EU citizens will be able to use health insurance in Romania

Citizens from European Union states will have the possibility to use their health insurance in Romania, under a government decision yesterday. The measure came following a change to a government ordinance issued last year regarding free circulation of EU and European Economic Area citizens in Romania.

The measure provides that health insurance policies signed in EU countries will be acknowledged by the Romanian insurance system. The document includes the concept of "partner" regarding people who benefit from the right to free circulation and residency in Romania. A "partner" does not represent a family member, but the person living with an EU citizen, given the relation is legally recorded in the country of origin or it can be proven.

Additionally, diplomatic missions and consular offices of Romania abroad will give entry visas to family members that are not EU citizens, except in cases in which the visa requirement has been lifted.

People who are not EU citizens but have a document confirming their residency in an EU state as a family member of an EU citizen are not required to obtain a visa to enter Romania.

Under the new rules, any attempts to restrict the right to free circulation of EU citizens and their family members are allowed only if the persons in question have inappropriate attitudes. Their behavior must present "a real, current and sufficiently serious threat" to the fundamental values of Romanian society in order for restrictive measures to be endorsed.

The law also introduces new rules regarding a prosecutor's ability to take into custody people declared undesirable or people who have to be expelled and cannot immediately be removed from Romanian territory.

The document also introduces the possibility of a court to prohibit reentry into Romania for people who are to be expelled.

The new provisions introduce the possibility of ordering medical tests if employees of the Ministry of Health have reason to believe that the foreign citizen in question suffers from a dangerous ailment. The list of ailments labeled dangerous will be developed soon by the ministry. These medical tests will be free and can be ordered only within three months from the date the person in question entered Romania.