The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a joint document for all European Union, European Economic Area countries and Switzerland Confederation that confirms the rights of citizens to receive state-funded emergency and necessary healthcare services to the same extent that it has secured the country's population. The EHIC is also accepted in the Unites Kingdom.
The EHIC ensures that the necessary and urgent medical care is given to the same extent as is provided to the country's residents, where patient is receiving a medical help.This medical help will be provided by the hospitals and the doctors who provide state-guaranteed health care services.
Regulation (EC) No 1231/2010, which extends social security coordination regulations to third-country nationals, is not valid in Norway, Switzerland, Liechtenstein, Iceland and Denmark, so Latvian non-nationals and third-country nationals cannot use the EHIC there, unless they are stateless persons, refugees or family members of an EU citizen. You will have to pay for the services with your own funds, but after returning to Latvia it is possible to apply to National Health Service Republic of Latvia for reimbursement of expenses.
Where can I use EHIC in Latvia?
- trauma points;
- hospital admissions departments;
- in an emergency case - State Emergency Medical Service (call 113).
The services that are not paid by the EHIC:
- patient fee;
- repatriation (transportation) costs.
How to get EHIC in Latvia?
EHIC application
EHIC can be obtained:
- By coming to some of NHS territorial divisions. Customer service in person is carried out both with and without prior appointment.
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By post, completing the electronic form on www.eveseliba.gov.lv or www.latvija.lv
By logging in to the E-Health portal www.eveseliba.gov.lv(section "Resident" - "GP and EHIC" - "My EHIC") and filling in the application form or using the e-service "Apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)" at www.latvija.lv. The application is processed within 3 working days of receipt and the EHIC is sent by post to the address indicated in the application. - By post, sending completed and signed EHIC application form to some of NHS territorial divisions.
EHIC charges
In Latvia re-receipt of the EHIC (if the card has not expired, but it is necessary to get a new EHIC - such as a change of name of a person) is charged - 3.13 EUR. Payment for re-receipt of the EHIC may be made in person, via bank card (from 9.00am to 16.00pm, except for the first month of each working day) or by bank transfer.
Who can obtain EHIC?
In Latvian EHIC are entitled to:
- Latvian citizens;
- Latvian non-citizens;
- citizens of European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland who are residing in Latvia due to employment or self-employment, as well as their family members;
- foreigners who have permanent residence in Latvia;
- refugees and persons with subsidiary status.
Those who work in another Member State, the EHIC is subject to the Member State where the person is employed.
More about EHIC
When you need to get EHIC?
The EHIC card required if the person is temporarily going to one of the Member States:
- leisure or tourism trip;
- business trip;
- job-search (finding work, health care is provided by the State in which the person works);
- study practice;
- if the person is employed in the international transport (such as driver-forwarding agents etc.).
Where does it work?
- EU member states: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Czech Republic, Denmark, France, Greece, Estonia, Italy, Ireland, Cyprus, Great Britain, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Finland, Spain, Hungary , Germany and Sweden;
- EEA countries: Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein;
- Switzerland and United Kingdom.
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