As of 2007, insured persons from Romania can apply for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which entitles them to any necessary medical care during their temporary stay in an EU Member State, a country in the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation.

Temporary stay refers to a person travelling to one of the Member States of the European Union/European Economic Area/Swiss Confederation for tourism, professional, family or study purposes, for a period not exceeding 6 months.

This card is issued upon request. The insured person submits a written application (published in PDF format) at the office of the health insurance fund where they are registered.

The insured person takes possession of the card within a maximum of 7 working days from the date of registration of the application in the single national computer system that manages the implementation of European regulations on the rights of insured persons during their temporary stay in a Member State of the European Union. If exceptional circumstances prevent the issuance of the European Card or if emergencies occur that would necessitate the issuance of the card in less than 7 working days, the health insurance fund issues a provisional replacement certificate (PRC).

The cost of the European Card is drawn from the National Single Health Insurance Fund (FNUASS).

The period of validity of the European Health Insurance Card is 2 years from the date of issuance.

Insured persons holding an EHIC benefit from any necessary medical services during their temporary stay in a Member State of the EU/EEA or the Swiss Confederation, under the same conditions as the insured persons from that country. However, it is possible that, for certain services, co-payment may be necessary, even if in Romania the same services are fully reimbursed. This depends on the insurance system in the country where such services are provided.

The European Card does not cover situations where the insured person travels to a Member State of the EU/EEA/Swiss Confederation in order to receive planned medical treatment.

The EHIC only covers medical services obtained from providers that participate in the social security system in that country.

During the validity period of the card, holders of a European Card issued by one of the Member States of the European Union, the European Economic Area or the Swiss Confederation benefit from medical services in Romania under the same conditions as persons insured under the Romanian social health insurance system. Medical service providers in contractual relationships with health insurance funds must provide the necessary medical care, and are to highlight and report separately to the social health insurance funds the medical services provided for these categories of persons.

Reimbursement of medical services provided through use of the European health card is done at interinstitutional level.

If an insured person is in a Member State of the EU or EEA or the Swiss Confederation and, for various reasons, is no longer in possession of the EHIC (did not request it on departure, lost it, it was destroyed or stolen or the card is not recognised by the healthcare provider where it is presented or in any other similar situation), he or she must contact the insurance fund that issued the card (by post, fax, email) and request a provisional replacement certificate for the European Health Insurance Card. The health insurance fund sends the replacement certificate to the address indicated within 24 hours.

The provisional replacement certificate (PRC) grants the insured person the same rights as the EHIC.