Foreign healthcare systems

Legal framework: Article 6 of directive 2011/24/EU

National contact points where you can receive information on healthcare in Europe

Each EU or European Economic Area member State is required to set up at least one National Contact Point (NCP) in order to inform patients on their rights with regard to cross-border healthcare:

The country's health care system
Patients' rights
Health care providers and specific providers' rights or restrictions
Oversight and assessment of health care providers
Health and safety indicators, and the health care facilities with mandatory disclosure
The list of care requiring prior authorization
The cost of care
How to secure reimbursement of care
Handicap accessibility of health care facilities
Appeal and redress processes.

Before you leave, it is important that you contact these national contact points to get the information you need to ensure that your cross-border care goes forward smoothly.

France's National Contact Point is the Cleiss. Below are the other Member States' NCPs:

In addition, the Cleiss provides information on French and foreign social security systems.

For more information

European Commission website (DG for health and food safety)