Private health insurance firms will be expected to pay out if its customers seek treatment in other EU countries.
A proposed EU directive on cross-border medical treatment is set to apply to people with private healthcare.
In its report on the directive, which will allow EU citizens to go to other member states for care at their medical provider's expense, the House of Lords EU committee cited article 2 of the proposal. This says that the directive "shall apply to provision of healthcare regardless of how it is organised, delivered and financed or whether it is public or private".
The committee welcomed the proposal in general, with Baroness Howarth of Breckland, chairman of the sub-committee on social policy and consumer affairs, commenting: "We are pleased that the European Commission is proposing to give patients across the EU clear guidance on their right to cross-border healthcare. The current ad hoc arrangements are unsatisfactory and clear new rules are essential."
However, the report revealed that the Association of British Insurers had warned that increases in health insurance premiums may be necessary as a result of the directive. It said that the government were in discussions over how to implement the rules to private healthcare.
The committee also called for enhancements to the proposal, including the provision that fees not be paid upfront by patients with reimbursement coming at a later date, as this could mean some people are unable to afford the treatment.
