Valid not only in the European Union
320 thousand – this is the record number issued by ESDK to residents last year by health insurance funds. This is even 100 thousand. more cards than last year. The fact that it is useful to have ESDK is shown by the impressive sum of over 15 million paid from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund (PSDF) for the necessary medical assistance provided to ESDK holders abroad last year. euros.
According to the data of the sickness funds, almost 700 thousand of the country’s population of various ages currently have valid ESDK. Consequently, many people already know that the ESDK is issued free of charge to all people covered by compulsory health insurance, and its holders can receive necessary medical assistance while visiting Europe, the costs of which are covered or partially covered by health insurance funds.
However, as Justina Izotovė, advisor of the Resident Services Department of the Vilnius Territorial Hospital Fund, notes, not only those who do not have a card, but also those who have one do not always know or remember the conditions of use of ESDK.
Julius Kalinskas / 15min photo. / The European Health Insurance Card
“Necessary medical assistance from the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund is paid to cardholders during their temporary stay, for example, when traveling, studying, on a business trip, in European Union countries, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Norway belonging to the European Economic Area, as well as in Switzerland and the United Kingdom. When going to countries like Macedonia, Montenegro, Serbia, Turkey or Egypt, you need to take care of your own health insurance – the health insurance fund does not pay for treatment there,” the specialist reminds.
Necessary assistance is paid
Necessary medical aid paid by health insurance funds includes first and emergency medical aid. It is provided until it becomes safe for the person to continue the journey or return to Lithuania. The local doctor treating the ESDK holder decides what specific medical assistance is needed and how much it is needed.
J. Izotovė draws attention to the fact that compensatory services due to a chronic illness can only be provided to the ESDK holder in the event of an exacerbation of the disease or when the patient needs constant care – dialysis, oxygen therapy, etc. It is important to take care of these services abroad before your trip.
ESDK does not guarantee planned health care. Patient premiums, additional services, and transportation costs are not paid from the PSDF and are applied in the medical institution.
123RF.com photo. / Sick woman
The costs of necessary medical assistance in other European countries are covered by the health insurance fund if the ESDK holder applies to a treatment facility (public or private) belonging to the national health system of the country being visited. Therefore, when you arrive at the treatment facility, you should look into it, ask if it accepts ESDK.
It is also important for all ESDK holders to remember that the existing card can no longer be used, even if its term has not yet expired, if the mandatory health insurance is terminated.
Billing is different
Necessary medical assistance paid for by the PSDF is provided to travelers under the same conditions as it is provided to local residents.
“In some countries where the European health insurance card is valid, patients do not have to pay – the countries’ health insurance funds or their equivalent institutions pay for treatment among themselves. However, in some places, patients must first pay for medical services or cover at least part of their costs. For example, in France, Belgium.
123RF.com photo. / A sick man
After receiving the service, in some cases it is necessary to apply to the competent authority of the visited country, and in some cases to the health insurance fund in Lithuania, in order to cover the expenses. Therefore, it is important to save payment documents and copies of medical documents and to check the procedure applied in a specific country before the trip”, warns J. Izotovė.
It can be ordered online or at the health insurance office
ESDK is free. It can be ordered for yourself and your minor children (children from the age of 16 can order by themselves). It is convenient to order the card online, using the information system of the State Health Fund or when you come to the health fund. The original of the signed application for issuing ESDK can also be sent to the health fund by post or signed with a qualified electronic signature – e. delivery system or email.
When ordering ESDK, upon arrival at the territorial health fund, the card is issued immediately – within a few minutes. A card ordered online or by mail can also be picked up quickly at your local health insurance company.
In all cases – when ordering or picking up ESDK – a personal identification document is required. If the card is intended for another person (a minor, another person under a power of attorney), documents confirming guardianship or representation or their official copies, power of attorney, must also be submitted.
