I was going through a pile of old loyalty cards, old ticket flight stubs, train tickets, hotel electronic keys that I have by my desktop computer (I swear the amount of junk I have gets worse each day), when I noticed my European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) was going out of date.
Now for those of you within the European Economic Area (EEA), this is a great little thing as it allows you to access state healthcare at a reduced cost or free.
The card will cover you for treatment that is needed to allow you to continue your stay until your planned return to your home country. It also covers you for treatment of pre-existing medical conditions and for routine maternity care.
If this sounds all too familiar, this is the modern day equivalent of Form E111 which itself was replaced in 2005.
As I said, it’s very useful.
Whilst not a replacement for travel insurance (for example, it won’t cover repatriation costs, private medical healthcare, or ski cover – and it won’t cover you on other travel insurance things like lost/stolen property).
Now these cards do expire after a few years, so it’s worth going through your wallet to check if yours has.
Due to the way the NHS is is split up the information pages are scattered, however the page on the main NHS Site at gives a good overview at http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/about-the-ehic.aspx.
- For citizens residing in the United Kingdom, you can apply for your EHIC Card at https://www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/startApplication.do.
- Irish Citizens head to http://www.ehic.ie/.
- For other EEA countries, please check with your state health provider
- Note that residents of The Isle of Man and The Channel Islands cannot apply for an EHIC card.
An important thing to note is that EHIC cards are issued FREE OF CHARGE to nationals living in the EEA zone.
If you are complete an EHIC form and you are asked for payment of a card, I’d strongly recommend you DO NOT PROCEED as the EHIC is free, and you could be handing your information to a place you don’t want it handled.
There is an app for that by EU: http://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559
Good catch Fabio. Another useful too for the European Traveller.
I get a new card every year via my health care provider here in NL, usually around Christmas time 🙂
Two hears ago I had to be admitted in the hospital while in Austria. they just scanned my card and I did not have to worry about anything. On the back it says its valid in the whole EU/EEA, Switzerland, Macedonia and strangely Australia. Not sure how it would work there but I assume it does!
I’ve never had to use mine in anger thankfully, but it’s good to know the card works.
Just like magic – dread the thought – a European system that works…..