AS OF today, Cypriots can travel anywhere within the 25 countries of the EU or the four countries of the European Economic Area (Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and break a leg without having to worry too much about it. As long as they’re carrying that additive-named paper – the E111 – and they are just visiting, they’ll be fine.
Part of the EU’s vision is to have a system set up where European citizens are able to travel freely within the bloc and have access to urgent medical care in any country.
This applies to Cypriots travelling within the EU but also to EU citizens travelling in Cyprus; this does not apply to citizens moving to another EU country on a permanent basis.
The relevant bill on emergency medical care was only just passed through parliament a week ago, giving EU citizens the same rights of medical care as Cypriot citizens.
The Health Ministry explained that the bill covers EU citizens on the island temporarily. Emergency health care for travelling EU citizens is covered only in state-run hospitals and on the condition that the patient presents his E111 card, proving that he is entitled to free health care.
Before travelling abroad, Cypriots need to get their E111 forms to ensure free emergency health care. To get one, first you have to fill out an application form, obtained from any local hospital or the Health Ministry. Then, take your application form with your medical card to the nearest hospital or the ministry and prepare to receive a very useful E111 form.
One important point to note is that the E111 form does not get you non-emergency therapy abroad. People cannot plan a trip abroad for a specific therapy. For that, you still need to go through the normal channels with the Health Ministry.
Next month, the Irish Presidency will introduce the European Health Insurance Card to replace the E111 and the numerous other forms currently needed for EU citizens to receive urgent medical care in other member states.
The Health Card is not the equivalent of private health or travel insurance as it fails to cover a number of possibilities and is only valid in state hospitals, but it does guarantee you access to emergency treatment while in any other EU country.
There are a host of other forms covering employees posted abroad and students (E128), job seekers (E119), international truck drivers (E110).
But from June, the EU will introduce the EU Health Insurance Card, initially incorporating the E111 form. By 2005, the Commission hopes cards will replace all E-based paper forms.
The ultimate aim is to have electronic systems to automate the transmission of forms and billing information by 2008. This will not be so simple to execute given the concern for civil liberties and the collection of sensitive date on one card.
