Individuals insured in the European Union, a Member State of the European Economic Area, Switzerland or the United Kingdom (hereinafter - Member State) have the right to receive elective healthcare services in Latvia under both the Social Security Systems Coordination Regulations (Form S2) and the Cross-border Healthcare Directive (not applicable to the United Kingdom and Switzerland), if necessary with prior authorisation, but paying out of pocket and claiming reimbursement later.
Planned healthcare with S2 form
According to the social security regulations (Regulation (EC) No.883/2004 and Regulation (EC) No.987/2009), if a person needs to travel to Latvia for the purpose of receiving planned healthcare services, he/she must obtain prior authorisation from the competent authority (insurance institution) - S2 form.
For more information on prior authorisation, conditions and covered treatment, contact your national healthcare authority or the Cross-border Health Contact Point .
Important:
- The S2 form is issued by each Member State in its own official language and does not need to be translated as it is a uniform document in all Member States;
- The S2 form is a guarantee that the Member State that issued the S2 form will settle with the Member State where the specific elective healthcare service will be provided;
- The S2 form entitles you to receive elective healthcare services under the same conditions as persons insured in the Member State concerned, i.e. if the Member State concerned has a patient co-payment, you must also cover these costs out of your own resources;
- In Latvia, the S2 form can only be used at NHS contractual partners: the specific healthcare institution.
Planned healthcare under the Directive
Under Directive 2011/24/EU, persons insured in another Member State have the right to travel to Latvia for the purpose of receiving planned healthcare services (except in the United Kingdom and Switzerland), subject to prior authorisation if necessary, but paying out of their own pocket and later claiming reimbursement from their home national insurance institution.
Important:
- services are available from both public and private providers;
- you must pay for the service entirely out of your own pocket;
- reimbursement is only possible for services that are covered by the national budget of the Member State where you are insured;
- reimbursement is subject to the tariffs in force in the Member State where you are insured, which may differ from the amount paid;
- before receiving the service, you can contact the Member State's Contact Point to find out whether the service is reimbursed from the national budget and what the national rate is.
For more information on your right to receive or be reimbursed for the treatment you need, click here or visit Your Europe .
Legal basis for provision of planned healthcare:
- Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the coordination of social security systems;
- Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems;
- Regulation (EU) No 1231/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 extending Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 to nationals of third countries who are not already covered by those Regulations solely on the ground of their nationality;
- Directive 2011/24/EU of the European Parliament and of the Council of 9 March 2011 on the application of patients’ rights in cross-border healthcare.