The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can be used to cover any necessary medical treatment due to either an accident or illness within the European Economic Area (EEA). The EHIC 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The EHIC replaced the E111 on 1st January 2006, E111s are no longer valid.

How to Apply for the EHIC:

At the Post Office: You can collect an application form and post it or you can use the Post Office Check & Send service, where they will check the application form and post the form off for you. This service offers the convenience, ease and reassurance that the form is completed correctly and the charge is £2 per application form. Your application should be processed within 21 days.

By Telephone: You can telephone the NHSBSA EHIC Application Line on 0845 606 2030. Your application should be processed within 10 days.

Online: You can use the NHSBSA website which can be found here to apply yourself or you can use the Imap (UK) Limited EHIC Review and Submission service on this website. This service means that you will have the reassurance that all of your details have been checked by us for common mistakes made during applications and that we will contact you directly should we believe there will be any problems with your application which could delay it's processing. Your application will then be submitted to the NHSBSA by Imap (UK) Limited on your behalf. The charge is £9.95 per application. Your application should be processed within 7 days.

Cover

In Summary, the EHIC will cover:
-Any medical treatment that becomes necessary during your stay because of either illness or an accident.
-The card gives access to reduced-cost or free medical treatment from state healthcare providers.
-It allows you to be treated on the same basis as a resident of the country you are visiting i.e. you may have to pay a patient contribution (also known as a co-payment). You may be able to seek reimbursement for this when you are back in the UK if you are not able to do so in the other country (and limited to the equivalent cost on the NHS).
-It includes treatment of a chronic or pre-existing medical condition that becomes necessary during your visit.
-It includes routine maternity care, (provided the reason for your visit is not specifically to give birth).
-It includes the provision of oxygen, renal dialysis and routine medical care.

It does not cover:
-The EHIC is not a substitute or replacement for private travel insurance. You should always take out an appropriate private policy in addition to carrying your EHIC.
-It will not cover the costs of private healthcare or services that are not part of the state healthcare system.
-It will not cover the costs of being brought back to the UK.
-It will not allow you to go abroad to specifically receive treatment (including going abroad to give birth).
-The card may not be used in some regions, as there may be no state provided healthcare available.

Are you elligible?

UK and other EU nationals, stateless persons and refugees are covered in all EEA countries and Switzerland. However, if you are a national of Cyprus, the Czech Republic, Estonia, Hungary, Latvia, Lithuania, Malta, Poland, Slovakia and Slovenia, your EHIC is not valid in Switzerland.

Nationals of Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway are covered in all EEA countries but not in Switzerland.

People who do not have UK, EU, EEA or Swiss nationality are covered in all EU countries but not in Denmark, Norway, Liechtenstein or Switzerland. In Iceland, these people are covered for emergency treatment only.

Swiss nationals are covered in all EU countries but not in Liechtenstein or Norway. In Iceland they are covered for emergency treatment only.

Dependants of EEA nationals who are ordinarily resident in the UK are covered in all EEA countries and Switzerland, irrespective of their own nationality.

For more information or to apply online, click here