FAQs - Settling abroad

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• Help from the chemist
• Settling abroad
• Unforeseen medical treatment
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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