Dáil Éireann Debate, Monday - 11 September 2017
758. Deputy Brendan Smith asked the Minister for Health if a person who travels to Northern Ireland and becomes ill and undergoes surgery in hospital in Northern Ireland is entitled to have all costs covered by the European health card E111; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [36800/17]
View answerUnder EU Regulations, all persons ordinarily resident in the EU are entitled to apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The EHIC certifies that the holder has the right to receive emergency healthcare during a temporary stay in any EEA country as well as Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Iceland. This right is guaranteed to all persons who are covered by the public healthcare system of these countries. The European Health Insurance Card holder has the right to receive necessary treatment in the host Member State's public healthcare system on the same terms and at the same cost as nationals of the State concerned.
As the administration of the European Health Insurance Card comes under the remit of the HSE, my Department has asked the HSE to respond directly to the Deputy on this matter.
