Voluntary social insurance: when it pays off

Voluntary social insurance is a way to pay insurance contributions yourself even when you are not obliged to – for example during a break from your business, when working under an agreement with no contributions or during a period without employment. The question is when such a voluntary payment really pays off and when it is just an unnecessary expense.

What voluntary social insurance is

It is insurance that a person arranges with the Social Insurance Agency (Sociálna poisťovňa) of their own accord. You can choose which types of insurance you want to pay – pension, sickness and unemployment insurance – and on what assessment base, with the statutory minimum and maximum applying. A higher chosen base means higher future benefits, but also a higher monthly payment.

• pension insurance – counts towards the years and the amount of your future pension
• sickness insurance – entitlement to sickness benefit, maternity benefit and nursing benefit
• unemployment insurance – entitlement to unemployment benefit

When it pays off

Voluntary social insurance most often pays off in situations where you want to ensure your entitlements continue without a gap. A typical case is planned maternity leave – if a woman pays sickness insurance in good time, she can become entitled to maternity benefit even without being employed. Similarly, if you are missing years before retirement, it makes sense to pay additional pension insurance so that you reach the required insurance period.

When it is unnecessary

If you already have compulsory insurance on another basis (employment or a trade licence with a sufficient assessment base), additional voluntary insurance often does not bring an adequate benefit. Likewise, with short-term breaks without a specific goal, it is questionable whether the monthly payments will come back to you in the form of higher benefits. It is always a good idea to compare how much you will pay over the period and what benefit you will actually receive.

What to watch out for with maternity benefit

The conditions for entitlement to maternity benefit from voluntary insurance are strict – a certain number of days of insurance is required within a set period before the start of maternity leave, and the insurance must be paid properly and on time. The law also sets a period during which voluntary sickness insurance must be paid for the entitlement to arise. That is why timing is key, and it needs to be worked out well in advance.

• the required minimum number of days of insurance before the start of leave
• insurance paid properly and on time, with no debts
• the chosen assessment base affects the amount of the benefit

How to get started

You can register electronically or in person at a branch of the Social Insurance Agency, where you choose the types of insurance and the assessment base. The contribution is due by the 8th day of the following month, and it is important not to miss any payments – even a single unpaid contribution can jeopardise your entitlement to a future benefit.

Combining it with other entitlements

Voluntary insurance can be combined with other life situations. If, for example, you are planning another child during parental leave, correctly set up and punctually paid sickness insurance can help you keep your entitlement to maternity benefit for the second child as well. Similarly, when moving from employment to a trade licence, voluntary insurance can bridge the period during which you would otherwise not be insured. Always compare the real benefit with the costs, though – this is a longer-term decision that only makes sense with a clear goal and disciplined payment without any gaps.

Summary

Whether voluntary insurance pays off for you depends on your goal – a pension, maternity benefit or the security of unemployment benefit. At Bilvao, we can calculate which assessment base and which payment period make sense for your situation and whether you will get your investment back. Check the current minimum amounts and deadlines for the period concerned.

Related articles: Health insurance contributions of a sole trader and the annual reconciliation, Minimum and maximum contributions of a self-employed person (SZČO) in 2026, Contributions when you combine a trade licence with employment.

Frequently asked questions

Can I voluntarily pay just sickness insurance to qualify for maternity benefit?

As a rule, you cannot pay sickness insurance entirely on its own without pension insurance – the Social Insurance Agency lays down set combinations of insurance types. With planned maternity leave, the key is to register in good time and to meet the required number of days of insurance. Work out the conditions in advance.

By when do I have to pay voluntary insurance for an entitlement to a benefit to arise?

The law requires a certain minimum number of days of insurance within a set period and insurance paid properly and on time. For both maternity benefit and unemployment benefit, the period before the entitlement arises is what counts. Check the specific deadlines for the period concerned.