EHIC – European Health Insurance Card

If you are an EU citizen or resident, a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows you to receive state-provided healthcare in any of the other EU countries as well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

An EHIC holds you to the same standards as citizens of an EU country in terms of state-provided health insurance. Sometimes, this means you receive free healthcare.

After Brexit, the U.K. introduced its own version of the EHIC card, the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). This card functions similarly to its predecessor, allowing Brits access to state healthcare during visits to the EU.

Neither the EHIC nor the GHIC are a substitute for travel insurance and cannot be used for planned medical treatment in the EU.

How Does the EHIC Work?

If you have an EHIC, then when you travel to other EU countries, you will be eligible for the same healthcare benefits as citizens of that country. This means that:

• If the citizens or legal residents of that country receive free healthcare, you will also be treated free of charge.
• If the citizens or legal residents of that country pay for a specific treatment, you must also pay in the same manner. The fees are usually very reduced, though.

In What Countries Can I Use the EHIC?

• If you are an EU citizen, you can use the European Health Insurance Card in all countries of the European Union, as well as in Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, and Norway.
• If you have a residence permit for an EU country (but are not a citizen), then you cannot use your EHIC in Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
• If you are a U.K. citizen, you can use your EHIC (while it is valid) or its successor GHIC only in EU countries, not in Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

>> How Does Healthcare in Europe Work?

Who Can Use the EHIC?

You can use the EHIC if:

• You are a citizen of an EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland, and you are registered with public health insurance.
• You are a legal resident of an EU State and you are registered with public healthcare. In this instance, you cannot use an EHIC if travelling to Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
• You are travelling for a short period of time, such as for tourism, family visit, etc.

Remember: Every family member must have their own EHIC – your dependents (spouse and children) cannot use your card.

How to Apply for an EHIC?

To apply for an EHIC, you have to contact the relevant healthcare authorities in your country of residence. Once you contact them and ask for the card, they are required to provide you with one because it is your right as a citizen/resident of the EU. If you cannot receive an EHIC at short notice, then you should be able to get a provisional card.

Depending on where you live, you can request the card online, by mail, or you will have to show up in person at the adequate offices.

Here are the authorities you have to reach out to when applying for an EHIC, by country:

Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; Slovakia; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland

This information was obtained from the official website of the European Commission.

How Much Does the EHIC Cost?

The EHIC is issued free of charge by the relevant authorities in your country. Some websites will help you along with the application process, but they will naturally charge you for their help. It is unnecessary to apply through one of these sites, as they are private companies and not associated with national health authorities.

What Does the EHIC Cover?

The EHIC covers all medically necessary treatment by public healthcare providers. This includes:

• Doctor’s visits. You should consult with a doctor with a contract with the national health insurance fund in the country you are visiting. If you are not familiar with the health scheme, ask your hotel, travel guide, or locals for help in finding a doctor.
• You will usually need a referral from a doctor to be hospitalized unless it is an emergency. Some hospitals may charge a small fee for your stay in the first few days, while others will not charge anything at all.
• Prescription medication. Most national health insurance funds will cover prescription medication, either fully or to a degree. Flu and cold medicine or over-the-counter painkillers are usually not covered.
• Dental care. In most cases, you are covered for basic and emergency dental treatment. More complex or expensive procedures, such as dentures or crowns, are not always covered by national healthcare and, therefore, not by an EHIC either.
• In most cases, ambulances are covered by the national healthcare fund, so if you need an ambulance while abroad, your EHIC should cover you.

Remember: These services are not necessarily free and may be subject to some fees, depending on the country. Sometimes, you have to pay at the time of treatment and then ask for reimbursement later on.

Does EHIC Cover Pre-Existing Conditions?

Yes, if you have a pre-existing medical condition and you need treatment for it while you are abroad, the EHIC card will cover the costs. Make sure that you seek treatment in a public hospital or consult with a doctor operating under contract with the national healthcare fund.

Does EHIC Cover Pregnancy?

An EHIC will cover basic maternity care or unplanned birth during your visit to another European country, but it will not cover you if you travel abroad just so you can deliver your child there.

So, depending on the country you are in, you may pay a small fee or nothing at all for things like routine checkups and pregnancy-related medical emergencies as long as you are treated in a public-funded hospital or clinic.

Does EHIC Cover Chemotherapy or Dialysis?

That will depend largely on the country you are visiting. Suppose you are currently undergoing chemotherapy or are on dialysis, and you want to take a vacation somewhere in Europe. In that case, you will have to talk to your doctor or the healthcare authorities in your home country to see whether you can arrange to continue treatment in a different clinic for a short period of time. They will inform you whether you can use your  EHIC.

What Does the EHIC Not Cover?

The EHIC does not cover any of the following:

• Planned medical treatment. If you travel to another EU country specifically to receive medical treatment or consult with a particular doctor, you will have no coverage.
• Planned birth. Similarly, if you travel to another EU country with the intention of giving birth there, the EHIC does not cover the resulting costs.
• Medical treatment in private healthcare institutions.
• Esthetic surgery.
• Repatriation or evacuation costs. For example, the cost of an air ambulance if you need to be evacuated to your home country for medical treatment.
• Any costs resulting from trip interruption or cancellation.
• Any costs resulting from lost or damaged items during your travels.

How Do I Use the EHIC?

To use the EHIC, you must receive medical treatment from public hospitals or any doctors or clinics that are under contract with the national insurance fund. At the time of treatment, you have to present your EHIC card; then, depending on the country, you may need to pay a fee, or you may depart without paying anything at all.

The hospitals or clinics in which you can use an EHIC will be different from country to country, but as long as you seek treatment in public centres, you should be covered. The official website of the European Commission also lists how you can use an EHIC and how much coverage you have in each country, so it is worth exploring before you take a trip.

When Does an EHIC Expire?

The duration of your EHIC depends on the country that issued it and ranges from a few months up to ten years. However, in most cases, the EHIC is valid for about 1 to 5 years. You will know when it expires after you receive the card, as it is usually printed out on it.

Many countries, such as Austria and Bulgaria, offer EHICs with a longer duration for pensioners.

How to Renew an EHIC?

The process to renew your EHIC is pretty much the same as when you first applied, as you will have to contact the relevant health authorities in your country. You can do it online, by post, or in person.

If your information has not changed since the last time you renewed your card, the process should be quicker and easier. If you moved, got married, or any other personal information changed, then you may have to update your details before renewal.

Can UK Citizens Still Use EHIC After Brexit?

If you still have a valid EHIC card issued by the U.K., you will be able to use it in the same manner as before, up until it expires – even after Brexit. Since the U.K. issued EHICs for about five years, your card might be valid for a little while longer, depending on when you last renewed it. Once it is about to expire, however, you will have to apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).

The GHIC is the new British version of the EHIC and functions in much the same way. This means that you can use GHIC to get medical treatment in public hospitals and clinics in the EU.

However, as a British citizen, you can no longer use your EHIC or GHIC in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland.

Who Can Apply for a GHIC?

You can apply for a GHIC if:

• You are a U.K. citizen.
• You are a legal resident of the U.K., such as an international student or work visa holder.
• You are registered with the NHS or another health insurance fund in the U.K.
• You are not registered with any health insurance fund in the EU, Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Norway.
• Your EHIC has already expired or is about to expire.

How to Apply for a GHIC?

You have to apply for a GHIC using the official NHS website. The application is online and free of charge. You have to register an account and provide the following information:

• Your full name.
• Your address.
• Your date of birth.
• Your National Insurance or NHS number if you are from England and Wales.
• Your Health and Care number if you are from Northern Ireland.
• CHI number if you are from Scotland.

International students in the U.K. cannot apply online and will have to mail their application to the Overseas Healthcare Services of the NHS, along with the following:

• The GHIC application form (downloadable from the NHS website)
• A letter from your university stating:
  • Your name.
  • The address of the university/college.
  • The details of your degree.
  • The duration of your study course, with start and end dates.

Difference Between EHIC/GHIC and Travel Insurance

Although they are both used for health insurance, an EHIC or GHIC and travel insurance are not the same thing and cannot be used interchangeably. For one, an EHIC only covers medical treatment by public healthcare providers, so if you need to be admitted to a private hospital, you would have to shoulder the entire cost yourself. Travel health insurance, on the other hand, covers medical treatment in both public and private hospitals as well as additional trip-related losses.

See the main differences illustrated below:

Related information

• UK Citizens Travelling to the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein
• Schengen Travel Insurance Requirements
• Travel Insurance Guide for Spain
• Travel Insurance Guide for France
• Travel Insurance Guide for Germany
• Travel Insurance Guide for the Netherlands
• Europe Travel Insurance from the UK
• Schengen Insurance for the UK Residents