Skip to main content
17-02-2021

Residents have recovered thousands of euros for treatment abroad

Iliustracija

The Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (CHIF) spent 118 thousand euros last year to compensate for cross-border healthcare costs of persons insured with compulsory health insurance, totalling more than half a million euros over the last five years. The most popular direction of searching for health services amongst the population of Lithuania is still neighbouring Latvia.

In 2020, the National health insurance fund (NHIF) has approved 98 requests for reimbursement of cross-border healthcare costs. For this purpose, over 118 thousand euros were spent from the CHIF — 4 percent more than in 2019. In total, during the years of 2015-2020, patients have received 634 requests for reimbursement of cross-border healthcare costs, 555 thousand euros were spent from the CHIF.        

Last year, residents of Lithuania usually went to neighbouring Latvia for treatment — 47 requests were received for reimbursement of costs incurred in that country. People actively travelled to Poland for medical services — 32 requests were submitted and 15 requests were submitted for treatment in Germany, as well as somewhat less to Estonia and Slovakia — 3 requests each. One application for reimbursement of costs after visits to medical professionals or medicines purchased in each of the following countries: Finland, Belgium, Austria, Ireland, Czech Republic, Spain, Greece, Luxembourg and Norway. 

Most often (56 cases) Lithuanian residents applied for reimbursement of inpatient health care services last year. Our compatriots also wanted to receive money for consulting foreign specialists such as a radiologist, urologist, ophthalmologist, obstetrician gynaecologist, neurologist, oncologist, orthopaedic traumatologist and others, as well as medical rehabilitation services in Poland, Slovakia and Germany. It was requested to reimburse the costs of expensive tests, the purchase of medicines, medical devices and, in one case, the purchase of rabies vaccine. 

The largest compensation paid from the CHIF last year amounted to 11.4 thousand euros, it was allocated for an operation on a newborn baby, the minimum amount reimbursed for medicines — 2.9 euros.

"The right to receive treatment abroad for Lithuanian residents, insured with compulsory health insurance is guaranteed by the Directive in force in the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway on the implementation of patients' rights to cross-border healthcare", — recalls Inga Jezerkauskaitė, Chief Specialist of the International Affairs Division of the NHIF. According to her, there are very similar trends in all the countries applying the directive: people usually travel to the nearest neighbouring countries for medical services. This is also the case in Lithuania — the most popular treatment routes have been leading to Latvia, Poland and Germany for many years. 

The currently rampant pandemic of the coronavirus in the world greatly slowed down not only the tourist trips of Lithuanian residents, but also visits to foreign doctors. Compared to 2019, last year, the national healthcare fund has received 49 less requests to compensate for cross-border healthcare costs. 

NHIF points out that in order to receive health care services in another EU country, a person must include a personal health care institution of the Republic of Lithuania, which has an agreement with the Territorial Health Insurance Fund regarding the provision and payment for these services, as well as a doctor's prescribed referral. It is also necessary to find the necessary medical institution in a foreign country, to pay for the treatment at one's own expense and only then, no later than one year after the provision of personal health care services and/or the provision of medicines and/or medical devices and/or medical devices in the state of medical treatment, one can apply for compensation. 

It is important to know that the costs of services provided abroad are reimbursed at the same prices and conditions as in Lithuania. The amount of reimbursement may not exceed the insured person's actual costs of cross-border healthcare. At the time, medical services in the EU countries are often much more expensive. Therefore, the CHIF budget reimburses only part of the costs incurred. It is worth noting that the CHIF does not cover travel, accommodation, meals, translation, and transportation costs. It is up to the patient to pay the fees and surcharges imposed in those foreign countries. For the services not provided in Lithuania, i.e. not reimbursed from the CHIF, the full amount will have to be covered from your own pocket.

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: 26-05-2021

Related news:

Health budget in 2025: what benefits did we receive?

The right to be informed: what is important to know about reimbursable healthcare

Tens of millions of euros for residents’ health: for whom and how are medication co-payments covered?

Study reveals: a family doctor’s advice determines the decision to get checked

Unexpected ailments during the holidays: where to turn and what to know