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Make sure you know the procedures to follow if you are traveling for holidays, work or studies in an EU/EEA country or Switzerland and have a chronic illness (such as diabetes, asthma, cancer or kidney disease) or if you are pregnant and know in advance that you will be needing medical care during your stay abroad.
If you are travelling to an EU/EEA country or Switzerland for holidays, studies or business, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) also covers you if you have a chronic illness (such as diabetes, asthma, cancer or chronic kidney disease) or if you are pregnant, and you know in advance that you will be needing medical care during your stay abroad. Provided that the express purpose of your trip was not access to medical care, such as childbirth or receiving care for chronic illness, this will be considered medically necessary care under Social Security Regulations (EC) 883 / 2004 and 987/2009.
In case the care requires specialized equipment or staff, it is necessary to contact in advance, the healthcare provider in the country you are visiting, before your travel. There are issues associated with availability of services, medical history and other possible formalities to ensure safe and timely treatment. Examples of such treatments are hemodialysis, oxygen therapy and chemotherapy, or the provision of high-cost medicines for chronic illnesses. We strongly recommend that you pre-arrange the treatment before you travel abroad.
The national contact points for cross-border healthcare of the EU/EEA member states can give you more information regarding healthcare providers and costs coverage options in the country you are visiting.
