The European health card blocked: the Provisional Certificate solution for those going on holiday

Many Romanians who applied for the European Health Insurance Card before their holidays are complaining that they have still not received it even after waiting several months. According to information obtained by Digi24.ro, the issuance of cards has been suspended, but there is a solution for those who are about to travel: the Provisional Replacement Certificate for the European Health Insurance Card, a document with the same legal validity.

The production and distribution of the cards have been outsourced to a private company, and the contract with that company has expired. The National Health Insurance House (CNAS) must now award a new contract through a public procurement procedure. In the meantime, the cardeuropean.ro platform continues to operate and people can still submit applications, but the cards can no longer be printed.

The Digi24.ro editorial team has received numerous complaints from readers who applied for the card but did not receive it before their holiday departure.

The provisional certificate – a temporary solution

Both those who are about to travel and those already abroad can obtain the Provisional Replacement Certificate for the European Health Insurance Card. The document is provided for under European legislation and confers the same rights during a temporary stay in a European Union member state, the European Economic Area, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom.

Unlike the plastic card, the certificate can be transmitted electronically or issued directly by the health insurance house. It can be requested both before departure and after the person has already arrived abroad, should they need proof of insured status for medical services.

Maramureș Health Insurance House announced via a Facebook post that, "for reasons beyond the institution's control", European health insurance cards cannot currently be printed, and recommends that those travelling to the EU, EEA, Switzerland, or the United Kingdom apply for the provisional certificate.

According to the institution, the document carries the same legal validity as the card and is issued within a maximum of three working days of submitting the application in person at the counter. The following are required: the standard application form (available at the counter), a copy of a valid identity document or birth certificate (for children under 14), and proof of insured status (an employment certificate, pension voucher, a certificate from a school or university, or an up-to-date record book, as applicable).

The Director General of CAS Maramureș, Adrian Mădăras, stated: "For travel abroad, we recommend that insured persons submit their documents in good time, to avoid queues and to have the assurance that they can access medical care during their trip."

The institution recommends submitting documents a few days before departure. Applications for the European Health Insurance Card can also be submitted online at cardeuropean.ro.

Vaslui County Health Insurance House also recommends applying for the provisional certificate in the absence of the card, and draws attention to the risks faced by those who travel without either document.

Financial risk for those without a card or certificate

Mihaela Chitariu, Executive Director of CAS Vaslui, warns that those who travel without the European Health Insurance Card or the provisional certificate may be required to pay the full cost of medical treatment abroad, and will subsequently be reimbursed only the amount that would have been covered in Romania.

"If we travel without this European card and something happens to us, we will find ourselves having to pay for medical services out of pocket. We pay, we request reimbursement, but we will only receive the value of the medical service as it would be covered in our country. If it costs one thousand euros there, but only 500 RON here, you will pay one thousand euros but receive only the amount reimbursable in Romania. That is why it is very important to have this European card with you. At the moment, European health insurance cards are no longer being printed, but we have the ability to issue that provisional certificate. It is a document that is entered into the national system and, on the basis of it, you will be entitled to medical care for the duration of your travels in a European member state," explained Mihaela Chitariu.