Guide
The Cross-Border Healthcare Directive: treatment abroad, home rates
By Covered Abroad Research Desk · Last verified July 2026
What the directive actually gives you
The Commission's Your Europe guidance states that in certain circumstances, EU law gives you the right to arrange medical treatment — such as a specialist consultation, surgery or treatment for a specific condition — in another EU country. The financial rule sits in Directive 2011/24 itself: the cost of such care should also be reimbursed by the Member State of affiliation up to the level of costs that would have been assumed had the same healthcare been provided in the Member State of affiliation, without exceeding the actual costs of healthcare received. Home rates, abroad — the difference, if the foreign clinic charges more, is yours.
Source: Directive 2011/24/EU on patients' rights in cross-border healthcare — EUR-Lex, read 8 September 2026.
Prior authorisation — and the refusal ground that isn't allowed
For certain categories of care, the directive lets member states require prior authorisation before the costs are covered. But Directive 2011/24 draws one line clearly: the Member State of affiliation should not refuse prior authorisation or reimbursement on the grounds that the treatment method is not available in its territory — what matters is whether the treatment corresponds to benefits provided for in its own legislation. Your home system's benefits basket, not its equipment list, is the test.
Source: Directive 2011/24/EU, prior authorisation provisions — EUR-Lex, read 8 September 2026.
60-second check
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Check my policyDirective route vs the S2 route — and who answers questions
The directive is one of two legal routes to planned treatment abroad. The other runs through the social-security coordination regulations — the S2 authorisation, where you're treated on the destination country's terms rather than reimbursed at home rates. Which route wins depends on the treatment, the countries and the money, and the directive builds the answer desk in: every member state runs a national contact point for cross-border healthcare, with the information patients must compulsorily receive specified by the directive itself. Ask them before you book — and remember neither route replaces the private cover a residence permit demands.
Source: Your Europe — Planned medical treatment abroad (European Commission), read 8 September 2026.