Information points: planned medical treatment abroad

Affected by Brexit?

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 organising medical treatment abroad.

Choose 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 right to have some or all of your costs covered
• 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
• 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 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
• 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 planned medical treatment in another EU country. In particular, they can give you further information on reimbursements, prior authorisation and any restrictions to 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 take place - and provide you with a clear invoice afterwards to facilitate reimbursement
• their liability insurance or equivalent
• (where applicable) different options for covering the costs of treatment