Terence Flanagan (Dublin North East, Independent)
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372. To ask the Minister for Health the cost to the health service of providing a European Health Insurance Card to Irish citizens; and if he will make a statement on the matter. [54968/13]

James Reilly (Dublin North, Fine Gael)
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The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) was introduced in 2004 across the European Union. Under EU Regulation (EC) 883/04 persons who are linked to another EU/EEA State for Social Security purposes and who are visiting or on temporary stay in another State are entitled to necessary health care if they become ill or injured while on a temporary stay. States are entitled to seek reimbursement of the cost of the provision of these services to individuals from the State which is "competent" for the client concerned, i.e. the State which issued the EHIC. The cost of the provision of such care to persons holding EHICs issued by Ireland is currently in the region of €5.0 million per annum.