The European Health Insurance Card / EHIC

As a UK resident you are entitled to health care when abroad in another member country of the European Union. You may be entitled to health care in countries belonging to the European Economic Area, or EEA. The European Economic Area represents the freedom of movement and agreement to certain social policies undertaken by its thirty member states.

These thirty member states are: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Romania, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and the United Kingdom.

You will not usually be entitled to treatment unless there is a specific emergency, or you become ill whilst travelling. In order to prove that you are entitled to health care abroad you will need to carry a European Health Insurance Card, or EHIC. The EHIC is a small blue plastic card, the same size as a credit card, which is printed with your personal details. It confirms that you are entitled to health care abroad if you become unwell, or require treatment for an existing condition when abroad. The card is free, and valid for five years.

You will need to purchase travel insurance to cover the costs of private healthcare and specific medical costs abroad, but the EHIC is important because it is recognised internationally. If you purchase travel insurance you may be asked to prove that you have an EHIC.

You can apply for an EHIC via the official website, www.ehic.org.uk.