If you are a resident of Ireland, you can benefit from state-funded medical care while travelling in the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA), or Switzerland. This can make the process of receiving medical treatment abroad less stressful and more affordable.
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is the main tool for accessing state-funded medical care in another EU country, the EEA, or Switzerland. The EHIC covers emergency or necessary healthcare that is considered medically necessary, according to the legislation of the country where the treatment is received. You can only use the EHIC in public clinics or hospitals.
If you need medical treatment in another EU country, the EEA, or Switzerland, and the treatment is not covered by your EHIC, you may still be able to receive state-funded medical care through the EU Directive Route. The EU Directive Route provides two separate procedures for claiming a refund: one for before treatment and one for after treatment.
EU Directive Route Before Treatment:
To receive state-funded medical care through the EU Directive Route before treatment, you must first contact your home country’s healthcare system to determine if the treatment is covered under the EU Directive Route. If it is, your home country’s healthcare system will issue you an S2 certificate, which will allow you to receive the treatment in another EU country, the EEA, or Switzerland, and have the cost reimbursed by your home country’s healthcare system.
EU Directive After Treatment:
If you have already received medical treatment abroad and the treatment was not covered by your EHIC, you can still apply for a refund of your expenses through the EU Directive Route. To do so, you will need to gather all receipts and documentation related to the treatment and submit them, along with a claim form, to your home country’s healthcare system.
It is important to always check with your home country’s healthcare system for the most up-to-date information on the process for claiming a refund for medical expenses incurred abroad. With the EU Directive Route and the EHIC, Irish residents can receive state-funded medical care abroad in the EU, EEA, and Switzerland, making the process of going abroad for medical treatment less stressful and more affordable.
S2 healthcare financing route
In addition, the S2 Route is a procedure under the EU Directive Route that allows individuals to receive medical treatment in another EU member state and have the cost reimbursed by their home country’s healthcare system. To use the S2 Route, you must first determine if the treatment you need is covered under the EU Directive Route by contacting your home country’s healthcare system. If it is, your home country’s healthcare system will issue you an S2 certificate, which you will need to present to the clinic or hospital in the EU member state where you will receive the treatment. With the S2 certificate, you will be able to receive the treatment without paying upfront and have the cost reimbursed by your home country’s healthcare system. The S2 Route is a useful option for individuals who need to receive medical treatment in another EU member state, but want to avoid paying the full cost of the treatment upfront.
Pick the country where you live and read the rules for state-funded treatment abroad: