Dependants and universal health insurance in the EU

States Parties recognize the right of the child to the enjoyment of the highest attainable standard of health and to facilities for the treatment of illness and rehabilitation of health. States Parties shall strive to ensure that no child is deprived of his or her right of access to such health care services.

Convention on the Rights of the Child, Article 24.1

Payment for health-care services, as well as services related to the underlying determinants of health, has to be based on the principle of equity, ensuring that these services, whether privately or publicly provided, are affordable for all, including socially disadvantaged groups.

CESCR General Comment No. 14: The Right to the Highest Attainable Standard of Health (Art. 12)

Mothers and children, irrespective of marital status and family relations, have the right to appropriate social and economic protection.

European Social Charter, Article 17

For many years Czech authorities fail to recognize the right of children from non-EU countries, whose parents are employed in the Czech Republic, to access financially available quality health care. The only health care plan option available for those children for 5 long years has the scope of a travel insurance (no pre-existing conditions, oncology, HIV or mental health covered) with occasional pediatric visits. Managing conditions that private health insurance doesn’t cover out of pocket can’t be considered an available alternative even in case of minor problems, as foreigners from outside the EU are paying on average triple prices for every medical service.

The table below illustrates that the discriminating Czech approach towards children of publicly insured third-country nationals is a unique dishonorable practice among other European countries.

Health insurance market in different countries of the European union is very alike, with each country guaranteeing universal health care to its residents. Generally, universal health care is provided through a solidarity system of public health insurance funded by tax-payers (with the exception of the Netherlands where it is provided by a highly regulated market of private health insurance companies). Private health insurance is considered a complementary option offering premium services – wider provider network, shorter waiting times, co-payments reimbursement for public health insurance, extra coverage like massages or single hospital rooms.