European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
The EHIC (the old E111) entitles you to reduced cost (or sometimes free) healthcare where treatment becomes necessary during a temporary visit to other countries of the European Union plus Iceland, Lietchenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The card is only valid for treatment offered under the state healthcare schemes operating in these countries; it gives you access to treatment under the same terms as the people that live in the country you are visiting.
The EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance. Since it may not cover all health costs and never covers repatriation costs, loss of possessions, trip cancellation, personal liability and a number of other sections from a standard travel insurance program, you are advised to take out a travel insurance policy in addition to the EHIC. The EHIC does not cover situations where patients go abroad, in order to be treated in hospitals overseas, your Primary Care Trust or Local Health Board can advise further about this.
Everybody who is planning to travel in Europe needs and EHIC. Even if you have already purchased travel insurance. It gives you valuable extra protection whilst you are abroad, even if you need to ask the local GP a query on your trip.
Before you travel, make sure:
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Your EHIC is in date, click here to apply for your free EHIC |
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Kids have their own EHIC (under the age of 16) |
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Keep the card with you at all times and in a safe place |
But remember, the EHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance.
The EHIC does not cover:
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EHIC does not always mean free treatment |
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Cancellation, delay, repatriation, baggage loss and theft are not covered |
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You may need to pay a proportion of hospital costs and reclaim later |
Further information, including a full list of countries covered along with details of their ‘health systems’ can be found online at www.nhs.uk/healthcareabroad.
So along with the EHIC, comes the need for travel insurance, and that’s where we come in. To learn about what Policies we offer, you may be interested in the following:
