European Health Insurance Card Frequently Asked Questions

							                                                                         MEMO/04/75

                                             Brussels, 26 March 2004, redif 1/6/2004




European Health Insurance Card: Frequently Asked
Questions


On 1 June 2004, the European Health Insurance Card will come into circulation. The
aim of the card is to simplify procedures for accessing the healthcare system in
another Member State.

Which Member States will introduce the card?
The European health insurance card will be introduced in all Member States. Those
countries that request it – particularly those that do not have a national health
insurance card – can make use of a transition period up to the end of 2005. By the
end of 2005 all Member States will use the card. Current indications are that
Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Spain, Germany, Greece, Ireland, Sweden,
Denmark, Finland, Norway, Estonia and Slovenia are all intending to introduce the
card from 1 June, though in some of these countries it will be phased in gradually, so
not everyone will have one from 1 June 2004.

What will the card be used for?
From 1 June 2004, the card will replace the paper forms used to access healthcare
during temporary stays in another Member State.
 Currently a new form has to be applied for each time a trip is made. In some
countries, it is required to present the form to national authorities before treatment is
allowed.
With the health card, it will no longer be required to complete all the forms each time
a person travels abroad, and bureaucratic procedures will be greatly reduced and
simplified. Treatment will be available on production of the card. The period of
validity of the card will be a decision for each issuing Member State.
So, for example, if a British visitor on holiday in France breaks his leg, he can, on
production of the health card, receive treatment.

What changes will it make to the system of co-ordination of social
security?
The system will remain as present, with the Member State that has treated the
individual being reimbursed by that individual’s home social security institution.
However, some changes have been made to simplify the existing entitlements,
giving all persons certain rights to access to medically necessary care.
What the card will do is speed up the reimbursement system, by avoiding problems
with incomplete or illegible forms and reducing administrative costs.
How do I get a European health insurance card?
If your Member State is one that is introducing the card from 1 June 2004, you
should approach your national social security institution or its local branch to see
what measures are put in place at national level to distribute the card.

Can I use the card to travel to another Member State specifically for
treatment?
The card will only relate to necessary care, such as breaking a leg, a tooth falling
out, catching a virus, or on-going care for a serious medical condition such as
diabetes. It will not cover someone who decides to have treatment for a condition in
another Member State. That treatment will only be provided with the agreement of
the person’s insuring institution or national social security administration.

Who will be entitled to have a card?
All people who are insured under or covered by a social security system of a
Member State and eligible for care in that Member State can benefit from the rules
on co-ordination of social security and so are entitled to the European health
insurance card.

Will the scope of the card be extended?
In long term intention is that the card will be issued with an electronic chip to greatly
facilitate exchange of information between Member States and reduce the risk of
error, fraud and abuse. There is no fixed timing for either of these future phases,
which depends on the evaluation of the first roll-out of the card, and the development
of technological systems that allow exchange of information without changes to the
architecture of national systems.

Will national social security systems be able to keep their national
health cards?
A number of Member States already have national health insurance cards and they
have the option to incorporate the elements of the European health insurance card
into their national card, or issue separate European cards.

Will the card carry personal information about the patient?
The card is about making access easier and getting reimbursements more quickly,
not carrying information about health status, condition or treatments. Personal
information about the card-carrier – e.g. blood type or medical records - will only be
included insofar as the European health card is delivered as one side of a national
card, and the national card already contains such information. Not all Member States
issue national cards, and few Member States that do include personal health
information.

Will the card look the same whichever Member State it is issued in?
A common model with a distinctive European symbol will be used by all Member
States. This is to ensure immediate recognition of the card by all those involved in
the health system, irrespective of where the cardholder is staying. The obligatory
information will be the minimum necessary and its presentation will be standardised
to enable it to be read, irrespective of the user's language, by superimposing fields.




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