EU warns Spain over hospitals’ rejection of EU health card

On 30 May 2013 the European Commission proposed to launch legal action against Spain over the refusal of some hospitals to recognise the European Health Insurance Card.The EHIC entitles EU citizens to free healthcare in public hospitals.

But some Spanish hospitals rejected the card and told tourists to reclaim the cost of treatment via their travel insurance, the Commission said.

Public Service Europe wrote that Europe's 40-year old public healthcare insurance scheme was close to breaking point across Europe.

• Primary Source

ESO: Background Information: Shredded Social Safety Net: European Austerity Costing Lives http://www.europeansources.info/record/shredded-social-safety-net-european-austerity-costing-lives/

http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/3346/european-health-insurance-system-on-the-verge-of-collapse http://www.publicserviceeurope.com/article/3346/european-health-insurance-system-on-the-verge-of-collapse

ESO: Background information: European Health Insurance Card: Commission expresses concerns about refusals by Spanish public hospitals to recognise EHIC http://www.europeansources.info/record/press-release-european-health-insurance-card-commission-expresses-concerns-about-refusals-by-spanish-public-hospitals-to-recognise-ehic/

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