As a citizen of the EU, EEA, or Switzerland, you have the right to receive necessary medical treatment while travelling in another member country. This treatment is covered by the state-funded healthcare system in your home country.
In this article, we will explain the process of obtaining state-funded healthcare abroad and how to claim a refund for medical expenses incurred while travelling. Additionally, we will cover the EU Patient Right Directive EU 2011/24 and the S2 Route for planned treatment abroad.
What is State-Funded Healthcare Abroad?
State-funded healthcare abroad is a system that covers the cost of necessary medical treatment received in another EU, EEA, or Switzerland. This includes treatment for accidents and illnesses that occur while travelling or planned treatment.
These four common ways to get state-funded or refund for treatment abroad.
- European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) Coverage route – The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) covers only emergency or necessary healthcare according to the legislation of the country where the treatment is received. The EHIC is only accepted in clinics or hospitals that provide public services. If you receive treatment at a private clinic or hospital, you can still apply for a refund of your expenses, but you will need to do so via the EU Directive Route.
- Directive route (healthcare already received) – 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. 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.
- Directive route (planning to go abroad) – If you are planning to receive medical treatment abroad, you should 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 member state and have the cost reimbursed by your home country’s healthcare system.
- S2/E112 Route -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.
It is important to 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.
Pick the country where you live and read the rules for state-funded treatment abroad: