2003/751/EC: Decision No 189 of 18 June 2003 aimed at introducing a European health insurance card to replace the forms necessary for the application of Council Regulations (EEC) No 1408/71 and (EEC) No 574/72 as regards access to health care during a temporary stay in a Member State other than the competent State or the State of residence (Text with relevance for the EEA and for the EU/Switzerland Agreement.)
The European health insurance card (hereinafter referred to as the "European card") shall progressively replace the forms provided for by Regulations (EEC) No 1408/71 and (EEC) No 574/72 giving entitlement to reimbursement of health care costs during a temporary stay in a Member State other than the competent State or the State of residence. The different stages in replacing these forms shall be the subject of subsequent decisions of the Administrative Commission on Social Security for Migrant Workers.
1. The period of validity of the European card shall be determined by the issuing institution.
2. The institution at the place of stay shall be reimbursed for the cost of health care provided on the basis of a valid card, in accordance with the provisions in force.
The European card may be issued either in the form of a specific card or as the reverse side of the health insurance card(s) existing in the Member States.
The European card shall be an individual card made out in the name of the holder.
When exceptional circumstances prevent an insured person from producing the European card, a provisional replacement certificate of limited validity shall be issued.
1. The European card and the provisional replacement certificate shall conform to a single model meeting the characteristics and specifications laid down by decision of the Administrative Commission on Social Security for Migrant Workers.
2. The European card shall contain the following data:
- surname and forename of the card holder,
- personal identification number of the card holder or, when no such number exists, the number of the insured person from whom the rights of the card holder derive,
- date of birth of the card holder,
- expiry date of the card,
- ISO code of the Member State issuing the card,
- identification number and acronym of the competent institution,
- logical number of the card.
This decision shall be published in the Official Journal of the European Union. It shall be applicable from the first day of the month following its publication.
The Chairman of the Administrative Commission
Theodora Tsotsorou
(1) OJ L 149, 5.7.1971, p. 2 (English special edition: Series-I 71(II), p. 416). Regulation as last amended by Regulation (EC) No 1386/2001 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 187, 10.7.2001, p. 1).
(2) OJ L 74, 27.3.1972, p. 1 (English special edition: Series I Chapter 1972(I) p. 159). Regulation as last amended by Commission Regulation (EC) No 410/2002 of the European Parliament and of the Council (OJ L 62, 5.3.2002, p. 17).
Source: EUR-Lex (Publications Office of the EU), © European Union, reuse permitted under Commission Decision 2011/833/EU.
