National Insurance

Carolina Medical Center is a private hospital and does not accept European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC), patients should first pay at the counter and then reclaim based on EU Directive 2011/24/EU1 on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare, which came into force on 24 April 2011. It was due to be transposed by Member States by 25 October 2013. It clarifies the rights of patients to seek reimbursement for healthcare received in another Member State.

Directive http://eur-lex.europa.eu/LexUriServ/LexUriServ.do?uri=OJ:L:2011:088:0045:0065:EN:PDF

More information on EHIC card: https://www.schengenvisainfo.com/europe-health-insurance/ehic/

Important information on national insurance reimbursement:

  • If you are entitled to a particular treatment in your home country, then you have a right to be reimbursed when you receive it in another country.
  • You may choose whichever healthcare provider you wish, whether public or private (including Carolina Medical Center)
  • For some treatments (certain in-patient or highly specialised services) you may be required to get authorization from your own health system before receiving the treatment abroad. This includes orthopedic treatments, therefore you should contact your national insurance provider to obtain a guarantee of payment.

To know before you go: https://health.ec.europa.eu/document/download/4ab2ee41-e5eb-45f4-9d20-96091a645421_en?filename=2019_ncptoolbox_manualpatients_en.pdf