Have a European Health Insurance Card
Lithuanians living in European Union countries, as well as Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom, are covered by the health insurance of that country, so it is recommended to obtain and carry a European Health Insurance Card before traveling on vacation to Lithuania.
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It will be useful if urgent medical assistance is needed during a vacation in the homeland.
“We notice that people usually remember the European Health Insurance Card only when they already need it. Illness or injury can strike unexpectedly even while on vacation, so it is worth taking care of the card before the trip. It confirms the right to receive necessary medical care under the same conditions as residents of our country, and the costs of the treatment facility are covered by the Compulsory Health Insurance Fund,” says Rima Budginienė, advisor at the Šiauliai Department of the State Patients’ Fund (VLK) Population Service.
According to her, medical assistance is most often needed while staying in another country due to accidents, injuries, acute pain, or exacerbations of chronic diseases. For example, if you break your arm, contract pneumonia, or have an asthma exacerbation, presenting the European Health Insurance Card and an identity document at Lithuanian medical institutions that have a contract with the Patients’ Fund should result in necessary medical care being provided free of charge.
The card can also be useful at the pharmacy. “With the card, you will be able to purchase reimbursable medicines or medical aids prescribed by a doctor under the same conditions as residents of our country – by presenting the card and an identity document, you only need to pay the patient co-payment,” emphasizes the VLK representative.
The European Health Insurance Card is issued to residents by the institution responsible for health insurance in the country where the person is insured.
If you came for treatment
If you come to Lithuania not for vacation but for a pre-planned operation, treatment, or pregnancy care, such services cannot be obtained free of charge with the European Health Insurance Card.
A document S2 is required to receive planned medical services, which is issued by the institution in the country where you are insured – for example, the health insurance service or the Patients’ Fund.
The S2 document allows you to receive planned medical services in Lithuanian medical institutions that have a contract with the Patients’ Fund. However, you may have to pay for some paid services, co-payments, or transportation costs yourself.
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Before arriving, the visit must be coordinated with the chosen medical institution, and upon arrival, you must present an identity document and the S2 document.
“Every year we see that some Lithuanians living abroad choose planned treatment in their homeland. For some, it is important to communicate with doctors in their native language, for others – to be treated closer to relatives or by a specific specialist. Most often, people come to Lithuania with the S2 document for organ transplants, expensive tests, planned surgeries, or other specialized healthcare services,” says Neringa Šafranavičienė, advisor at the VLK Cross-border Healthcare Department.
According to VLK data, last year, planned healthcare services were provided in Lithuanian medical institutions to 142 insured persons from other European countries with the S2 document. Most of them were patients insured in the United Kingdom – 77, and those insured in Latvia – 62.
You can get reimbursed for expenses
Residents of the European Union, Iceland, Norway, and Liechtenstein can also use the cross-border healthcare option – pay for treatment in Lithuania themselves and then apply to their insurance institution for reimbursement of expenses.
Reimbursement conditions depend on the country: in some, prior authorization is required, while in others, it is enough to submit documents after receiving services. Therefore, before planning treatment, check in advance what procedure applies in the country where you are insured.
You can get more information about this procedure from your country’s National Contact Point for Cross-border Healthcare.
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