The right to cross-border healthcare

The EU Directive on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare came into force on the 25th October 2013. Directive sets out the conditions under which patients from EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway may travel to another country to receive safe and high-quality medical care and be reimbursed by their own health insurance scheme. It also encourages cooperation between national healthcare systems.

After paying for the healthcare services at their own expense, the insured people have the right to apply to the competent institution of their home country where they are insured for reimbursement of these costs. If they are entitled to that healthcare at home, then they will receive reimbursement.

It is important to know that countries have chosen different ways to reimburse cross-border healthcare costs. Some countries have prior authorization system in place. The person must obtain the prior authorisation from his competent institution before going to another country for some specific healthcare services. Therefore, if you want to come to Lithuania for cross-border healthcare, firstly you should find out about the reimbursement procedure for cross-border healthcare in the country where you are insured and ascertain if prior authorization is required in order to receive your chosen services. This information will be provided to you by the National Contact Point for Cross-Border Health Care in the country where you are covered by social insurance.

Reimbursement deadlines and the amounts of reimbursable costs for your cross-border healthcare will be determined by the competent institution of the country where you are covered by social (and health) insurance in accordance with national legislation.