EU Members: Travel for Treatment

Private health insurance providers have been advised to take into account the desire of UK patients who want to travel abroad to access treatment. Last month Health Insurance News UK outlined the increased trade in health tourism but this new directive from the European Commission is specifically for those who wish to travel to Europe to seek treatment.

The directive applies to all provision of medical health care: 'regardless of how it is organised, delivered and financed or whether it is public or private.'

Baroness Howarth, chair of the House of Lords EU Sub-Committee on Social Policy and Consumer Affairs, says: 'We are pleased that the European Commission is proposing to give patients across the EU clear guidance on their right to cross-border healthcare. The current ad hoc arrangements are unsatisfactory and clear new rules are essential.'

'Most patients will still want to be treated locally but everyone will at least have the opportunity to seek healthcare abroad, and to do so in possession of detailed information on what they can expect at each stage of the process. We don't know yet what impact the Directive will have on the numbers of patients wanting to travel to and from the UK for treatment.'

The Association of British Insurers (ABI) said that it considered the main purpose of the directive would relate to state provided healthcare and was concerned about the possible increases in premiums that would have to be passed on to customers should these proposals become compulsory.

It remains to be seen how any new directives will affect medical insurance companies. However, for Freedom Healthnet Ltd it will not present any problems. They currently provide their customers with cash when they need in-patient treatment. Their insurance money is deposited into their bank accounts and they can use this money to have treatment abroad if they wish. If you compare health insurance policies Freedom do not just provide this flexibility but they also offer cheap medical insurance.