The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is an absolutely vital addition to the wallet of anyone planning on travelling within the European Economic Area (EEA). There’s often some confusion about what it is though, and what it can be used for, which leads to many people mistakenly thinking that they can get away without taking out comprehensive travel insurance – something that can end up being a costly mistake. So, this article will explain the EHIC, and let you know exactly how it can be used…
What is the EHIC?
The EHIC is a card issued to citizens of any EEA member state, as well as those from Switzerland. It means that any holder is able to receive treatment at a free or reduced rate when they are in one of the participating countries. It is now the only healthcare document travellers need, having replaced the raft of different forms in use before the card was introduced in 2004. It is accepted in a total of 32 different nations, namely the 28 members of the EU plus four members of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA), namely Switzerland, Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein.
What Can It Be Used For?
This is where the main confusion comes in, as many people incorrectly believe that the EHIC can be used for absolutely any medical treatment. This is far from the case. In fact, it can only generally be used when a person requires emergency medical care, or requires treatment for a pre-existing medical condition. What’s more, it does not always mean that treatment will be free. Instead, it simply reduces the cost of treatment to the same amount paid by locals.
Some of the features that the EHIC doesn’t usually include are:
- Emergency transport back to your home country
- Any dental treatment
- Minor ailments that could be treated when you return home
The fact that there are so many different things that aren’t covered, combined with the fact that treatment costs might only be reduced and not completely eradicated, means that an EHIC is not sufficient in order to completely protect yourself from medical expenses. It is undoubtedly an important item to pack when you head off on your holiday, however it should be supplemented with comprehensive travel insurance which can be purchased from a number of providers in the UK.
In order to find the best possible travel insurance for you, we recommend using our comparison tool. Once you’ve inputted all your details you’ll receive quotes from a large number of different companies. You can then simply pick the one with the most attractive set of features, as well as the most competitive price. There will be a small outlay at the start, but having travel insurance could save you thousands of pounds in the long run.
The EHIC After Brexit
Britain’s decision to leave the European Union has thrown up a number of concerns regarding the ongoing use of the EHIC for British citizens. The real issue isn’t the fact that the UK will leave the EU though – it’s whether they continue to have ties with the EEA, as the card is a scheme run by the EEA. There are plenty of precedents for countries being involved in the EEA and not the EU, such as Norway and Iceland, and it is more than likely that the UK will remain a part of this group of countries. Should the anti-immigration stance win though, the UK could also cut ties with the EEA which would spell the end of the EHIC for UK citizens.
If the UK decides to leave the EEA and therefore give up the right to issue EHIC documents it will mean that travel insurance will be more vital than ever. This is because travel insurance would be the sole means by which UK citizens could gain access to free healthcare whilst travelling in Europe.
