European Health Card available in eleven countries as of 1 June 2004

From 1 June 2004, EU citizens will be able to apply for the European Health Insurance Card, entitling temporary visitors to other EU Member States to free emergency health care. The card is set to replace current administrative procedures to cross-border healthcare in the EU (forms E111, E128, E110, etc) with a single personalised card (see EurActiv

The aim of the card is to reduce bureaucracy and make access to medical care easier across Europe. While at the moment, travellers, students and workers staying in another EU Member State have to fill in a variety of forms for their medical treatment abroad, this process will be simplified by the chipcard. This would allow patients to be reimbursed more quickly by their own social security systems and it would gradually offer more advantages for EU citizens, such as the right to all necessary care in the host Member States, which has already been agreed at political level between the Member States.

"The Health Insurance Card is a very tangible manifestation of an initiative by the European Union which would have real, practical benefits for its citizens. I am delighted that a majority of Member States are prepared to operate the system from June 1st and I urge the remaining states to do so as soon as possible," said Bertie Ahern, President of the European Council.

Belgium, France, Luxembourg, Spain, Greece, Ireland, Sweden, Denmark, Finland, Norway, Estonia and Slovenia are expected to introduce the card immediately, while all other states will make it available gradually. All countries should have completed the introduction of the card by the end of 2005.