Employment, social policy and inclusion June 6, 2023 Author: M Usman Table of Contents Toggle Employment, social policy, and inclusionWhat is the European Health Insurance Card?Health insurance for short staysApply for a European Health Insurance Card (EU Card)WarningSpecial cases and exceptionsExamples from real lifeGet travel insuranceEU legislation Employment, social policy, and inclusion What is the European Health Insurance Card? A free card that gives you access to medically necessary, public healthcare during a temporary stay in one of the 27 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, under the same conditions and at the same cost (free in some countries) as those who are insured in that country. This also applies to care when you have a chronic or long-term illness or if you are pregnant and about to give birth. The cards are issued by your local health authority. Important – the European Health Insurance Card: is not an alternative to travel insurance. It does not cover any private healthcare or costs such as e.g. flight to your home country or lost/stolen belongings, does not cover your costs if you are traveling for the express purpose of receiving medical care, does not guarantee free services. As all countries’ health insurance systems differ, services that are free at home may not be free in another country. Keep in mind that if you settle in another EU country, you must register using an S1 certificate and not use your health insurance card to receive health care in your new country of residence. Health insurance for short stays If you, as an EU citizen, fall ill quickly during a temporary stay in another EU country – during your holiday, business trip or studies – you have the right to care that cannot wait until you return home. You have the same right to care as the residents of the country you are visiting. You must always take your European health insurance card (EU card) with you when you go abroad. It is proof that you are insured in an EU country. If you do not have an EU card or if you cannot use it (for example for private care), you cannot be refused care. But you may have to pay on the spot and then seek compensation after returning home. Apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EU Card) In some countries, the EU card is on the same card as the national health insurance card. In other countries, you must apply for a card. The card is free. You apply to your insurance fund before you travel. Warning There are rogue websites where you can order a European health insurance card for a fee. Do not use these websites but contact your insurance fund directly. Also, check with your insurance fund if your health insurance covers your family members. Read more about the European health insurance card in different countries: Select country The European Commission is not responsible for the content of external websites. How do I read my Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance card? Special cases and exceptions You who are not an EU citizen can only use your EU card for healthcare in Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland if you are a refugee and live in an EU country or are a co-insured relative of an EU citizen. The card does not give the right to rescue efforts and transport home. In order to be transported home if you become seriously ill or have an accident in another EU country, you must have travel insurance. The EU card does not cover private care. You can only use it with healthcare providers in the public system. The card also does not apply to planned care in another EU country. Examples from real life Get travel insurance Sven from Herrljunga went to France on a skiing trip. Already on the second day, he injured his knee on the ski slope and was rescued by the French rescue service. When he got home, he received an expensive bill. Sven must pay the full amount because search and rescue efforts are not covered by the EU card. EU legislation Implementation of regulations for the regulation on coordination of the social security systems EU directive on patient rights in care abroad EU regulation on the coordination of social security systems Categories: Digital Marketing
What is the European Health Insurance Card? A free card that gives you access to medically necessary, public healthcare during a temporary stay in one of the 27 EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland, under the same conditions and at the same cost (free in some countries) as those who are insured in that country. This also applies to care when you have a chronic or long-term illness or if you are pregnant and about to give birth. The cards are issued by your local health authority. Important – the European Health Insurance Card: is not an alternative to travel insurance. It does not cover any private healthcare or costs such as e.g. flight to your home country or lost/stolen belongings, does not cover your costs if you are traveling for the express purpose of receiving medical care, does not guarantee free services. As all countries’ health insurance systems differ, services that are free at home may not be free in another country. Keep in mind that if you settle in another EU country, you must register using an S1 certificate and not use your health insurance card to receive health care in your new country of residence. Health insurance for short stays If you, as an EU citizen, fall ill quickly during a temporary stay in another EU country – during your holiday, business trip or studies – you have the right to care that cannot wait until you return home. You have the same right to care as the residents of the country you are visiting. You must always take your European health insurance card (EU card) with you when you go abroad. It is proof that you are insured in an EU country. If you do not have an EU card or if you cannot use it (for example for private care), you cannot be refused care. But you may have to pay on the spot and then seek compensation after returning home. Apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EU Card) In some countries, the EU card is on the same card as the national health insurance card. In other countries, you must apply for a card. The card is free. You apply to your insurance fund before you travel. Warning There are rogue websites where you can order a European health insurance card for a fee. Do not use these websites but contact your insurance fund directly. Also, check with your insurance fund if your health insurance covers your family members. Read more about the European health insurance card in different countries: Select country The European Commission is not responsible for the content of external websites. How do I read my Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance card? Special cases and exceptions You who are not an EU citizen can only use your EU card for healthcare in Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland if you are a refugee and live in an EU country or are a co-insured relative of an EU citizen. The card does not give the right to rescue efforts and transport home. In order to be transported home if you become seriously ill or have an accident in another EU country, you must have travel insurance. The EU card does not cover private care. You can only use it with healthcare providers in the public system. The card also does not apply to planned care in another EU country. Examples from real life Get travel insurance Sven from Herrljunga went to France on a skiing trip. Already on the second day, he injured his knee on the ski slope and was rescued by the French rescue service. When he got home, he received an expensive bill. Sven must pay the full amount because search and rescue efforts are not covered by the EU card. EU legislation Implementation of regulations for the regulation on coordination of the social security systems EU directive on patient rights in care abroad EU regulation on the coordination of social security systems
If you, as an EU citizen, fall ill quickly during a temporary stay in another EU country – during your holiday, business trip or studies – you have the right to care that cannot wait until you return home. You have the same right to care as the residents of the country you are visiting. You must always take your European health insurance card (EU card) with you when you go abroad. It is proof that you are insured in an EU country. If you do not have an EU card or if you cannot use it (for example for private care), you cannot be refused care. But you may have to pay on the spot and then seek compensation after returning home. Apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EU Card) In some countries, the EU card is on the same card as the national health insurance card. In other countries, you must apply for a card. The card is free. You apply to your insurance fund before you travel. Warning There are rogue websites where you can order a European health insurance card for a fee. Do not use these websites but contact your insurance fund directly. Also, check with your insurance fund if your health insurance covers your family members. Read more about the European health insurance card in different countries: Select country The European Commission is not responsible for the content of external websites. How do I read my Blue Cross Blue Shield insurance card? Special cases and exceptions You who are not an EU citizen can only use your EU card for healthcare in Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland if you are a refugee and live in an EU country or are a co-insured relative of an EU citizen. The card does not give the right to rescue efforts and transport home. In order to be transported home if you become seriously ill or have an accident in another EU country, you must have travel insurance. The EU card does not cover private care. You can only use it with healthcare providers in the public system. The card also does not apply to planned care in another EU country. Examples from real life Get travel insurance Sven from Herrljunga went to France on a skiing trip. Already on the second day, he injured his knee on the ski slope and was rescued by the French rescue service. When he got home, he received an expensive bill. Sven must pay the full amount because search and rescue efforts are not covered by the EU card.