Health policy in the European Union

Unplanned health care

• Health care for temporary stays

As an European Union citizen, if you fall ill during a temporary stay abroad (either on a holiday, a business trip…) you are authorized to any medical treatment (medicines, antibiotics…) that can’t wait until you get home. You have the same rights as people of the country you are in.

To have this privileges, you have to take your European Health Insurance Card with you. This card is the physical proof that you are given when you live in an  EU country and will simplify everything related to healthcare abroad. If you don’t have one or you are not able to use it (you have a private health care) you can’t be refused to treatment but may have to pay a big quantity of money.

• Going to a hospital abroad

If you need to get hospital treatment during a trip to another country, you need to have your European Health Insurance Card. It will simplify administration and payment for public health care. It’s only accepted by hospitals that belong to the public health care system- which means that private health is not covered. If you have a private health care you may be able to claim the money when you get home but it depends on the country you visit.

In each country of the EU there is a different health care policy. In some countries you may have to pay the doctor for the treatment, while in others you don’t have to pay for public health.

• Expenses

With the European  Health Insurance Card you can get healthcare and claim the money that you need to use. If the treatment is free for local residents, it will be free for you. And, if the treatment isn’t free, you can ask payment from your health insurer when you get home.

For example: An English woman called Susan goes to Spain to finish her her studies. She has her European Health Insurance Card and she’s pregnant. She will give birth while being in Spain. Susan will get the medical assistance necessary in Spain when she presents her European Health Insurance Card. She will be treated as if she were insured in that country. This means that if the treatment is free for local people, it will be free for her too.

Without the European Health Insurance Card you will be asked to pay and then claim for the money at home.

- You will only pay the medicines that are authorised to receive at home.

- You will be reimbursed only the cost of the medicine in your home country (which may be less than what you paid abroad)

If you require urgent treatment, your local health authority might be able to prove that it’s necessary and you health insurance coverage may avoid you having to pay.