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Social security is a key issue for persons exercising their fundamental right to free movement
However, without coordination at European level, national social security legislations may lead to disadvantages in the field of social security for European citizens and their families who move within Europe
True free movement therefore needs protection of these rights
Regulation (EEC) 1408/71 and its implementing Regulation (EEC) 574/72 offer solutions to most of the cross-border problems that may arise in the field of social security
These two Regulations coordinate the social security schemes of Member States - they do not replace the different national social security systems by a single European scheme
Member States are, therefore, free to determine the details of their own social security systems, including which benefits shall be provided, the conditions of eligibility and the value of these benefits, as long as they adhere to the basic principle of equality of treatment and non-discrimination.
Article 78 – Data processing Member States shall progressively use new
technologies for the exchange, access and processing of the data required to apply this Regulation and the Implementing Regulation.
The Commission of the European Communities shall lend its support to activities of common interest as soon as the Member States have established such data-processing services.
This article actually enables electronic data exchange
There is a new legal obligation in Article 4 of the new implementing regulation of Regulation 883/2004 which requires the transmission of data between Member States to be carried out by electronic means under a common secure framework that can guarantee the confidentiality and protection of exchanges of data
This constitutes the new reference for coordination of social security and will simplify the lives of European citizens, who can more easily exercise their right to free movement within the EU
Moreover, the new regulations consolidate and place emphasis on the cooperation obligations of Member State administrations in the field of social security
Sector Volume of informationexchange (in E-forms)
Accuracy
Pension 2,195,000 Moderate, ± 20%
Health 3,535,000 Moderate, ± 20%
Unemployment 1,000,000 Very low
Family benefits 1,000,000 Very low
Posting 800,000 High, ± 5%
Total 8,530,000 Moderate, ± 30%
To ensure that Member States exchange data electronically once the new modernised European Regulations coordinating social security begin to apply
Ultimate aim is to strengthen the protection of the social security rights of citizens who are mobile
eEHIC should not be viewed as just an electronic version of a plastic EHIC
eEHIC means electronic services for European citizens related to European Health Insurance Card
eEHIC will come to facilitate the transfer of data in cross boarder health care environment by the means of triggering appropriate business flow
Ad-hoc working group on eEHIC will recommend step-by-step approach for implementing eEHIC
1. Development of eEHIC with current functionalities of EHIC and parallel work of two card types
2. Extension of the eEHIC to other portable documents
3. Extension of the eEHIC to other functionalities
Adoption of the CWA as the basis for all further work on eEHIC
Development of a Common Baseline Security Policy encompassing national health networks
Development of Reference implementation of eEHIC processing software
Making of some pilot projects Preparation of decision documents
Established in 1999 to deal with obligatory health insurance in Bulgaria
In 2009 is still the only institution for national health insurance
Competent institution according to EU regulations
Will be an Access Point in EESSI for health
NHIF recently finished big project for building the integrated information system for obligatory health insurance (billing system)
Currently two major projects are in progress creation of electronic health records of citizens development of eHealth portal
There is no specific experience in projects with eHealth cards, except one small pilot
There is a big usage of ICT in doctor’s practices
Recent publication of the European Commission shows that 87 % of European doctors (General Practitioners) use a computer, 48% with a broadband connection
The report also highlights that doctors could make better use of ICT to offer services such as telemonitoring, electronic prescriptions and cross border medical services
Viviane Reding, EU Commissioner for Information Society and Media said:
“Europe is starting to reap the benefits of broadband connections in the eHealth Sector. I welcome the efforts made by healthcare administrations and doctors to work more efficiently"
“This diagnosis also shows that it is now time to use these electronic services much more widely as they have the potential to bring extraordinary benefits to all patients, all over Europe.”
