About EHIC

If you reside in the UK and intend to travel to another country in the European Economic Area (EEA), you should apply for the EHIC. The EEA consists of all 27 of the EU countries plus Norway, Iceland, Switzerland and Liechtenstein.

The European Health Insurance Card, also knows as EHIC, allows access to basic, state-provided health care in most European countries.

Any basic medical treatment that you receive in a participating country will be at a reduced cost or perhaps even free of charge if you are able to present an EHIC prior to receiving the treatment. The EHIC will cover you for treatment that is needed to allow your stay to continue up until your planned return.

The EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. We strongly recommend that you and your fellow travelers obtain travel insurance from a reputable company. The EHIC does not cover the cost of lost or stolen property, repatriation to the UK or emergency rescue service costs in ski resorts.

Some key points are:

• Everyone should have one
  Anyone travelling in Europe needs an EHIC. Even for those that already have travel insurance, the EHIC can offer valuable extra protection
• Check your EHIC is still valid
  8 million EHICs expired in 2011, and 4 million are due to expire in 2012. Please remember to make sure your card is valid before leaving. You can find the expiry date in the bottom right hand corner of the card.
• Children must have their own cards
  Every EHIC application requires at least one applicant to be over the age of 16, but every family member requires their own card. If you are applying on behalf of a child, simply include them as a ‘dependent’ in the relevant section of the application and they will receive a separate EHIC.
• Keep the card with you at all times
  The terms of the EHIC agreement stipulate that you must have the card on your person at the time of treatment. You won’t be covered if you don’t have it with you.
• You may need to pay and claim later
  You may experience different procedures in different countries (see our community resource page). You may receive free treatment on-the-spot in some countries, but in others you may need to pay and then later reclaim the money.

If you need to make a claim whilst abroad, call the NHS Overseas Healthcare Team on 0191 218 1999.

Please read the advice from the UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office on the need to supplement your EHIC cover with a private medical insurance policy here.