Five things you should know about European Health Insurance Card

1.      What is the European Health Insurance Card?

A free card that gives you access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in any of the 28 EU countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, under the same conditions and at the same cost (free in some countries) as people insured in that country.

Cards are issued by your national health insurance provider.

Important – the European Health Insurance Card:

• Is not an alternative to travel insurance. It does not cover any private healthcare or costs such as a return flight to your home country or lost/stolen property,
• Does not cover your costs if you are travelling for the express purpose of obtaining medical treatment.
• Does not guarantee free services. As each country’s healthcare system is different services that cost nothing at home might not be free in another country.

2.      How do you obtain a card?

You obtain a card by contacting a health insurance institution where you live as each individual country is responsible for producing and distributing the card in its own territory.

3.      Who can benefit from the card?

To be eligible for a card, you must be insured by or covered by a state social security system in any Member State of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. Each separate member of a family travelling should have their own card.
People from non-EU countries who are legally residing in the EU and are covered by a state social security scheme are also eligible for a card. However, nationals from non-EU countries cannot use their EHIC for medical treatment in Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

4.      How long is the card valid for?

This varies from one country to another and is best to check when you contact your local health authority to obtain the card.

5.      What action can you take if your local authority refuses to give you a European Health Insurance Card?

If you ask for the European Health Insurance Card, your local authority is obliged to provide you with one or, failing that, with a provisional replacement certificate if the card is not immediately available. If they do not, you should be able to appeal. The European Commission can offer information on how you can enforce your rights and suggests that you contact http://ec.europa.eu/solvit/site/index_en.htmin the first instance to see how to make a complaint.