Vol. 503 No. 3
320 Mr. C. Lenihan asked the Minister for Health and Children if a person (details supplied) in Dublin 24 can recoup medical expenses incurred while on holidays abroad in an EU country in view of the fact he is a pensioner and a medical card holder. [10013/99]
Under EU Regulations, any person normally resident in Ireland who temporarily visits another European Economic Area (EEA) member state is entitled to receive urgent necessary treatment on the same basis as if he/she was an insured resi dent of that member state. As such treatment is offered on the same basis as to an ordinary resident of that member state, the visitor will be liable for the same charges, if any, as the ordinary resident. The regulations covers public health services only and any person who opts for private treatment is liable for any expenses incurred.
As the recoupment of medical expenses is an operational function of health boards I have asked the chief executive officer of the Eastern Health Board to have the matter investigated and to reply directly to you.
