If You Get Sick during a Temporary Stay Abroad [Sjuk vid tillfällig vistelse utomlands]

Transcription

1 If You Get Sick during a Temporary Stay Abroad [Sjuk vid tillfällig vistelse utomlands] If you are temporarily staying in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you are entitled to necessary health care on the same financial terms as any other inhabitant of the country. To obtain health care, you need to have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). However, you do not have to have an EHIC when you are in another Nordic country. With a handful of exceptions, you are not entitled to health care in countries other than the EU/EEA and Switzerland. To be reimbursed for any healthcare costs you incur in those countries, you will have to purchase private travel insurance. EU/EEA countries and Switzerland [EU/EES-länder och Schweiz] An EHIC entitles you to health care [EU-kortet ger dig rätt till vård] An EHIC, which shows that you have health insurance in Sweden, entitles you to receive necessary care when you are temporarily in an EU/EEA country or Switzerland on holiday or for another reason. Switzerland and Liechtenstein also require you to be a citizen of an EU/EEA country or Switzerland. What does health care include? [Vad menas med vård?] Health care includes hospitalisation, doctor s appointments, dentistry, prescriptions and anything else that is covered by the public healthcare system of the country you are visiting. What is necessary health care? [Vad är nödvändig vård?] Necessary care refers not only to emergency care, but to health services you receive due to chronic illness, including tests and medical check-ups. For non-emergencies, you may need to make an agreement with the care provider in advance. The idea is that you will be able to spend time in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland without worrying that your healthcare needs will not be met. Not all health care is considered to be necessary. Care that can wait until you return to Sweden is not regarded as necessary. The assessment, which is performed by a doctor or another caregiver who treats you, is based on the nature of your illness and how long you plan to stay in the country. 1 (5)

2 An EHIC does not cover everything [EU-kortet täcker inte allt] An EHIC does not entitle you to planned medical treatment. In other words, you cannot use the card if the purpose of going to the other country was to obtain health care. An EHIC entitles you to receive private health care only if the provider is part of the country s public healthcare system. Keep in mind that you cannot be reimbursed for air ambulance services and other expenses associated with coming back to Sweden. Make sure to purchase private travel insurance if you want to be covered for such expenses. However, you do not need that kind of insurance if you are visiting another Nordic country. If you are retired and plan to go to Spain [Pensionärer som reser till Spanien] If you are retired and are planning to go to Spain, you may need a special pensioner s certificate in addition to your EHIC. The certificate, which shows that you are receiving a pension in Sweden, enables you to purchase medication at a discount in connection with necessary health care. Order the certificate from Försäkringskassan (Swedish Social Insurance Agency). How much does health care cost? [Vad kostar det att få vård?] An EHIC entitles you to health care on the same financial terms as the inhabitants of the country you are visiting. This means that you are responsible for paying patient fees, etc., just like everyone else in the country. In some countries, however, you must pay the entire cost first and then request reimbursement from the country s social insurance agency. Don t forget that such benefits are available to you only if care provider is part of the country s public healthcare system. You will pay the entire amount for the services of private care providers. If you get sick and do not have an EHIC [Om du blir sjuk och inte har ett EU-kort] If you get sick when you are abroad and do not have an EHIC, contact Försäkringskassan (Swedish Social Insurance Agency). Försäkringskassan will issue a certificate that temporarily takes the place of an EHIC. The certificate can be faxed to the care provider. If you prefer, you can ask the provider or the country s social insurance agency to contact Försäkringskassan and request a certificate for you. Retroactive reimbursement [Ersättning i efterhand] If you are required to pay all of your healthcare costs (you didn t have an EHIC with you, the care provider did not approve it, etc.), Försäkringskassan may be able to reimburse you after you return to Sweden. Be sure to attach the original of the receipt to your application. You cannot obtain reimbursement unless you have paid the bill. Including information about the care provider and the treatment you received will be helpful. Send your application to: 2 (5)

3 Försäkringskassan Box Visby Download the application form from or pick it up at a Försäkringskassan office in Sweden. How long is an EHIC valid for and in what countries? [Hur länge och var gäller EU-kortet?] An EHIC is valid for three years in the following countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Switzerland and the United Kingdom (plus Northern Ireland). You do not need a card when you are in another Nordic country. How do I get an EHIC? [Hur får jag ett EU-kort?] The easiest way to get an EHIC is to order it from If you like, call +46 (0) instead or text EUKORT and your Swedish personal ID number to Make sure to order the card well ahead of time. It may take as long as 10 working days to arrive. If you have to leave before the EHIC comes, Försäkringskassan (Swedish Social Insurance Agency) can issue a temporary certificate. Countries outside the EU/EEA [Länder utanför EU/EES] You may also be entitled to certain kinds of health care in a few countries outside of the EU/EEA and Switzerland. Sweden has special agreements with a handful of countries. In such cases, you must have got sick after entering the country for the agreement to be in effect. You cannot use an EHIC in such countries but need another certificate showing that you have health insurance in Sweden. You must always pay any patient fees that the care provider charges. Countries and provinces with which Sweden has a special agreement [Länder som Sverige har avtal med] Algeria [Algeriet] If you are a Swedish or Algerian citizen living in Sweden and temporarily staying in Algeria, you will be covered by the Algerian social insurance system for emergency health care. You will have to show your Swedish passport. Australia [Australien] If you are living in Sweden and staying temporarily in Australia, you will be covered for emergency (not dental) care and any other treatment you need so that you do not 3 (5)

4 have to cut your trip short. You must have got sick after entering Australia, and the care provider must be part of the country s Medicare system. You will pay the entire cost of health care first and then apply to Medicare for reimbursement. Tell the provider in advance that you want to be covered by Medicare. You must show your Swedish passport or an insurance certificate. Quebec [Québec] If you are working or studying for less than a year in Quebec, you will be covered by the public healthcare system there. You must have a work or study permit from the Quebec authorities, as well as a certificate from Försäkringskassan (Swedish Social Insurance Agency). Israel [Israel] You may be entitled to obstetric care if you are in Israel temporarily. You will need a certificate from Försäkringskassan. Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man [Storbritannien] If you are living in Sweden and temporarily staying on Jersey, Guernsey or the Isle of Man, you will be covered by the public healthcare system there. You must show your Swedish passport or a certificate from Försäkringskassan. Countries with which Sweden does not have an agreement [Länder som Sverige inte har avtal med] If you get sick in a country with which Sweden does not have an agreement, you cannot obtain reimbursement from the social insurance system of either country. Make sure to purchase travel insurance that covers potential healthcare costs. Additional information [Mer information] This fact sheet is not a legal text on the topic. Other fact sheets about receiving health care abroad are: Sjuk vid bosättning utomlands (If You Get Sick While Living Abroad) Obtaining Health Care in the EU/EEA, Switzerland or Turkey Söka tandvård i EU/EES (Obtaining Dental Care in the EU/EEA) Information about sick pay and sickness benefit from Sweden is available in the brochure entitled Om du är sjuk och inte kan arbeta (If You Are Sick and Unable to Work). Check out the fact sheet Försäkrad när du bor eller arbetar i Sverige (Insurance While Living or Working in Sweden) for information about being insured in Sweden. All informational material is available from Försäkringskassan and If you have any questions about healthcare costs abroad, feel free to write to the Försäkringskassan customer service centre at kundcenter@forsakringskassan.se or call +46 (0) You can also use various self-service options at to take care of a number of matters quickly and easily. 4 (5)

5 Certificates, forms and brochures can be ordered by calling our self-service line at +46 (0) You can also file certain applications. Questions? [Frågor?] Feel free to ask Hanna, our digital online assistant, if you have any questions. The function will answer the most frequently asked questions about our benefits and services, and it will direct you to the information you are looking for. You may also call our customer service centre at +46 (0) or the National Relay Service for Text Telephony at Försäkringskassan checks your information [Försäkringskassan kontrollerar] Försäkringskassan (Swedish Social Insurance Agency) checks the information you submit, whether it concerns income, absence from work, marital status or where you live. We share information with other authorities, and we link and coordinate our registers with information from CSN, unemployment insurance funds, the Swedish Tax Agency, etc. Intentionally submitting erroneous information or neglecting to notify Försäkringskassan of changes that may affect your right to compensation may be a criminal offence. Försäkringskassan reports all suspected benefit fraud to the police. 5 (5)