The European Health Insurance Card: What It Is and How to Use It
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- The EHIC provides healthcare access in Europe to all EU Member States, along with Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.
- In the post-Brexit era, the European Health Insurance Card can still be used in the United Kingdom, but British citizens will soon have their own health document: the GHIC.
Guaranteed healthcare across European countries is one of the most important services offered to residents.
That is why Europeans travelling to other nations in the European Economic Area (EEA) and the European Union (EU), as well as Switzerland and the United Kingdom, need to keep their European Health Insurance Card at hand and up to date.
The European Health Insurance Card cost is completely free and gives access to healthcare in all EEA/ EU countries, plus Switzerland and the UK.
This article includes important information for travellers and European residents, including:
- What the European Health Insurance Card is and how to obtain it
- Who can apply for European health insurance
- What coverage the EU Health Insurance Card grants to its holder
- The EHIC expiration date and how to renew it
- The European Health Insurance Card after Brexit
Where can I use the European Health Insurance Card?
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a personal document that grants access to healthcare services across Europe. EHIC holders cannot use someone else’s EHIC card and cannot give theirs away.
When abroad, the EU Health Insurance Card holder can receive medical attention in all EEA and EU countries, as well as Switzerland and the UK.
Which countries are covered by the EHIC?
The following is a list of countries that accept the European Health Card:
EU countries:
Although the UK has officially left the EU, the EHIC is still accepted by the NHS (the UK National Health System.) Find information about the European Health Insurance Card and how Brexit will affect UK citizens travelling to Europe in 2022.
The European Health Card guarantees the same healthcare conditions and services as those enjoyed in one’s country of residency. Europeans can use it in all of the above nations, regardless of the reason why they are travelling abroad (i.e. study, work, business, tourism).
What is not covered by the European Health Insurance Card?
The European Health Insurance Card is not a private EU travel insurance and, therefore, cannot be used as one.
The following is a list of costs and circumstances that cannot be covered by the EU Health Insurance Card:
- Private health insurance
- Return ticket in case of cancellation
- Body repatriation costs
- Loss or theft of luggage and other personal belongings
- Healthcare services and treatments that are not free in the traveller’s own country*
- Costs of treatments when the trip was made specifically for medical purposes.
*If the public healthcare system is not free in the country the EHIC holder is travelling to, they will be charged for medical attention and treatment the same way local residents are.
Who can apply for a European Health Insurance Card?
To obtain the EU Health Insurance Card, applicants must be covered by the national healthcare system of an EU or EEA country (or Switzerland).
To be covered by a country’s healthcare system through EHIC eligibility, individuals must be a citizen or resident of that nation.
Travellers who are not eligible for the EHIC card must obtain private health insurance in Europe for foreigners.
How to obtain the European Health Insurance Card
EHIC cards are issued by the national health insurance provider. This means that each country has its own system and process to apply for and obtain the EU health card.
It is necessary to apply for the European Health Insurance Card in the applicant’s country of citizenship or permanent residency.
Usually, participating European countries offer 3 alternatives. The EU Health Insurance Card can be applied for:
Applicants should contact their national health insurance provider to receive instructions on the steps to follow.
Families should keep in mind that each member must apply for and obtain their own European Health Insurance Card, both in their home country and while travelling abroad.
How does the European Health Insurance Card work?
Should a European citizen or eligible resident find themselves in need of medical attention abroad, they simply need to show the card at any public hospital or medical centre in a participating country.
Once the medical or admin staff confirm that all the information is correct and up to date on the traveller’s European Healthcare Card, they will attend and treat them like any other local patient.
It is essential that travelers remember to bring the card abroad and keep it with them at all times.
What is the European Health Insurance Card’s validity?
Usually, the European Health Insurance Card has a validity of 2 years, although that is not always the case. If in doubt, finding the expiration date on the card (often, on the back side) is extremely easy.
The validity of the EU health card may depend on several factors, such as:
- If the holder is a foreigner residing in the EU, EEA, or Switzerland
- Whether they are currently receiving public benefits
- If they are in economic difficulties
The EU Health Insurance Card’s validity and how long a person is entitled to public health care while abroad in Europe are not related. In general, healthcare coverage while abroad in Europe is guaranteed for 3 months. However, there are exceptions, such as:
- Students completing official courses and programmes abroad
- Workers relocated by their employer for extended periods of time
How to renew the European Health Insurance Card
Once the European Health Insurance Card expires, its holder should take steps to renew it if they want to continue enjoying access to the European public healthcare system.
The process to renew the European Health Insurance Card is the same as that to request it for the first time.
Can Brits use the EHIC after Brexit?
The NHS no longer issues European Health Insurance Cards since Brexit. However, Britons can still use their card in Europe until its expiration.
After the EHIC card has expired, UK nationals can apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) that will grant them access to European health services when travelling to Europe from the UK.
The GHIC effectively replaces the EHIC, is completely free, and allows UK nationals to receive treatment in Europe for pre-existing conditions as well as emergencies.
Brits only need to apply for a GHIC once their European Health Insurance Card expires. According to the agreement between the UK and the EU, the NHS will continue to accept European Health Insurance Cards for as long as they remain valid.
Please note that the European Commission and the UK government advise travellers to obtain health insurance in Europe coverage before their trip, even if they have an EHIC.
Do I need travel insurance for Europe if I have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)?
Basically, an EHIC allows you to access necessary health care in the public system of any EU/EEA member state or Switzerland if you become ill or injured while on a temporary stay in that country. If you carry the card, and if the need arises, you can have the same access as citizens of those countries to whatever levels of State-provided free or subsidised healthcare services are available there.
This may make it seem as though you therefore don’t need travel insurance for those countries – but there is much more to consider too, before you make that decision.
EHIC cover varies from country to country
There is a wide variation in the level of State healthcare available in countries covered by the EHIC, and even with EHIC, you may face charges for treatment you receive.
Only a few countries pay the full cost of healthcare for EHIC holders, and you may have to pay for some services that you would expect to obtain for free in Ireland. This can include having to pay for the ambulance that takes you to hospital if you suffer an accident, even if the treatment itself you receive is free. Likewise, there may be a standard charge for visiting the A&E department of a public hospital, just as there is here in Ireland.
EHIC doesn’t cover some things at all
Consider too that there is much that the EHIC doesn’t cover at all. For example, you do not have the option of availing of private medical treatment and later claiming the costs back, as you would with travel insurance. This can be particularly relevant if travelling or staying in rural areas, many miles from the nearest State hospital or medical facility.
Nor does an EHIC cover other expenses you may face in case of an accident, such as sea or mountain rescue, extra accommodation costs or travel costs resulting from your accident or illness, or even an emergency flight home (repatriation) if you need to return as soon as possible.
Private health insurance does not provide full cover either. It will cover you for emergency treatment abroad up to a certain amount (depending on the plan you are on), but like the EHIC, it does not cover you for repatriation or the costs for additional accommodation or travel expenses.
Travel Insurance brings extra benefits
With a travel insurance policy from Insuremyholiday.ie however, you are covered for up to €10,000,000 in medical care abroad, which surpasses the cover you get on a private health insurance policy or the EHIC. We also cover the following:
- We will pay the additional travelling and accommodation costs for one person to remain with you if it is medically necessary for you to stay beyond your scheduled return date.
- If you are travelling alone, we will cover the cost of one person to travel to stay with you if it is medically necessary for you to be accompanied.
- Reasonable additional accommodation costs necessitated by the medical emergency.
- Costs of providing emergency dental treatment.
- Additional travelling costs to repatriate you where recommended.
- Expenses incurred for the burial or cremation of a deceased insured person abroad or repatriation to Ireland of the deceased insured person’s body or ashes.
Travel Insurance also covers much more
Also remember that a travel insurance policy covers much more than just medical expenses. For example, the single biggest reason for claiming on a travel insurance policy is for having to abandon travel plans before the trip ever begins at all. An EHIC does not provide for that.
Other items covered by travel insurance that are not covered by an EHIC include lost or delayed baggage, flight delay or cancellation, personal money and documents cover, credit card cover, legal expenses cover, and much more.
In fact, a travel insurance policy from Insuremyholiday.ie provides you with all these great benefits:
Gold Plan travel insurance benefits
- Medical Expenses Cover of €5 Million
- Personal Luggage Cover of €2,000
- Personal Money and Documents Cover of €1,600
- Delayed Departure Cover of €200
- Cancellation or Curtailment Cover of €4,000
- Abandonment Cover of €4,000
- Missed Departure Cover of €500
- Personal Accident Cover of €55,000
- Personal Liability Cover of €2,000,000
- Third Party Supplier Insolvency Cover of €2,000
- Schedule Airline Failure Cover of €1,000
- Legal Expenses Cover of €10,000
- Hijack Cover of €1,000
- Catastrophe Cover of €750
- Credit or Cash Card Fraud Cover of €300
Platinum Plan travel insurance benefits
- Medical Expenses Cover of €10 Million
- Personal Luggage Cover of €3,000
- Personal Money and Documents Cover of €2,000
- Delayed Departure Cover of €400
- Cancellation or Curtailment Cover of €6,000
- Abandonment Cover of €6,000
- Missed Departure Cover of €600
- Personal Accident Cover of €95,000
- Personal Liability Cover of €2,000,000
- Third Party Supplier Insolvency Cover of €2,000
- Schedule Airline Failure Cover €2,000
- Legal Expenses Cover €20,000
- Hijack Cover of €2,000
- Catastrophe Cover of €1,000
- Credit or Cash Card Fraud Cover of €500
Ultimately, our advice to you is to carry an EHIC for your travel within Europe – but to take out travel insurance too.
That way, you’ll be fully covered, no matter what happens – and our cheap travel insurance rates mean that you can get that cover for much less than you might think.
Travel Cover With a Global or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC/GHIC)
The EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), or Carte Européenne d’Assurance Maladie (CEAM) as it’s known in France, provides access to medical treatment for EU citizens travelling within the EU and it’s available to all those registered in France’s healthcare system. Here’s what you need to know about the European Health Insurance Card.
European Health Insurance Card/CEAM: What Does It Cover?
Your EHIC/CEAM covers any necessary medical treatment due either to an accident or an illness while you are travelling in the European Economic Area (the EU, along with Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Iceland). The card entitles the holder to state-provided medical treatment within the country they are visiting and the service provided will be the same as received by a person covered by the country’s ‘insured’ medical scheme.
The EHIC can also be used to receive treatment for pre-existing illness, chronic diseases and routine maternity care, but conditions do apply and the EHIC certainly does not cover persons who are visiting a country with the main intention of receiving medical treatment.
The EHIC entitles a visitor to ‘necessary’ healthcare but not necessarily the total cost of care. It is not the intention, for example, of the EHIC to provide treatment that could wait until a person returned home (most types of dental treatment, for example) nor to cover treatment that, when taking a trip or holiday, requires specialist medical surveillance, and in particular the employment of special techniques or equipment. However, in such cases (a dialysis for example), we are aware of instances where, if a an EHIC holder visits their local UK dialysis unit, then that unit should be able to make arrangements for the EHIC holder to receive treatment in a similar unit in France. Should that EHIC holder discover that their dialysis unit is unable to help, or, even worse, on arrival, that such arrangements have not been made, then they can attempt to contact the local doctor in their locality in France and request that they make such arrangements.
Entitlement in France under the French State medical insurance system differs widely from that in other EEA countries. All reimbursements are based on the ‘official price list’ called the tarif de convention. It should be pointed out that medical practitioners are permitted to charge more than the tarif de convention. This, the depassement as it is known, is paid by the patient, and the gap between the cost and reimbursement is substantial and in some cases can be serious. Thus, it is important to ensure that any treatment or advice you receive falls under the tarif de convention.
What treatment is covered and what will I be charged for?
Doctors, dentists and prescriptions
Make sure the doctor or dentist you consult is ‘conventionné’ – i.e. they work within the French health system and under the tarif de convention. After treatment, obtain a signed statement of the treatment given (a feuille de soins) – you cannot claim a refund without it. You will be charged for the treatment you receive, as well as for any prescribed medicines, and the amount(s) should be shown on the feuille de soins.
Around 70% of standard doctor and dentist fees are refunded and 35% – 65% of the cost of most prescribed medicines. The cost of common remedies and items such as bandages are refunded at the lower rate. Make sure you keep your receipts. The cost of medicines marked with a ‘vignette’ or NR’ is not recoverable.
Hospital treatment
You must pay for out-patient treatment and then claim a partial refund from the local Caisse Primaire d’Assurance-Maladie or CPAM, while you are still in France. To do this, take your claim to the local office. They will take your details and you will hand over the claim with your receipts. When you are back in the UK, you will receive an itemised list of your claim. Once agreed, a bank order will be posted to you. This can all take a couple of months.
If you are treated as an in-patient in an approved hospital and show your EHIC, the office will pay 75 per cent or more of the cost direct to the hospital. You pay the balance. You must also pay a fixed daily hospital charge (forfait journalier). The 25% balance and the forfait journalier are non-refundable.
French Residents: Applying for Your European Health Insurance Card
If you are resident in France and are registered in the French healthcare system, you are entitled to an EHIC/CEAM. However, it will not be issued to you automatically – you must apply for it online at Ameli.fr (sign into your account and you’ll find the application form under ‘Mes démarches). Cards can take around 30 days to be sent out to you, so it’s advisable to request yours within plenty of time for your trip.
Each member of the family must have their own EHIC/CEAM – parents must apply on behalf of children under 16. The EHIC is normally valid for three to five years.
UK Residents Post-Brexit: EHIC or GHIC?
Post-Brexit, UK citizens will no longer be entitled to an EHIC. Instead, they will be able to apply for a GHIC or UK Global Health Insurance Card (you can apply online through the NHS website). This card allows the same rights to essential or emergency healthcare while travelling in the EU as before. However, the GHIC is limited to the EU—it does not provide cover for countries in the European Economic Area (EEA), i.e. Switzerland, Norway, Liechtenstein, or Iceland.
Do you need to apply for an EHIC?
If you are a UK citizen who currently holds a UK-issued EHIC you can use this card up until its expiry date, and it will cover you under the same conditions as a GHIC. If you don’t yet have a card or your EHIC has expired, you will need to apply for a GHIC.
British pensioners in France
One exception to the above rule is for British pensioners resident in France. Under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, pensioners resident in France prior to December 31, 2020, with a registered S1, E121, E106 or E109 form issued by the UK, will continue to be granted access to the French healthcare system as before. However, being as their healthcare is still funded by the UK, they will not be entitled to a France-issued EHIC/CEAM. Instead, pensioners can apply for a special UK-issued EHIC.
Unlike the GHIC, this card provides cover within the whole European Economic Zone, providing pensioners in France with the same rights as those of French citizens when travelling in the EU.
If you are a pensioner in France and hold an EHIC issued prior to December 31, 2020, you must change this for a new EHIC card through the NHS. Similarly, if you don’t yet have an EHIC, you should apply for one through the NHS. This can be done online here.
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Source https://www.etiasvisa.com/etias-news/european-health-insurance-card
Source https://www.insuremyholiday.ie/travel-insurance-ehic/
Source https://www.frenchentree.com/living-in-france/healthcare/european-health-insurance-card/
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