Health insurance

European Commission initiative on patients’ rights in foreign healthcare. Most patients find their desired healthcare in their home country. However, there is a situation when, at that time, the best care is available abroad. This happens mostly in highly specialized care cases where the nearest and most appropriate medical facility can indeed be located abroad.

Existing rules for foreign health care and reimbursement use are not always easy to understand. Therefore, the European Commission has prepared a draft law aimed at illustrating treatment options in other EU countries. The proposal also clarifies who is responsible for the quality and safety of care in the case of health care abroad. Furthermore, it seeks to achieve cooperation in various fields – between networks of reference centres for specialized care.

On the one hand, this proposal will help patients receive the best possible health care and, on the other hand, encourage the Member States to be able to guarantee the availability, quality and financial sustainability of health systems and preserve the well-being of their citizens.

To make it easier for you to understand treatment options in other EU countries, below are European Union documents on patients’ rights:

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A32011L0024

https://www.europarl.europa.eu/RegData/docs_autres_institutions/commission_europeenne/com/2008/0415/COM_COM(2008)0415_EN.pdf

https://eur-lex.europa.eu/legal-content/EN/TXT/?uri=celex%3A52010DC0636

REIMBURSEMENT OF COSTS FOR EU CITIZENS

In order to be eligible for medical treatment from your healthcare provider, you must meet certain requirements to which you are entitled under the EU’s Cross-Border Healthcare Directive.

The “Route Directive” (formerly Route Article 56) is based on the individual exercising his or her rights to receive health services on the open market within the EU under Article 56 of the Lisbon Treaty.

The entire treatment is charged in advance, and you can claim compensation from your insurer upon your return.

Polyclinic Glavic will provide you with the necessary documentation and the invoices required for the reimbursement process as soon as possible. However, we cannot guarantee that your insurer will reimburse any of the costs of treatment.

You can always find out about your options for reimbursement before or during your stay at the Polyclinic, as some EU insurance companies are willing to consider reimbursement under certain conditions.