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24-09-2021

A reminder from Health insurance fund: those leaving to study in the EU must obtain a certificate from university

Iliustracija

The Šiauliai Territorial health insurance fund (THIF) receives questions from students who have started studying at universities in the European Union (EU) countries since autumn and want to take care of their compulsory health insurance (CHI).

As a reminder, students studying in higher education institutions in the EU countries, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland under full-time or full-time study programmes are covered by the state’s CHI insurance, but failure to provide proof of insurance by the students themselves means that the person remains uninsured. In this case, you may have to pay a lot of money for treatment abroad.

“For full-time students studying at higher education institutions in EU countries, CHI insurance at state expense becomes effective when the identity document and an official academic certificate issued by the university on the original university letterhead confirming that the person is studying at the university are submitted to the Health insurance fund. An invitation to study from a higher education institution is not appropriate in this case”, - points out Inga Kvedarienė, Head of the Population Service Division of Šiauliai THIF.

The students are covered by the CHI for one academic year, so a certificate from the higher education institution has to be submitted to the HIF every academic year. If the student is not able to deliver the documents himself/herself, they can be sent to the HIF by registered mail, in which case the period of CHI insurance will be determined according to the data in the certificate sent.

Attention should be paid to the month in which studies officially begin. Pupils and full-time students are covered by the CHI at public expense, and this insurance is valid until the end of August. If the person continues his/her education from September onwards, the CHI continues to apply.

“Studies in some foreign higher education institutions begin only in October. In this case, you have to pay the CHI contribution for September yourself. Next year, if you continue your studies, the insurance will be valid from October to October and you will not have to pay extra for September,” explains the representative of Šiauliai THIF.

Students are issued with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) once they have submitted the necessary documents to the THIF. They can apply to the THIF themselves or through an authorised person (upon arrival at the THIF). This card confirms the student’s entitlement to receive emergency medical services paid for by the compulsory health insurance fund budget. With an EHIC, students can be guaranteed that, if necessary, they will receive emergency medical care in accordance with the laws of the country where they study.

Students without an EHIC may have to pay for the cost of the emergency medical services provided. After returning to Lithuania, where the student is covered by compulsory health insurance, he or she can apply to the THIF for reimbursement of the costs incurred.

Persons who declare their departure from Lithuania when they go to study in the EU lose their status as a permanent resident of Lithuania and lose the right to be insured with the state’s CHI, as only permanent residents of the Republic of Lithuania can be insured with the state’s CHI funds.

Lithuanians studying at higher education institutions in the United Kingdom (enrolled until the 31st of December, 2020) will continue to be covered by compulsory health insurance in Lithuania at state expense. Please note that these students are covered by the CHI until the end of their studies, but no later than until the 31st of August, 2023. These students also need to submit a certificate confirming their student status for the current academic year.

Šiauliai Territorial Health Insurance Fund information

Additional information about EHIC

The NHIF invites you:

Your questions are welcome by email [email protected] or phone: local (8 5) 232 2222, international +370 5 232 2222.

Last updated: 20-12-2022

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