Use of EHIC in Latvia
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) certifies that you are insured in another Member State of the European Union or the European Economic Area (Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein), the Swiss Confederation or the United Kingdom (Member State).
During a temporary stay in Latvia, the EHIC confirms the right to receive necessary or emergency medical care to the same extent and in the same way as it is provided to Latvian residents.
This assistance will be provided by medical institutions and doctors who provide state-funded healthcare services in Latvia. The type and amount of services needed in each individual case is assessed by the attending doctor, based on the state of your health and the planned duration of your stay in Latvia.
To receive necessary or emergency medical care, you must present a valid EHIC and a personal identification document (passport or ID card) at the healthcare facility.
For more information on the use of EHIC in Latvia, in all official languages of the European Union, click here.
EHIC replacement certificate
An EHIC replacement certificate (EHIC RC) is equivalent to an EHIC and enables you to receive necessary or emergency healthcare if your EHIC is lost or not processed in time. You can request an EHIC RC from the Member State health insurance authority where you are socially insured if you need a medical card urgently but do not have an EHIC with you.
Reimbursement of expenses
If you have to pay for your treatment out of your own pocket, it is possible to apply to your health insurer for reimbursement when you return to your home country, so it is important to request and keep all the documents relating to your treatment that you need in order to be reimbursed in your home country.
Legal basis for using EHIC and EHIC RS
- Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 29 April 2004 on the coordination of social security systems;
- Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 16 September 2009 laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems;
- Regulation (EU) No 1231/2010 of the European Parliament and of the Council of 24 November 2010 extending Regulation (EC) No 883/2004 and Regulation (EC) No 987/2009 to nationals of third countries who are not already covered by those Regulations solely on the ground of their nationality.