Brussels, 20/02/2003 (Agence Europe) - On Wednesday, the European Commission approved its communication on the introduction of the European health insurance card, which will be a "useful, practical and flexible too as from 2004" for citizens seeking reimbursement for possible health treatment in another EU country. The Commission is proposing a calendar accompanied by different options for the gradual implementation in three phases (preparation, diffusion and transition to electronic operation) of the Barcelona Summit decision of March 2002, which sought to give a "strong sign in favour of the mobility of European citizens". It asserts that this draft does not have a negative impact on the independence of national health and social security systems, notably in the area of health insurance cards. Establishing this card will occur on the basis of the Administrative Committee for Social Security for Migrant Workers (which consists of representatives from Member States) whose work the Commission is seeking to facilitate by way of its communication. EU Member States and those of the EEA, Switzerland, Slovenia and the Czech Republic have cooperated in the elaboration of this communication by providing detailed information on their national situations. Commissioner Anna Diamantopoulou launched the idea of a European health insurance card at the Informal Employment council in January 2002 in Burgos (see EUROPE 17 January 2002 p 17). The Commission explained that the calendar would consist of:
a) Phase 1: preparation: the Commission suggests replacing the E11 form by 1 June 200, while taking into account the technical and administrative changes necessary in the introduction of the card. Member States that do not currently use the card in their health care systems (UK, Sweden, Finland, Ireland and Greece, as well as most candidate countries) can choose a transition period while it continues to issue E11 paper copies. The Commission will also propose an amendment to Regulation 1408/71 (alignment of rights for "necessary health care" to all categories for the insured person: pensioner, students, employees, the self-employed) and Regulation 574/72 (getting rid of formalities that have just been added to the presentation of the former by the insured person in a Member State where he is temporarily residing);
b) Phase 2: diffusion of the card will begin on 1 June 2004 when it replaces the E11 (with certain conditions, as indicated earlier - possible transition periods) and will be completed on 31 December 2005 at the latest (this date marks the end of the transition periods and the replacement of all forms used for temporary residency);
Phase 3: the transition to electronic operations, as well as use of an automated formula and procedures management system. The beginning of this third phase will depend on both the assessment and the said diffusion phase, as well as the results of the Netc@rds launched in 2002 for a year in Greece, Germany, Austria and France, and which focuses on replacing E11 and e 128 forms with electronic operation for data, which exists on current national cards or on-line