Can I get a private MRI with supplementary insurance?

Only if the private clinic has an HZZO contract for that examination and you come with a referral. In that case supplementary insurance covers the co-payment. A private MRI without a referral is not paid for by supplementary insurance.

Do I need a referral for an examination through additional insurance?

As a rule, no. Additional insurance is used outside the public system; instead of a referral you usually need to notify your insurer in advance.

How do I know whether a clinic accepts my insurance?

On each clinic profile on Prvi termin we show the insurers according to their public lists of contracted institutions. Still, confirm with the clinic before you go, as contracts change.

Supplementary or additional insurance: which one covers a private examination?

Supplementary insurance covers co-payments in the public system; only additional private insurance pays for examinations at private clinics. We explain the difference, what to check in your policy and how to find a clinic on Prvi termin that accepts your insurance.

Updated 20.10.2026 · 5 min read · Prvi termin

Many patients pay for supplementary insurance and expect it to get them a free examination at a private clinic. This is the most common misunderstanding about health insurance in Croatia. Here is how the system actually works.

Compulsory insurance (HZZO)

Everyone insured with HZZO, the national health insurance fund, has compulsory health insurance. It covers examinations, diagnostic tests and treatment in the public system and at institutions contracted by HZZO, provided you have a referral. Some services carry a co-payment (a patient contribution to the cost), for example 10 € per specialist examination or per day of hospital treatment, up to the statutory maximum per invoice.

Supplementary insurance (dopunsko)

Supplementary health insurance, known in Croatia as „dopunsko“, covers exactly that co-payment. It is offered by HZZO itself and by private insurers (Croatia osiguranje, UNIQA, Wiener, Generali, Allianz and others). With supplementary insurance you pay nothing in the public system, but it does not pay for private examinations. At a private clinic a supplementary policy only applies to what HZZO would otherwise pay, i.e. when the clinic has an HZZO contract and you come with a referral.

Additional private insurance (dodatno)

Additional health insurance, „dodatno“, is the one that covers private examinations, diagnostics and health check-ups outside the public system, without a referral and without waiting. Insurers offer it in packages (e.g. Croatia, UNIQA, Wiener, GRAWE, Merkur, Agram, Allianz, Triglav), and employers often take it out for their staff. Each insurer has its own network of contracted clinics: an examination is covered only at those clinics and up to the limit set in the policy.

What to check before booking

Type of policy: supplementary or additional? It is stated on the policy or in the insurer's app.
Is the clinic in the network: every insurer publishes a list of contracted institutions. In the search on Prvi termin, select „My insurance“ and only clinics that accept your insurance according to the public lists will be shown.
Is prior notification required: most additional insurance policies require you to announce the examination by calling the insurer's „health point“, which then assigns you an appointment or an approval.
Limit and co-payment: some packages cover a certain number of examinations per year or require you to contribute to the cost.

Is additional insurance worth it?

It depends on how often you see a doctor. Basic packages cost roughly 10 to 30 € per month; a single private specialist examination costs 70 to 110 €, an MRI around 230 €. If you have several examinations or one larger diagnostic test a year, the policy usually pays for itself, and its biggest advantage is an appointment without waiting. If you rarely see a doctor, it is cheaper to pay per visit. Compare the prices of examinations on the Prices page.

Summary

Supplementary (dopunsko) = co-payments in the public system. Does not pay for private examinations.
Additional (dodatno) = private examinations within the insurer's network, no referral needed.
Before booking, check whether the clinic is in the network and whether prior notification is required.
On Prvi termin, filter clinics by your insurance.

Frequently asked questions

Can I get a private MRI with supplementary insurance?: Only if the private clinic has an HZZO contract for that examination and you come with a referral. In that case supplementary insurance covers the co-payment. A private MRI without a referral is not paid for by supplementary insurance.
Do I need a referral for an examination through additional insurance?: As a rule, no. Additional insurance is used outside the public system; instead of a referral you usually need to notify your insurer in advance.
How do I know whether a clinic accepts my insurance?: On each clinic profile on Prvi termin we show the insurers according to their public lists of contracted institutions. Still, confirm with the clinic before you go, as contracts change.

General information, not medical advice. In an emergency call 112. Prices and rules may change; the clinic and HZZO give binding information.