Accessibility tools
Service tools
Language selector
FAQs - Health
European Health Insurance Card
-
Am I covered by the statutory health insurance in my home country when studying abroad during an Erasmus year?
YES - The European Health Insurance Card covers you for necessary medical treatment during temporary stays abroad. However, your statutory health insurance might not cover you for the whole length of your stay abroad (for example, if you reach a certain age limit during your year abroad). Before leaving, check for what and how long you are covered, while studying abroad.
-
How can I find out if a doctor works for the private or public health sector?
If you need to see a doctor in another EU country for urgent medical treatment, ask whether he or she is affiliated to the public health care system and accepts the European Health Insurance Card (which you should get from your own public health care system before you leave home). Make it clear that you do not want to be treated as a private patient.
More FAQs on the European Health Insurance Card
-
I am afraid of what will happen if I fall ill in a country where I don't speak the language. Can I ask to be seen by a doctor who speaks my mother tongue?
You have no legal right to be treated by a doctor in your mother tongue when you are abroad. You can always ask the hotel where you are staying, your embassy, or your health insurer back home - they might be able to recommend a doctor who can speak your language.
-
My employer has posted me to another EU country for two months. My wife is dependent on my health insurance, but is staying in our home country. Is she still covered?
YES - Your being posted abroad to work does not affect your family's health insurance.
Visiting a doctor
-
Are there any examinations or treatments not covered by my health insurance when I visit a doctor abroad?
It depends on whether your treatment is unforeseen
or planned ahead. If you are insured in your home country and you stay temporarily abroad in another EU country, you are entitled to all necessary medical care and treatment you need to ensure your health and safety if you fall ill unexpectedly or have an accident. The European health insurance card will make it easier for you to get free medical care on the spot or be reimbursed if you have to pay up front. However, medical staff are not obliged to provide certain kinds of treatment that can wait until you get home (most types of dental treatment, for example). -
How can I find out if a doctor works for the private or public health sector?
Before leaving home, find out about the statutory health care system in the country you are going to. If the country has a public health care system, ask whether any doctor you see for urgent medical treatment is affiliated to the public health care system. Make it clear that you do not want to be treated as a private patient.
More FAQs on visiting a doctor abroad
-
I am afraid of what will happen if I fall ill in a country where I don't speak the language. Can I ask to be seen by a doctor who speaks my mother tongue?
You have no legal right to be treated by a doctor in your mother tongue when you are abroad. You can always ask the hotel where you are staying, your embassy, or your health insurer back home - they might be able to recommend a doctor who can speak your language.
-
In my home country, a doctor must study for five years and pass a specific exam to become a specialist, but in other countries there is no such exam. Does it mean that quality of treatment will vary?
It is up to each country's government to establish the conditions for becoming a qualified specialist there.
Emergency medical treatment
-
If I have a chronic medical condition for which I have to see the doctor regularly and want to go to another Member State for a temporary stay, will the European Health Insurance Card cover me for medical treatment there?
YES - If you have a chronic medical condition (for example, in cases of asthma, diabetes, or cancer) you are entitled, during your temporary stay in another Member State, to treatment that is considered necessary, taking into account your medical condition.
However, if your medical condition means that you need special medical surveillance, and in particular the use of special techniques or equipment (e.g. dialysis treatment), you may wish to organise your stay in advance to make sure that you will have access to the equipment or treatment you require. You can do this by contacting the local specialist medical unit in the country you will be visiting before you leave home.
-
I’m pregnant. Will the European Health Insurance Card cover medical treatment during a stay in another Member State?
YES - The European Health Insurance Card covers all medical treatment in conjunction with your pregnancy, including child birth, while you are staying temporarily in another country.
However, if you would like to give birth in another country, please contact your local health authority as you may need special authorisation (S2 form).
-
What should I do if, during or before my visit, I suddenly realise that I have forgotten or lost my card?
If you have forgotten or lost your card, you can ask your local authority to fax or e-mail you a provisional replacement certificate. This will give you the same entitlement as the card does.
-
Would I be able to use the card to arrange to be transported back to my home country if I had a serious accident or suffered a serious illness?
The card can be used to get easier access to medical treatment but it has nothing to do with repatriation. The card will not help transport you back home free of charge if you were to fall seriously ill or suffer a serious accident. For that situation, you will need separate insurance cover.
Expenses and reimbursement
-
How do I claim reimbursement for unforeseen medical treatment abroad?
You can request reimbursement either directly from the health insurance authorities of the country you were visiting and received treatment it, or, if you were unable to do so during your stay, you can put in your claim with your insurance institution at home. The statutory health body to which you apply for reimbursement will tell you what procedure to follow.
-
My health insurer refuses to reimburse me for treatment I received while on a business trip to another EU country. What should I do?
If you need help, there are European assistance services that help you with legal advice or mediation with your national health care provider.
Ret
-
Could my health insurer refuse to authorise my planned medical treatment abroad?
YES - If the treatment you seek is available in your own country within a medically acceptable time limit. However, your health insurer must authorise it if your statutory health care system cannot provide the care within a medically acceptable time limit, in view of your state of health and the progression of your illness, or if the treatment you seek is covered by your health insurance but not available in your home country.
-
I am going abroad for planned medical treatment authorised by my health insurer. What level of reimbursement can I expect?
If for some reasons you have borne all or part of the cost of the medical treatment yourself, you will be reimbursed at the rate applied in the country where you receive treatment. If the reimbursement in the country where you received treatment is lower than in your home country, your home insurer will, upon your request, reimburse you the difference. However, you will never be reimbursed more than you have actually paid.
-
My retired mother is coming from another EU country to stay with me for some months. She needs an operation. What formalities must we complete so that she can have the operation in the country where I live?
If your mother is a legal resident in an EU country but would like to seek treatment in another, she must ask her health insurer for prior authorisation to receive medical care abroad, so she can have the costs reimbursed. In the event of an unforeseen medical emergency during her stay abroad, your mother could rely on her European Health Insurance Card.
More FAQs on planned medical treatment abroad
Finding the right medical centre
-
How can I find a hospital in another EU country that offers the treatment I need?
Your local health insurance company should be able to recommend a suitable medical establishment abroad.
-
If I go abroad for medical treatment, will I get the same service as at home?
Health care systems vary from country to country. If you go to another EU country for planned and authorised medical treatment, you will get the same service as local patients.
Expenses and reimbursement
-
Which costs will be covered? What will I have to pay?
If you get authorisation for planned medical treatment abroad, the cost of treatment (in hospital or not) will be covered at whichever rate is higher – the one in the country where you are insured, or the one in the country where you are receiving treatment.
Please note that the entitlement to additional reimbursement is not recognised in the case of Switzerland, whether you are insured in an EEA country and travelling to Switzerland or vice versa.
If you did not get authorisation, then in principle you are not entitled to the costs of hospital treatment received in another State. Non-hospital treatment will be covered on the terms offered by the State where you are insured, without any additional reimbursement if the State of treatment offers a higher rate of reimbursement. Please note that if you do not have authorisation, treatment costs are not covered for EEA nationals in Switzerland or vice versa.
Example
Sophie is insured in country A. She has authorisation for an operation in country B. The cost of her hospital stay in country
B is 4 000 euros. For similar treatment in country A, only 2 800 euros would be reimbursed, as compared with 3 200 euros in country B.Because she got authorisation, Sophie will enjoy the same terms as people insured in country B, meaning that she will be reimbursed 3 200 euros and will have to pay only the 800 euros difference.
If, on the other hand, similar treatment in country A is reimbursed at 3 500 euros, Sophie will receive not only reimbursement at the rate offered in country B (3 200 euros), but also additional reimbursement of the difference between the two countries (3 500 euros-3 200 euros =300 euros). The total amount reimbursed in this case would therefore be 3 500 euros, leaving Sophie only 500 euros to pay.
-
Which is the most financially advantageous solution?
In financial terms, your best course of action is to obtain authorisation.
For hospital treatment, your health insurance institution will almost always require you to seek prior authorisation. This authorisation guarantees you reimbursement at the most favourable rate. Your treatment costs will then automatically be reimbursed at the rate offered in the State where you receive treatment, and if a higher rate is offered in the State where you are insured, your insurance will reimburse you the difference. Please note that the entitlement to additional reimbursement is not recognised in relations with Switzerland.
For non-hospital treatment, if you obtain authorisation, the guarantees will be the same. Alternatively, you can travel directly to the country where you want to receive treatment, without getting authorisation, and claim the reimbursement offered by your health insurance institution on your return. If the rate of cover is higher than in the State of treatment, you will be reimbursed at that rate. However, if the rate of cover is higher in the State where you are treated, you will not be entitled to additional reimbursement. Please note that without authorisation, treatment costs are not covered in relations with Switzerland.
Note: there is currently no European definition of "hospital treatment" or "non-hospital treatment". If in doubt, check with your health insurance institution.
Please note that in principle, your treatment costs will be covered only if the law in the State where you are insured covers the treatment. For example, the cost of spa cures is covered in some countries but not in others. Find out from your insurance institution before you travel.
Presenting a prescription abroad
-
Can I take a prescription from home and use it in a chemist's abroad?
YES - You can. You might have to pay the full amount up front.
Expenses and reimbursement
-
Why do I have to pay so much more for medicines abroad?
Prices vary from one country to another. When buying prescription medicine abroad, you will probably have to pay the full cost of the medicine up front.
-
Why do I need a prescription for a medicine abroad that I can buy over the counter in my home country?
Legislation on medicines varies between countries.
Which legislation applies to me?
-
Am I covered by the statutory health insurance in my home country when studying abroad during an Erasmus year?
YES - The European Health Insurance Card covers you for necessary medical treatment during temporary stays abroad. However, your statutory health insurance might not cover you for the whole length of your stay abroad (for example, if you reach a certain age limit during your year abroad). Before leaving, check for what and how long you are covered, while studying abroad.
-
I have been sent on a posting abroad to another EU country for two months by my employer. My wife is dependent on my health insurance, but she is staying in our home country. Is she still covered?
YES - Your being posted abroad to work does not affect your family's health insurance.
-
My retired mother is coming from another EU country to stay with me for some months. She needs an operation. What formalities must we complete so that she can have the operation in the country where I live?
If your mother is legally resident in one EU country but would like to seek treatment in another, she must ask her health insurer for prior authorisation to receive medical care abroad, so she can have the costs reimbursed. In the event of an unforeseen medical emergency during her stay abroad, your mother could be reimbursed via her European Health Insurance Card.
More FAQs on which legislation applies to you
Health-related social security rights
-
Can a country cancel or reduce my invalidity benefit because of a pension I receive from another EU country?
YES - EU rules prevent overlapping benefits of the same kind. In general, invalidity pensions are converted into old-age pensions when you reach the legal retirement age in the country where you live (or where you receive your invalidity pension). Be aware that the legal retirement age differs from country to country.
-
What are the requirements for getting an invalidity pension in the EU?
The requirements differ according to the social security system of each country. If the system in the EU country where you live in requires a minimum contribution period, any social security contributions you have paid in other EU countries will be taken into account in calculating your total contribution period. However, your degree of invalidity is determined using national criteria. You might be assessed as 100% invalid in one country, and only 30% invalid in another.
More FAQs on your social security rights in the EU