Policy analysis of potential modernised rights for patients in cross-border healthcare

The public policy ideal should be to provide high-quality healthcare to all EU citizens and residents in each Member State, also through cross-border cooperation, that, in turn, incentivises improvements in national healthcare systems. Difficulties in accessing cross-border healthcare become apparent when the coordination of public healthcare systems intersects with the free movement of market (private) healthcare services and goods. Inter alia, this paper presents the current challenges and possible options for improving EU Cross-border healthcare. It discusses the need for enhanced clarity in EU cross-border healthcare law, particularly concerning telemedicine and access to public healthcare for economically inactive EU citizens, as well as the need to level the playing field by providing cross-border patients with full and easily accessible information about both public and private healthcare providers. One possible solution would be to delineate more clearly between public and private healthcare provision, both nationally and across borders. Consideration could also be given to the role of private health insurance in facilitating access to cross-border healthcare.