Have you ever been injured while surfing in France and needed stitches? Sprained your ankle while hiking in Poland? Or needed to see a doctor while on holiday in Greece because of a pre-existing chronic condition such as diabetes?
In situations like these while travelling abroad, the European Health Insurance Card — European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) — can help.
The EHIC entitles you to necessary and urgent medical care abroad, including treatment for chronic and pre-existing conditions, as well as healthcare related to pregnancy and childbirth.
The EHIC is valid in all European Union countries, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom.
However, it is important to remember that the European Health Insurance Card is not a substitute for travel insurance. The EHIC does not cover the cost of private healthcare or planned medical treatment for which a person specifically travels abroad.
By presenting an EHIC, travellers can receive medical care directly from public healthcare institutions and participating clinics under the same conditions and at the same cost as people insured in the country they are visiting.
However, healthcare systems differ across European countries. A medical service that is free in your home country may not be free in another country.
If you have had to pay for medical services yourself while receiving treatment abroad, in some cases you may be able to claim reimbursement for your healthcare expenses. You can request reimbursement from the relevant national institution while you are still in the country, or contact your health insurance provider after returning home.
More than half of the EU population has a European Health Insurance Card. Applying for an EHIC is free — you simply need to contact your health insurance institution before travelling.
The card usually arrives by post within a few days. If your trip begins before you receive your EHIC, you can request a temporary replacement certificate for the European Health Insurance Card.
The EHIC allows you to travel around Europe with greater peace of mind, knowing that if you unexpectedly become ill or injured, you can receive necessary medical care through the public healthcare system of the country you are visiting.
Source: alp.org.ua