Know Before You Go: European Health Insurance

Excitement can sometimes get in the way of careful planning for an upcoming trip, and sometimes the most important can get overlooked. In this new blog series, I’ll be walking you through the ways that you get better prepare yourself for a fun and safe journey abroad, starting with everything you need to know about European Health Insurance.

So, what is the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)? Formerly known as the E111, an EHIC card is designed to be used within the European Union, allowing the cardholder to receive the same level of free, or reduced, state healthcare that local residents themselves are entitled to. It’s free to acquire for almost EU citizens, aside from those living in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man, so if you are travelling to any of the twenty eight member states, Iceland, Norway or Liechtenstein, it’s advisable sign up for a card a few weeks before you travel, or renew your previous one if it has expired. If you are travelling outside the EU to countries which have no healthcare agreement with the UK, including Turkey, you will still need to purchase a travel insurance policy before you leave. For more information, check out the country-by-country guide.

However, while the EHIC card might sound like the answer to all you expensive travel insurance problems, things aren’t that simple. Presenting a valid card will cover the excess for any medical treatment that you require during your trip, due to an illness or an accident that is covered by that country’s healthcare system. This includes treatment needed for pre-existing medical conditions and basic maternity care, including the costs incurred by you and your baby due to unexpected or premature labour. However healthcare systems vary across the Union and the EHIC card might not cover everything that you expect it to, so it’s important to do your research beforehand.

In some EU countries, you are required to pay upfront for your treatment, either in full or as a partial contribution. While you may be entitled to a refund for these co-payments when you’re back in your home country, but it’s not always guaranteed. This means that even whilst travelling with a valid EHIC card, you need to invest in travel insurance before you leave because alone it does not offer a replacement for a comprehensive policy. The card will not cover any private medical expenses should state healthcare not be available to you, or any costs associated with mountain rescue or repatriation. In 2014, insurers paid out £370 million in claims to travellers who needed help whilst abroad, so travel insurance is important for not only protecting yourself, but also for your baggage, bookings and other personal liabilities, regardless of owning an EHIC card.

The card is completely free of charge for all EU citizens, and can be registered for online here. You can apply for your EHIC up to 6 months in advance and it usually takes around ten working days to be delivered by post, so it’s advisable to fill the forms out well before your departure date. It’s important to remember that every family member requires a card, including children. Although you must be over 16 to apply, younger children can be included as dependants during the application process, allowing each family member to receive their own card. There are a lot of official-looking websites that try to make you pay for ordering an EHIC card online via them, often charging a £20 fee in exchange for ‘processing’ your application. These are well publicised as scams, but reports suggest that one in eight people in the UK still own an EHIC card that was purchased through one of these sites, so don’t get caught out!

For more information about the EHIC card and how you can pick up your own free of charge, visit the NHS website here.