Does the new scheme mean I can travel abroad purely to receive medical treatment?
No, not generally if the purpose of travel is to receive public-paid treatment – there are separate systems for that. For example, in the UK any travel for hospital treatment has to be pre-authorised by the NHS, which has its own rules. The extended E111 system intends that people with European public health cover should not be discouraged from EEA travel just because they might need incidental treatment. When exactly does the new EU Health Insurance Card come into effect? It is expected that 12 EU countries (including Ireland) will introduce the cards in 2004, and the remaining countries (including the UK) will phase them in by 2006. Existing paper forms are likely to be acceptable for some time. The new rules extending cover to non-emergency ‘necessary’ care will apply everywhere from 1 June 2004. From the same date hospitals and doctors in the EU must accept E111’s (existing forms or new cards) as a qualification for public treatment under the scheme without asking for further proof
