, €50 abdomen, €20 joints) from Nemocnica AGEL Levice's list valid from 1 January 2026. MRI from €155: Online MRI (Clinica Orthopedica, Bratislava and FYZIOINSTITUT, Šamorín) self-payer price, which also lists €115 for partner referrals and €75 for insured patients wanting add-on services.
How Slovak Public Insurance Pays for X-Rays
Who is covered
- Everyone with permanent residence or employment in Slovakia must be insured
- Choose VšZP, Dôvera or Union — one insurer at a time
- The state pays contributions for children, students, pensioners and some others
- EU/EEA/Swiss visitors covered via EHIC for necessary care
- Switch insurer once a year: apply by 30 September, effective 1 January
Contributions (2026)
- Employees: 5% of gross salary (up from 4%)
- Employers: 11%
- Self-employed: 16% (up from 15%)
- No cap on the assessment base for employee and employer health contributions
- Introduced by the 2026 consolidation package
How to get a covered X-ray
- See your registered GP or a specialist
- Receive a žiadanka (request) or výmenný lístok (referral)
- Book at a radiology department contracted with your insurer
- Bring your insurance card (preukaz poistenca) and ID
- Images and report are sent back to the referring doctor
Emergency Department Fees (Pohotovosť)
For an injury such as a suspected fracture, most people in Slovakia go straight to a hospital emergency department (urgentný príjem). Insured patients pay only a statutory visit fee; the X-ray itself is billed to the insurer.
| Situation | Fee for insured patients |
|---|---|
| Hospital emergency (urgentný príjem / ústavná pohotovostná služba) | €10 per visit |
| Hospital emergency in a district without outpatient emergency service, during its hours (16:00–22:00 weekdays, 07:00–22:00 weekends for adults) | €2 |
| Sent to hospital emergency directly from an outpatient emergency service (APS) | €2 |
| Outpatient emergency service (APS) — example: Nemocnica AGEL Levice | €10 adults / €2 children |
| Uninsured, non-EU visitors | Full self-pay price list applies |
Fees under §38(3)(c) of Act No. 577/2004 Coll. as reproduced in the Nemocnica AGEL Levice price list valid from 1 January 2026. Exemptions include children under 3, patients whose condition prevents consent, people in material need and holders of at least the silver Janský plaque. Check the current rules with the hospital.
Where to Get an X-Ray in Slovakia
🏥 Public / University Hospitals
- University Hospital Bratislava (UNB) — Ružinov, Kramáre, Staré Mesto, Petržalka sites
- Louis Pasteur University Hospital (UNLP) — Košice
- University Hospital Martin (UNM)
- F. D. Roosevelt University Hospital — Banská Bystrica
- Faculty hospitals in Nitra, Trnava, Trenčín, Žilina, Prešov
🏥 Private Hospitals & Imaging Centres
- Penta Hospitals / Svet zdravia — incl. Nemocnica Bory, Bratislava (X-ray €20–32 self-pay)
- AGEL — hospitals incl. Levice, Komárno, Zvolen
- ProCare — polyclinic network
- Medissimo — Bratislava
- Pro RTG — Bratislava (X-ray, CT, ultrasound)
- Dr. MAGNET — MRI at UNB Ružinov; Online MRI — Bratislava, Šamorín
💡 Practical tips
- Most private hospitals also have insurer contracts — with a žiadanka the X-ray is free there too
- Search for "cenník pre samoplatcov" on the hospital website for self-pay prices
- English-speaking staff common in Bratislava, less so elsewhere
- Ask whether images come on CD, USB or via a portal (copies may cost €2–10)
Guide by Patient Type
🇸🇰 Slovak residents
- Start with your GP — a referred X-ray is free
- Injury: urgentný príjem, €10 fee, X-ray covered
- Self-pay (€20–32 per area) only for speed or exams not indicated
- Compare insurers' waiting-time services before switching
🇪🇺 EU / EEA / Swiss / UK visitors
- EHIC (or UK GHIC) — treated like a Slovak insured patient
- Medically necessary X-rays covered; statutory fees still apply
- Show EHIC and passport at reception
- Without the card, or for planned care, the self-pay list applies
✈️ Non-EU visitors & new expats
- Pay the self-pay list — e.g. €20 chest, €32 knee at Nemocnica Bory
- Emergency care is always provided
- Travel insurance recommended for CT, MRI or admission
- Workers and residents must register with VšZP, Dôvera or Union
Practical Details
📋 What to bring
- Žiadanka or výmenný lístok from your doctor
- Insurance card (VšZP / Dôvera / Union) or EHIC
- ID card or passport
- Previous imaging on CD/USB, if relevant
- Card or cash for self-pay or fees
⏰ Typical wait times
- Emergency: triaged on arrival
- Plain X-ray with žiadanka: often same day or within days
- CT / MRI on insurance: can be several weeks for non-urgent scans
- Self-pay: same day to a few days
- Report: usually 1–2 working days
💡 How to save money
- Get a žiadanka first — the X-ray is then free
- Ask your insurer about faster contracted providers before paying for CT or MRI
- Self-pay X-rays are cheap; self-pay CT and MRI add up — compare lists
- Check whether contrast (+€70–90) is really needed
FAQ
How much does an X-ray cost in Slovakia?
With a doctor's referral (výmenný lístok or žiadanka) an X-ray is free for anyone insured with VšZP, Dôvera or Union. Self-pay prices are low by EU standards: Nemocnica Bory in Bratislava (price list valid from 7 August 2026) charges €20 for a chest or pelvis X-ray, €28 for one spine region or abdomen and €32 for a knee, ankle, hand, wrist or shoulder — roughly €20–32 (about $22–36) per area. Nemocnica AGEL Levice lists a chest X-ray at €20.
Koľko stojí RTG pre samoplatcu? (How much is a self-pay X-ray?)
Hospitals that publish self-pay lists price a single-area X-ray at about €20–32. Some hospitals price radiology by points from the official catalogue of procedures: Nemocnica Bory charges €0.04 per point for radiology and €0.01 per point for CT and MRI, Nemocnica AGEL Levice €0.03 per point for radiology and €0.02 for CT. Extra projections raise the price, and copying images to a USB stick or CD costs extra (€2–10).
Can I get an X-ray in Slovakia without a referral (RTG bez odporúčania)?
Generally no. Under Slovak radiation-protection rules every medical exposure must be justified and requested by a doctor, so radiology departments ask for a request form (žiadanka) from a GP, specialist or dentist even when you pay yourself. Paying privately mainly buys a faster appointment. Some MRI centres, which use no radiation, take self-paying patients without a referral — Online MRI in Bratislava and Šamorín lists €155 for a self-payer.
Is an X-ray free with VšZP, Dôvera or Union?
Yes. Slovakia's three public health insurers — state-owned VšZP and the private Dôvera and Union — cover the same statutory benefit package. A diagnostic X-ray ordered by your GP or specialist at a contracted facility is paid directly by your insurer with no co-payment. You only pay if you request the exam yourself, use a non-contracted provider or need copies of your images.
How much do I pay at an emergency department (pohotovosť) in Slovakia?
Insured patients pay a small statutory fee at the hospital emergency (urgentný príjem / ústavná pohotovostná služba): €10 per visit under §38 of Act 577/2004, reduced to €2 in some evening or weekend situations or when sent on from an outpatient emergency service, and waived for groups such as children under 3. Any X-ray done during that visit is covered by insurance. Some hospital price lists also show an outpatient emergency (APS) fee, for example €10 for adults and €2 for children at Nemocnica AGEL Levice.
How much does a private MRI, CT or ultrasound cost in Slovakia?
Nemocnica Bory's August 2026 self-pay list: MRI €200 for a knee, shoulder, ankle or wrist, €300 for a brain, single spine region or hip, plus €70 for contrast; CT €135 for a limb, €175 for cervical spine, €185 for brain, €215 for chest or lumbar spine, plus €90 for contrast; ultrasound €24 for one organ and €68 for the upper abdomen. Online MRI lists MRI from €155 for self-payers. Nemocnica AGEL Levice lists abdominal ultrasound at €50.
How much is a dental X-ray or OPG in Slovakia?
Dental practices charge separately for imaging. City Clinic in Bratislava lists an intraoral X-ray at €17, a panoramic (OPG) X-ray at €22, and 3D CBCT at €55 for a small and €75 for a large field of view. Many dental X-rays tied to treatment in a practice contracted with your insurer are covered, but practices often bill imaging as a separate fee — ask first.
Can foreigners and tourists get an X-ray in Slovakia?
Yes. EU/EEA/Swiss visitors with an EHIC are treated like Slovak insured patients for medically necessary care, so a referred or emergency X-ray is covered. Non-EU visitors, EU visitors without documents and EHIC holders seeking planned care pay the self-pay price list — Nemocnica Bory publishes an English list for exactly these groups. Travel insurance is recommended; keep receipts and reports for your claim.
Which Slovak insurer is best for imaging, and can I switch?
The statutory benefit package is identical across VšZP, Dôvera and Union, so a referred X-ray, CT or MRI is free with any of them. Differences are in contracted providers, waiting-time services and extras. You can change insurer once a year: apply by 30 September and the switch takes effect on 1 January.
What are Slovak health insurance contributions in 2026?
From 1 January 2026 employees pay 5% of gross salary (up from 4%), employers 11% and the self-employed 16% (up from 15%). There is no cap on the assessment base for employee and employer health contributions. These contributions fund free referred imaging for insured people.
Compare X-Ray Costs Across Countries
Sources
- Nemocnica Bory (Penta Hospitals), Bratislava — Price list for self-payers, radiodiagnostics: X-ray, CT, MRI, ultrasound (valid from 7 August 2026)
- Nemocnica AGEL Levice — Cenník výkonov a služieb (valid from 1 January 2026), incl. emergency fees under §38 of Act 577/2004
- Act No. 577/2004 Coll. on the scope of health care covered by public health insurance (§38 emergency fees)
- Online MRI (Clinica Orthopedica / FYZIOINSTITUT) — MRI price list
- Dr. MAGNET s.r.o. — MRI department at UNB Ružinov
- City Clinic Bratislava — dental X-ray price list
- VšZP, Dôvera and Union — insured-person information on coverage and changing insurer
- PwC Worldwide Tax Summaries — Slovak Republic 2026 health insurance contribution rates
- European Central Bank — euro reference exchange rate (October 2026)
Last reviewed: October 2026. Prices change and differ between hospitals — check the provider's current price list before booking.