Dáil Éireann Debate, Tuesday - 25 March 2014
1011. Deputy Ciarán Lynch asked the Minister for Health if changes are contemplated in the provision of health services to UK pensioners resident here (details supplied); and if he will make a statement on the matter. [13057/14]
View answer1022. Deputy Michael McGrath asked the Minister for Health if he will respond to a query regarding plans for universal health insurance raised in correspondence by a person (details supplied) in County Cork. [13120/14]
View answerI propose to take Questions Nos. 1011 and 1022 together.
The rules on the coordination of social security systems, including healthcare within the EU/EEA and Switzerland, are currently contained in EU 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 these areas do not suffer disadvantages in accessing or paying for healthcare. The Regulation is binding on all Member States and does not allow for any discretion in establishing entitlement.
As a general rule, public healthcare is provided according to the legislation of the country of residence as if the individual were insured in that country. The cost of this public healthcare is the responsibility of the State to which social security system the individual is linked. Therefore, a pensioner in receipt of a qualifying pension in a Member State, who is residing in another Member State, is entitled to access public healthcare on the same basis as persons who are insured with and resident in the Member State of residence, provided that he/she is not subject to the social security legislation in that Member State of residence .
The implementation of a system of universal health insurance will not affect the requirement for Ireland to continue to comply with EU Regulations in this regard.
