United Kingdom
Emergency
National Health Service (NHS) 111 service
- NHS 111 can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you are not sure what to do. To get help from NHS 111 go to 111.nhs.uk or call 111.
- More information about accessing healthcare services in England.
- More information about accessing NHS services in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Using an EHIC in the UK
What you need to do
If you are visiting the UK from an EU country and you fall ill or have a medical emergency during your temporary stay in England, you can use a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued by your home country to access healthcare.
You will need to bring your EHIC if you are eligible to use it in the UK.
The EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance. It will not cover any private medical healthcare, planned treatment, being flown back home, or lost or stolen property. We recommend that you also have travel or health insurance that covers the duration of your trip.
Emergency healthcare in England
This information is about getting healthcare in England.
The way you access healthcare in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland could be different from England.
The NHS operates a residence-based healthcare system. This means visitors to England may have to pay for NHS healthcare, depending on their circumstances.
Some services, such as accident and emergency (A&E) and visits to a general practitioner (GP), are free to everyone.
Urgent treatment or treatment that cannot safely wait until you leave the country and return home will always be provided, and the matter of payment dealt with later. Only a clinician can decide if your treatment is urgent or immediately necessary.
Treatment, coverage & costs
General Practice doctors (GPs)
- Primary care services, including treatment by a General Practitioner (GP) is provided free of charge by National Health Service (NHS) doctors (general practitioners - GPs). Find a general doctor near you.
Dentists
- All NHS dental treatment that is clinically necessary is provided at a standard non-refundable charge. Find a dentist near you.
Hospital treatment (NHS)
- Apart from emergency care, hospital treatment is arranged through your doctor (GP), dentist or optician. Most treatment at NHS hospitals is free if you have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Find a hospital near you.
- As a visitor with a valid card you are entitled to all clinically necessary state provided medical treatment free of charge. The card does not cover planned treatment.
Prescriptions
- You can get prescribed medicines from any pharmacy on presentation of a prescription. Find a pharmacy near you.
- Prescribed medicines are charged at a standard non-refundable prescription rate.
Ambulance
- Necessary ambulance transport is free of charge.
Reimbursement
- In the UK, treatment is most often free of charge, so there is no refund system.
- When standard charges are applied (such as fees for NHS dentists or prescription charges), these are not refundable in the UK.
- If you have to pay for care, contact your national health insurance provider once you return home to seek reimbursement.
Patient contribution
- In the UK, treatment is most often free of charge, but you must show your EHIC when accessing healthcare.
- Standard charges that must be paid by patients apply for NHS dentists.
- There is also a charge for prescriptions, in England only, which is payable at the pharmacy. Prescriptions in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales are free of charge.
Dialysis, oxygen & chemotherapy
- Oxygen therapy and dialysis need to be arranged with a health care provider in advance of your stay in England.
- Details of oxygen suppliers in England
- Details of renal dialysis units
Doctors & hospitals accepting the EHIC
- Most treatments at NHS hospitals are free if you have a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Find a hospital near you or find a general doctor (GP) near you
- More information about accessing NHS services in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Coverage for UK residents visiting the EU
If you are visiting an EU Member State from the UK, you can use a UK Global Health Insurance Card (UK GHIC) or a UK European Health Insurance Card (UK EHIC) to access medically necessary treatment.
Differences between the available cards
There are 2 types of cover available for people insured by the UK. You can apply for either:
- a UK Global Health Insurance Card (UK GHIC)
- a UK European Health Insurance Card (UK EHIC), if you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement
For most people, the UK Global Health Insurance Card (UK GHIC) replaces the existing European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for new applications.
Further information on how to apply for an EHIC or GHIC
How to use your card
You can use your card to access medically necessary state-provided healthcare when you're visiting an EU country.
Medically necessary healthcare means healthcare that cannot reasonably wait until you come back to the UK. Whether treatment is necessary is decided by the healthcare provider in the country you're visiting.
Further information on countries where your card is valid
If you have an existing EHIC
If you have an existing EHIC issued prior to the UK leaving the EU, it will remain valid until the expiry date on the card. You can apply for a new card up to 6 months before your current card expires.
If you're abroad and do not have your card with you
You can get a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) to prove your entitlement to medically necessary healthcare if you travel to Europe without your existing EHIC, UK GHIC or new UK EHIC and need treatment during your visit.
The PRC will give you the same cover as an existing EHIC, UK GHIC or new UK EHIC until you return home.
To apply for a PRC contact NHS Overseas Healthcare Services.
Loss of card
Contacts for holders of EHICs issued in the United Kingdom, while abroad requiring treatment.
Overseas Healthcare Services:
Tel: 0191 218 1999 (from the UK)
+44 191 218 1999 (from abroad)
Re-apply for lost or stolen card once back in the UK.