A Contact Point has been created as a gateway to the European Union

What and how?

From 1 June 2016, the Estonian Health Insurance Fund is responsible for the performance of the tasks related to a national contact point. The Contact Point provides information on which countries and what type of health care it is possible to obtain with the Estonian Health Insurance Fund insurance in foreign countries. It is also possible to receive answers to questions about how to act in case of an accident, where to turn, and what kind of costs may arise in relation to medical care, where to turn for reimbursement of medical costs, what documents to take along on a trip, etc. In addition to the people insured by the Health Insurance Fund, the Contact Point issues information to the insured people of other European Union Member States who seek medical care in Estonia. The information on the Contact Point can be found here.

The European Health Insurance Card is the first helper in case if health problems occurring abroad

Estonian insured people holding a European Health Insurance Card are provided the necessary health care in the European Union, as well as in Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland and Switzerland on equal terms with the insured people living in those countries. The necessary health care is deemed as treatment of a health disorder that emerged unexpectedly during a stay in another Member State. This may be, for example, high fever, abdominal pain, heart attack or an injury caused by an accident. Furthermore, there are few scheduled health care services, which are also considered to be necessary medical care. These include oxygen, dialysis treatment, and chemotherapy. The person that is aware of the need for these services before going to another Member State must, therefore, agree with some of the government hospitals in that State prior to going so that the hospital would be able to provide the necessary service to the patient at the appropriate time. It should be remembered that the European Health Insurance Card is only valid in the health care institutions within the national system.

Smartphone owners are now able to download the EHIC application that displays various national emergency numbers, information on the services and the expenditure to be covered provided on the basis of the card.

Smartphone owners are now able to download the EHIC application that displays various national emergency numbers, information on the services and the expenditure to be covered provided on the basis of the card, on applying for benefits, and where to turn when you have lost your card. The application gives information on the use of the card in 28 EU Member States, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland and the information is available in the application in 25 languages, including the Estonian language. It is free to download from Google Play, App Store, and Windows Phone Store channels. For more information about the application, see the European Commission's website.

Remember!

·         It is easy to order the European Health Insurance Card via the internet from the portal www.eesti.ee. The Card will be sent upon request to the person’s home address, and it is free.

·         The European Health Insurance Card is valid only with an identification document.

·         The European Health Insurance Card cannot be used when the health insurance has been terminated.

·         The Health Insurance Fund covers the medical expenses of the treatment received abroad. The patient will have to bear the appointment costs and cost-sharing charges, transnational transportation costs, etc.

·         Before embarking on a trip, it would be a good idea buy travel insurance, also when traveling in the EU.

·         When calling from abroad the Health Insurance Fund information number is +372669 6630. More information about treatment options and the application forms are available here.