David Stanton
Question:454. Deputy David Stanton asked the Minister for Health the position regarding the use of health insurance from another EU country (details supplied) to qualify for health services here [55108/12]
View answerTuesday, 11 December 2012
Questions (454)
Written answers
The rules on the coordination of social security systems, including healthcare within the EU/EEA and Switzerland, are currently contained in Regulation 883/04 and Implementing Regulation 987/09. One of the objectives of Regulation 883/04 is to ensure that persons exercising their right to move and to stay freely within the EU/EEA and Switzerland do not suffer disadvantages in the field of healthcare i.e. accessing or paying for same.
As a general rule, healthcare is provided according to the legislation of the country where you reside, or stay, as if you were insured in that country. The costs of this healthcare are the responsibility of the State whose social security system you are linked to. In principle, an insured person from one State, residing or staying in another State is entitled to access healthcare on the same basis as persons who are insured with and resident in that State.
In Ireland, the HSE is the competent institution for the purposes of the EU Regulations in this area. It is the competent institution which is responsible for the insured person receiving the service. I understand that a medical card has been issued in this case and that we have met our obligations under the EU Regulations. If the person concerns feels that their health insurance provider will cover the cost of treatment outside the public health system in Ireland this is a matter they should pursue with the provider.