The EU institutions provide comprehensive health coverage for staff, retirees and certain family members, under specific conditions. The scheme is called the Joint Sickness Insurance Scheme (JSIS).
What’s covered?
Under JSIS, you usually pay medical costs upfront and then claim reimbursement. In some cases, advance approval (known as ‘prior authorisation’) is required before starting the treatment.
Standard reimbursement rates
The standard rate for general medical expenses is 80% to 85%, including:
- consultations and visits
- surgery and hospitalisation
- pharmaceutical products, radiology, analyses and laboratory tests
- prostheses prescribed by a doctor, excluding dental prostheses
Full reimbursement
Your medical expenses are reimbursed at 100% in the following cases:
- serious illnesses, such as tuberculosis, polio, cancer or mental illness
- other illnesses recognised as being equally serious
- early detection screening programmes
- childbirth
Who is covered?
JSIS covers:
- permanent staff
- contract staff
- temporary staff
- accredited parliamentary assistants
- individuals holding political positions, such as European Commissioners, Members of the European Parliament and judges at the EU Courts
- retired staff who are eligible for an EU pension (usually after working at least 10 years)
- family members, including spouses and children under certain conditions
Who is not covered?
JSIS does not cover:
- trainees
- seconded national experts