The European Health Insurance Card has long been a popular way for many people in the UK to cover the risk of traveling in Europe. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows you the right to access healthcare which is provided by the state in another European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland when you are on a temporary visit to this country.
At present, even with Brexit putting many aspects of travel and life in Europe in a state of flux, it is still possible to use the EHIC as normal. There are no current changes listed to the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) service. You can find out more below.
Where Can I Get a European Health Insurance Card?
The European Health Insurance Card is available online through the official EHIC application form. You do not have to pay to apply for this card so if a website says you do need to give money, it is likely you are not on the official site.
Who Can Apply for a European Health Insurance Card?
You can apply for an EHIC if you are a resident of the United Kingdom. If you are not an EEA national or a Swiss national and you live in the UK then you will need to look in further detail at whether you are eligible for the card. There are occasions where you are eligible for the card when you live in an EEA country or Switzerland, for example when you are working in an EEA country, or when you are studying. Each member of a family needs their own EHIC. You can apply for a card on behalf of any children under the age of 16.
What Treatment Can I Get With a European Health Insurance Card?
By using the EHIC in Europe you will be covered for all treatment that is necessary for your medical needs until you return home. You will also be covered for the treatment of pre-existing medical conditions and for the treatment of routine pregnancy conditions, so long as the purpose of your visit to the country was not as a “medical tourist” with the purpose of expressly seeking this treatment.
How Much Does My Treatment Cost?
The treatment that you receive will be the same as that received by a resident of the country you are in, and will be available at a reduced price or for free. Sometimes you will need to pay a proportion of the cost of the treatment which is provided by the state, which is called a co-payment. If you are in a country where this system operates then you will need to pay the same co-payments as a resident of that country would pay.
Is the EHIC an Alternative to Travel Insurance?
The EHIC is not seen as an alternative to travel insurance as there are a number of things the EHIC will not cover. It will not cover you for the cost of any private healthcare treatment, nor will it cover the cost of repatriating you back to your country if you are seriously injured. It will not cover any loss arising from a robbery or if you lose possessions, and it is not valid on a cruise. But seeing as the EHIC is free it is a valid addition to travel insurance.
Does Brexit Affect the Use of a European Health Insurance Card?
Since Article 50 has been triggered, there is no change in the status of the European Health Insurance Card and Brexit does not affect the rights of people in the UK to apply for the EHIC. The UK is still in the process of leaving the European Union and various negotiations need to take place in order for the process to be completed.
In the future, the availability of the EHIC will depend on whether the UK separates from the EEA, as the EHIC is not specifically an EU scheme. For example, countries like Iceland and Norway are not members of the EU but they are of the EEA and they accept the European Health Insurance Card. But if the UK exits the EEA then it is likely that the card will no longer be available to UK citizens and residents. However, even this is not clear cut as Switzerland is not currently part of the EU or the EEA and it does accept the card. Negotiations over aspects like this are part of the general process of arriving at a new state of European living for citizens of the UK.