EU Cross Border Healthcare Directive

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Below is an update from the HSE in relation to the provisions of the Cross Border Directive as it applies to accessing healthcare in Northern Ireland and Britain.

Since 1 January 2021, the provisions of the EU Cross Border Directive (CBD) no longer apply to the UK. In order to mitigate the impact of the loss of access to care in the UK under the EU CBD scheme for persons resident in Ireland, the Government has agreed to provide for the implementation of a replacement scheme to be available in Northern Ireland only from 1 January 2021. The new Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme will operate for 12 months and will operate on the same parameters as the EU Cross Border Directive scheme. 

Furthermore, the HSE is putting in place transitional arrangements for those patients who had commenced their patient pathway accessing healthcare in the UK including NI under the CBD prior to 30/12/2020 but for whom that care is due to be completed in 2021. It will be a requirement that patients who seek to use the CBD transitional arrangements will be able to evidence that their care pathway had commenced prior to 31/12/2020. The transitional arrangements are as follows:

The transitional arrangements for the CBD in respect of the UK including NI will allow for reimbursement of healthcare costs by the HSE to persons who fall into the following categories:

  • Where a patient’s treatment has already been initiated but may not have been completed under the current arrangements before 31 December 2020 (e.g. patients undergoing orthodontic treatment), or
  • Where patients have a scheduled treatment in 2021 which can be evidenced by way of a completed application/treatment form or scheduled appointment letter dated in 2020, or
  • Where patients may have had treatment booked in 2020 but for whom their treatment may have been cancelled and rescheduled by the provider to 2021 (this is likely to apply in the context of the Covid-19 pandemic).
  •  

These patients will remain eligible to continue to be reimbursed for care accessed under the provisions of the EU Cross-Border Directive scheme where that care has or will take place in the UK.

The HSE asks all that patients accessing healthcare in another jurisdiction give careful consideration to the risks and benefits associated with travel for treatment at this time and it is extremely important that public health restrictions are adhered to.  Please see the HSE website https://www2.hse.ie/conditions/coronavirus/protect-yourself-and-others.html and https://www.gov.ie/en/publication/2dc71-level-5/#travel-restrictions

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For Written Answer on : 13/01/2021
Question Number(s): 1099 Question Reference(s): 1816/21
Department: Health
Asked by: Brendan Smith T.D.
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QUESTION


To ask the Minister for Health the arrangements in place to continue a scheme with Northern Ireland and Britain similar to the EU cross-border healthcare directive; and if he will make a statement on the matter.

REPLY




Since 1 January 2021, the provisions of the EU Cross Border Directive (CBD) no longer apply to the UK. In order to mitigate the impact of the loss of access to care in the UK under the EU CBD scheme for persons resident in Ireland, the Government has agreed to provide for the implementation of a replacement scheme to be available in Northern Ireland only from 1 January 2021. The new Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme will operate for 12 months and will operate on the same parameters as the EU Cross Border Directive scheme.

Furthermore, the HSE has also put in place transitional arrangements for certain patients who have a legitimate expectation of continuing to access care in the UK under the current provisions of the EU Cross-Border Directive Scheme including provision for reimbursement of healthcare costs by the HSE to persons who fall into certain categories, such as patients who can evidence that they have treatment booked prior to December 2020 for treatment in 2021.  Patients are advised to contact the HSE CBD office directly with queries on individual applications and whether they are covered by the transitional arrangements or the new Northern Ireland Planned Healthcare Scheme.

Finally, it is also important to note that, patients continue to have access to health services under the EU CBD Scheme in all other remaining EU countries.