Cross-Border Healthcare in the EU

Did you know?

Citizens of the European Union can receive health care in another EU country, in two ways.

Both require, in most cases, prior authorization from the entity responsible for the patient’s insurance in their country of affiliation.

Let’s explain each of them to you:

Healthcare through the Cross-Border Healthcare Directive

• If you choose to receive cross-border healthcare is this way, you will pay your care costs in advance, and subsequently claim reimbursement of these costs in your country of affiliation (Member State where you are insured or are entitled to health benefits under its legislation).
• This enables you to receive healthcare in public or private facilities in other EU countries, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Norway.
• It is covered by Directive 2011/24/EU, on the application of patients' rights in cross-border healthcare , and by Spain’s Royal Decree 81/2014 of 7 February , establishing regulations guaranteeing cross-border healthcare.

If you would like to receive information for the above cases, fill in the following form:

Link to the form for enquiries to the NATIONAL CONTACT POINT (regarding DIRECTIVE 2011/24)

• Fact sheet
• If you want to know more
• National Contact Point (NCP)

Healthcare through the Social Security Coordination Regulations

• If you are planning to travel to another EU country, or to Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland or United Kingdom;
• If you are posted to or temporarily residing in another EU country, or in Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland or United Kingdom;
• If your national competent authority (Autonomous Community) has decided to refer you to an EU country, or to Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland or United Kingdom to receive healthcare on a programmed basis;
• If you wish to obtain a EUROPEAN HEALTH CARD ; or
• If you wish to APPLY FOR REIMBURSEMENT of HEALTHCARE EXPENDITURE ABROAD THAT YOU HAVE PAID, EVEN IF YOU HAVE A EUROPEAN HEALTH CARD
• And, if you wish to access your CLINICAL RECORDS and obtain PRESCRIPTIONS from the National Health System in other countries of the European Union

In these cases, the Regulation on the Coordination of Social Security Systems, Regulation (EC) No. 883/2004 , and its Implementing Regulation No. 987/2009 apply.

If you would like to receive information for the above cases, fill in the following form:

Link to the form (in Spanish) for enquiries to SOCIAL SECURITY (regarding REGULATIONS ON THE COORDINATION OF SOCIAL SECURITY SYSTEMS)