„When planning trips, we usually think about relaxation, experiences, and a good time. However, even on vacation, urgent medical assistance may be needed – if a chronic illness worsens, health deteriorates, or an accident occurs. Then the card becomes very important because it grants the right to receive necessary medical care and reduces the financial burden on the person,“ says Viktorija Klinavičienė, advisor at the Vilnius Department of the State Health Insurance Fund (VLK) Population Service, temporarily performing the duties of the head.
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According to the specialist, the European Health Insurance Card is valid in all European Union countries, as well as in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom. The card confirms a person’s right to receive necessary medical care under the conditions valid in that country, and the health insurance fund fully or partially pays for the services provided.
The card is issued to everyone
The European Health Insurance Card can be obtained by all residents of Lithuania insured under compulsory health insurance – adults, children, and infants alike.
The card can be ordered in several ways: online through the health insurance fund’s information system, by email at vlk@vlk.lt, or by mail by sending a completed application to the health insurance fund. When visiting the health insurance fund’s population service department, the card is issued immediately. It is also possible to choose delivery to a parcel locker, but in that case, shipping costs must be paid.
The European Health Insurance Card is issued for five years, but it can only be used as long as the person is insured under compulsory health insurance. If the insurance lapses, the card is no longer valid, so it is recommended to check your insurance status on the health insurance fund’s website before traveling – this action takes only a few minutes.
Forgot your card? The certificate will help
Sometimes travelers forget the card at home, do not have time to order it, or notice after departure that it has expired. In such cases, there is a convenient solution – insured residents can download a certificate that replaces the European Health Insurance Card. It provides the same rights to necessary medical care as the card itself. It can be quickly generated and downloaded on a smart device by logging into the health insurance fund’s information system.
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It is important to remember that the certificate is valid only until the end of the current month, so if treatment or stay abroad lasts longer, a new certificate must be downloaded.
What is important to know before leaving?
The VLK representative points out that healthcare systems operate differently in different countries: „Even with the European Health Insurance Card, some services in other countries may be partially paid for, so it is important to know that the card is valid only in healthcare institutions that belong to the national health system. It also does not cover planned medical services, patient co-payments, additional comfort services, transportation to Lithuania, or other expenses that are not reimbursed by state funds in a particular country.“
V. Klinavičienė recommends checking in advance where to turn for necessary medical care and what rules apply in the country the traveler plans to visit.
This year, the health insurance fund has already issued more than 82,000 European Health Insurance Cards and nearly 12,000 certificates to residents.
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