Information points for cross-border healthcare

National Contact Points

Each EU country has at least one National Contact Point (some also have regional or local contact points) which can help you with questions about medical treatment in another EU country.

In your home country

Your National Contact Point can give you information about your right to receive health care in other EU countries, including:

• your rights to receive necessary treatment with the EHIC
• your right to have some or all of your costs reimbursed
• different options to cover the costs of your planned medical treatment in another EU country
• what types of treatment are reimbursed and how much you can expect to be reimbursed
• if you need prior authorisation and how to apply for it
• administrative procedures for reimbursement of costs
• how to appeal if your rights have not been respected

In the country where you want to be treated

The National Contact Point can give you information about:

• the healthcare providers covered by the European Health Insurance sheme
• the healthcare system of that country and how they ensure quality, safety, and compliance with national standards
• whether a particular provider is registered and authorised to provide specific medical treatments, and which quality and safety system covers that provider
• accessibility of hospitals for persons with disabilities
• patients' rights in that country, including information about your options if something goes wrong or you are not happy with the medical treatment you receive

Health insurance institutions

Your health insurance provider can also give you information about your right to necessary or planned medical treatment in another EU country. In particular, they can give you further information on how to get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), reimbursements, prior authorisation and any administrative formalities when seeking your medical treatment abroad.

Healthcare providers

Healthcare providers, such as a hospital, clinic or other medical establishment, must tell you about:

• different treatment options, quality and safety, authorisation/registration status of the healthcare provider etc., to allow you to make an informed choice about your medical treatment
• treatment prices before your treatment takes place - and provide you with a clear invoice afterwards to facilitate reimbursement
• their liability insurance or equivalent

Healthcare providers should give you a copy of your written or electronic medical record, if you seek healthcare abroad or if you have received treatment in another country.

SOLVIT

If you think your EU rights on cross-border healthcare have not been respected by national authorities, you can contact SOLVIT for assistance.
SOLVIT is a service provided by the national administration in each EU country and in Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. SOLVIT is free of charge and aims to find solutions within 10 weeks – starting on the day your case is taken on by the SOLVIT centre in the country where the problem occurred.