Holidays and trips abroad are fun and exciting, but accidents happen. While you are travelling, the European Health Insurance Card gives you access to necessary medical services in any EU country.

What if I need a doctor when I am travelling abroad?

With your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) you can receive treatment under the same conditions and at the same cost as for people insured in the country you are visiting.

The EHIC is valid in any EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland or the United Kingdom.

Your national health provider can issue the card for free. Make sure you apply for it before you travel.

If you want more information on the EHIC while on the go, check our page.

What does EHIC cover ?

The EHIC covers any necessary, state-provided healthcare treatment which can't be postponed until you've returned from your stay in another EU country.

Under certain conditions, the benefits covered include, for example, benefits provided in conjunction with chronic or existing illnesses as well as in conjunction with pregnancy and childbirth.

Hospitals that provide public health services are obliged to recognise the EHIC. In the vast majority of cases, patients presenting the EHIC receive the necessary healthcare and are reimbursed without any problems.

However please keep in mind that 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

Contacts and costs, country by country

Would you like to know medical contacts and costs of medical services in the country you are travelling to, check out our page listing:

• emergency phone numbers
• treatments that are covered and costs
• how to claim reimbursement and who to contact in case you have lost your card

The database covers 27 EU countries, Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland or the United Kingdom. It is available in 24 languages.

Background

According to the latest available figures, around 235 million Europeans have the EHIC, which is more than half of the EU population.