European Health Insurance Card

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is issued free of charge and allows anyone who is insured by or covered by a statutory social security scheme of the EEA countries, Switzerland, and the United Kingdom to receive medical treatment in another member state in the same way as residents of that state—i.e., free or at a reduced cost—if treatment becomes necessary during their visit (for example, due to illness or an accident), or if they have a chronic pre-existing condition which requires care such as kidney dialysis. The term of validity of the card varies according to the issuing country. Continued reciprocal healthcare access between the EU and the UK was agreed, and the UK issues a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) valid in the EU, but not other EEA countries.[4]

European Health Insurance Card
Issued byMember states of the European Economic Area[lower-alpha 1][1]
Switzerland
United Kingdom[lower-alpha 2][2]
First issued1 June 2004
PurposeAccess to free or reduced cost health services in any EEA member state, Switzerland and the United Kingdom
Valid inEuropean Economic Area
Switzerland
United Kingdom[lower-alpha 3]
EligibilityEEA, Swiss or UK residency[lower-alpha 4]
CostFree
Decision 2003/751
European Union decision
Text with EEA relevance
TitleDecision No 189 of 18 June 2003 aimed at introducing a European health insurance card to replace the forms necessary for the application of Council Regulations (EEC) No 1408/71 and (EEC) No 574/72 as regards access to health care during a temporary stay in a Member State other than the competent state or the state of residence [3]
Made byThe Administrative Commission
Journal reference
Current legislation
Sample European Health Insurance Card from Austria (reverse)
German card
Sample French EHIC
Slovenian card

The intention of the scheme is to allow people to continue their stay in a country without having to return home for medical care, and does not cover people who have visited a country for the purpose of obtaining medical care, or non-urgent care that can be delayed until the individual returns to their home country (for example, most dental care). The costs not covered by self-liability fees are paid by the issuing country, which is usually the country of residence, but may also be the country from which the patient receives the most pension.[5]

The card only covers healthcare which is normally covered by a statutory health care system in the visited country; additional costs can be met by taking out travel insurance.

History

The card was phased in from 1 June 2004 and throughout 2005, becoming the sole healthcare entitlement document on 1 January 2006.

It replaced the following medical forms:

Territorial applicability

The card is applicable in all French overseas departments (Martinique, Guadeloupe, Réunion, and French Guiana) as they are part of the EEA, but not non-EEA dependent territories such as Aruba, or French Polynesia.[6] However, there are agreements for the use of the EHIC in the Faroe Islands and Greenland,[7] even though they are not in the EEA.

Personal eligibility

The card exists because the right to health care in the European Union is based on the country of legal residence, not the country of citizenship. Therefore, a passport is not enough to receive health care. It is however possible that a photo ID document is asked for, since the European Health Insurance Card does not contain a photo.

In some cases, even if a person is covered by the health insurance of an EU country, one is not eligible for a European Health Insurance Card. For instance, in Romania, a person who is currently insured has to have been insured for the previous five years to be eligible.[8]

Third party application processors

European Health Insurance cards are provided free to all legal residents of participating countries. There are however various businesses who act as non-official agents on behalf of individuals, arranging supply of the cards in return for payment, often offering additional services such as the checking of applications for errors and general advice or assistance.[9] This has proved extremely controversial. In 2010 the British government moved against companies that invited people to pay for the free EHIC, falsely implying that through payment the applicant could speed up the process.[10][11]

Participating member states

As of 2021, 31 countries in Europe participate: the 30 member states of the European Economic Area (EEA) plus Switzerland. This includes the 27 member states of the European Union (EU) and 4 member states of the European Free Trade Association (EFTA).[12]

United Kingdom

The United Kingdom was a participant in the scheme as a member of the European Union until its withdrawal from the union. It continued to participate provisionally until the end of the Brexit transition period on 31 December 2020.

The EU–UK Trade and Cooperation Agreement grants continued reciprocal healthcare access between the EU and the UK. EU citizens will be able to continue to use their EHIC within the UK,[13] while EHIC in the UK was replaced by a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).[14][15] The GHIC, unlike the EHIC, is not valid in Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein. Some UK citizens and permanent residents are eligible for a new UK-issued EHIC valid for visits to these countries as well as to Switzerland since 2022.[16][4] Eligible persons are those who meet one of the following criteria:[17]

  • those living in the European Union, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, and have been since before 1 January 2021 with a registered S1, E121, E106 or E109 form issued by the UK
  • those living in the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein, since before 1 January 2021 with an A1 issued by the UK
  • those who are a national of the EU, Switzerland, Norway, Iceland, or Liechtenstein who have legally resided in the UK since before 1 January 2021 and are covered under the Withdrawal Agreement; one may not be covered if they also a UK national or if they were born in the UK
  • those who are a family member or dependant of an entitled individual already listed
  • those who are a Chen or Ibrahim/Teixeira carer

During its participation in the scheme, EHIC access covered the British overseas territory of Gibraltar. The crown dependencies of the Channel Islands and Isle of Man were not covered by the EHIC as they were never members of the EU and EEA, and their residents were not eligible for EHICs.[18]

See also

Notes
  1. The legal acquis is identified as EEA-relevant by the EU, and is incorporated into the EEA Agreement (by Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway).
  2. Under the Brexit Withdrawal Agreement, the UK continues to issue EHIC to certain individuals who gained entitlement before 1 January 2021.
  3. Only EU member state-issued EHIC are valid after 31 December 2020. EHIC issued by EFTA members may remain valid where the individual has an ongoing relationship with the UK that started before 1 January 2021.
  4. Only EU/EFTA citizens, UK state pensioners, frontier workers, workers posted abroad and students studying in the EU on or before 31 December 2020 and eligible family members resident in the UK are entitled to apply for an EHIC.

References
  1. "Brexit : De la paperasse et des coûts supplémentaires en vue pour les Britanniques". Le Monde.fr. 13 July 2020.
  2. "Get healthcare cover for travelling abroad". nhsbsa.nhs.uk. NHS Business Services Authority. 15 August 2018. Retrieved 6 January 2021.
  3. "EUR-Lex - 32003D0751 - EN - EUR-Lex". eur-lex.europa.eu. Retrieved 26 August 2020.
  4. "Healthcare for UK nationals visiting the EU". GOV.UK. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  5. "Are foreigners really gaming the NHS to pay for their medical treatment abroad?". Guardian. 11 August 2015. Archived from the original on 23 September 2021. Retrieved 22 August 2015.
  6. "UK FCO Travel Advice: French Polynesia". Fco.gov.uk. 2012-09-12. Retrieved 2012-10-12.
  7. "UK FCO Travel Advice: Denmark". Fco.gov.uk. Retrieved 2012-10-12.
  8. "Cardul european de asigurări de sănătate, eliberat gratuit". Libertatea.ro. 2009-08-01. Retrieved 2012-10-12.
  9. "Third Party Application Processors". 2016-09-02. Retrieved 2016-06-03.
  10. "BBC News - European health card scam stopped by OFT". Bbc.co.uk. 2010-08-10. Retrieved 2012-10-12.
  11. "Consumers warned to be search engine savvy – Consumer Focus Wales". Consumerfocus.org.uk. 2011-06-22. Retrieved 2012-10-12.
  12. "European Health Insurance Card". European Commission. Retrieved 2019-05-07.
  13. "Press corner".
  14. "Brexit: EU diplomats briefed on Brexit trade deal". BBC News. 25 December 2020.
  15. "Apply for a free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)". nhs.uk. 2018-08-15. Retrieved 2021-01-01.
  16. "Health - Switzerland travel advice".
  17. "Applying for healthcare cover abroad (GHIC and EHIC)". nhs.uk. 2021-01-11. Retrieved 2023-01-10.
  18. "Who is entitled to a UK's European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) after Brexit". 2 February 2020.
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