An ehic will enable you to access stateprovided healthcare in european economic area. The nhs choices website explains that an ehic card can enable the holder to get free treatment. Ehic stands for the european health insurance card. European health insurance card ehic is free nhs wales. May 23, 2017 ehic cards generally give you access to free medical care in the eu if you fall ill while abroad. Each countrys health system is different and might not include all the things you might expect to get free of charge from the nhs. 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 free or at a reduced cost, if that treatment becomes necessary during their visit for example, due to illness or an accident, or if.
Well also make sure to renew for you when it is required so that you can. Ehic enquiries po box 1114 newcastle upon tyne ne99 2tl. The nhs website is also the place to go to apply online for an ehic, which is available free of charge. This guide tells you how the ehic works, how to check yours is valid and crucially how to get or renew one for free. Beware eu health card salesmen who know your details this. Applying for the european health insurance card ehic is easy. Oct 31, 2018 the european health insurance card ehic is a personalised card that gives the holder the right to receive medical assistance during a temporary stay in any of the countries of the european union, the european economic area iceland, liechtenstein, norway and switzerland. For lifethreatening emergencies call 999 for an ambulance. If you need a provisional replacement certificate, see the nhs guide for. Apply for a free european health insurance card ehic nhs. Travel health and the european health insurance card ehic. Its a credit card sized piece of plastic which has your name, date of birth and other details on it, and which you can use to get access to state healthcare in any of the countries which make up the eea. The uk nhs states that your ehic lets you get state healthcare at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. Aug 11, 2015 in the case of the daily mail story, the nhs issued an ehic to an individual that wasnt eligible to receive the card because a gp was duped into issuing an nhs number.
Show your card to a doctor or at the hospital and you will receive the necessary treatment under the same conditions as people insured in that country. In the uk lots of web based companies offer to supply an ehic card for a fee the card is free. If youre advised to go to hospital, its important to go. I clicked through and bought five cards for me and my family, costing. The european health insurance card ehic gives you access to gps or state hospitals in the eu at the same price as a local, yet more than five million are outof date and invalid. The european health insurance card entitles the holder to receive treatment for free or at a lower cost on the same basis as a citizen of the country in which they are staying. How long does the ehic take to arrive and what should i do. How can i apply for a european health insurance card. How to get a european health insurance card ehic nhs.
What cover does the ehic really offer and are cards still. An ehic will enable you to access stateprovided healthcare in. Nov 26, 2018 the rule is eu wide, part of the eu regulations and it is that ehic card gives free treatment throughout the eu but specifically on the same terms as nationals of the country you are in. Youll either receive free healthcare or be charged the same fees as the locals. Providing a national insurance ni or nhs number, for example, helps to prove applicants are entitled to hold an ehic. How to get a free ehic card european health insurance card, valid. To get one, just fill out an application on the ehic website or by calling the nhs on 0300 330 50. Holidays, health cards, travel insurance and you bbc news. Some services charge to help you apply these are unnecessary and you do not need to use them.
It can be requested by fax, internet, personally or through a representative at territorial health insurance funds. If not, you could find that an unofficial site charges you a fee of up to. The ehic allows you to access healthcare from state providers on the same basis as a resident of the country youre visiting. The main applicant for the ehic must be ordinarily resident in the uk and of british, eu, eea or swiss nationality to be eligible for the card. The european health insurance card ehic is a customised card which allows its holder to receive medical care during a temporary stay in a country in the european union, the european economic area iceland, liechtenstein, norway and switzerland. European health insurance card ehic is free 12 june 2006 the department of health working with the nhs prescription pricing authority ppa provides the ehic free of charge. Ehic card application european health insurance card ehic. Its an absolute must as i personally discovered when i had to go by ambulance to a hospital in poland late last year, the charges were waived once i produced the ehic card. Download european health insurance card app for your. I think that they were grateful as in this case we were a mere 20 miles from the ukrainian border so i suspect that they really couldnt be arsed to fill in all the forms.
The main confusion in your case is that while nhs treatments are free for you if you are a student on a course for more than 6 months, you can only apply for an ehic card if you are an ordinary resident in the uk, and students by default are not considered ordinary residents even if they are on courses that last more than 6 months. While in the uk emergency treatment tends to be on the nhs, dont. Ultimately it depends of the healthcare rules of the european country you are in. Where can i obtain information about registering for local healthcare entitlements in the country where i live. Aug 10, 2015 the nhs choices website explains that an ehic card can enable the holder to get free treatment.
An unofficial website for the nhs european health insurance card ehic has been ordered to immediately clarify its charges for using the free service. Oct 31, 2018 the european health insurance card ehic is a customised card which allows its holder to receive medical care during a temporary stay in a country in the european union, the european economic area iceland, liechtenstein, norway and switzerland. You can apply online for an ehic, which is free of charge. If you want to travel abroad with the intention of getting treatment using your european health insurance card then this is also not accepted. An ehic lets you get state healthcare in eea countries and switzerland at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. How long does the ehic take to arrive and what should i do if. The ehic card complete guide medical travel insurance. People who live or work in another european economic area eea country or switzerland can get free nhs care using a european health insurance card ehic issued by the country in which they live. The ehic is issued only at the request of the insured.
The ehic is free of charge and you can apply or renew a card via the official ehic online application form. It can be done at the website of the nhs free of charge. Are foreigners really gaming the nhs to pay for their medical. Ehic application european health insurance card useful. What is not covered by the european health insurance card. Travel and ehic, the european health insurance card aa. Some services charge to help you apply these are unnecessary and you do not need to. We are unable to send your card to you any sooner than this. An ehic card allows you access to health care services when travelling to other eu or eea countries. Alternatively you can use our website to have everything done for you. Ehic is a free health insurance card for european citizens that provides the same free or lowcost healthcare as local residents.
Beware eu health card salesmen who know your details. If you are a regular visitor of this area businessperson, driver etc. By using our website, you agree to our use of cookies. Oct 31, 2018 the european health insurance card ehic is an individual card that allows the holder to receive medical attention during a temporary stay in any country in the european union, the european. Provide your full name, uk address, date of birth and, if known, your ehic personal identification number pin. You can renew your ehic online if youre a uk resident and none of your personal details have changed. National health insurance fund created database european health insurance card management system for public use to check the validity of ehics which were issued by lithuanian territorial health insurance funds. The ehic, or european health insurance card, is free and gets free or discounted medical care in all eu countries, plus others.
There are many name variations of the card which you may have heard, such as e11 card or an e111 card renewal, but the official name is ehic renewal. The ehic also covers routine medical care for people with preexisting conditions that need monitoring. If you do not have or are not entitled to an ehic you should ensure that you have private health insurance. Ehic applications unavailable but nhs says its nothing. You do not need your ehic to travel and can apply for a provisional. This follows 84 complaints that it was misleading consumers. Being an ehic card holder does not mean you are 100% guaranteed to get free treatment in qualifying countries. If you want to learn more about using your ehic, use this app in 25 languages. All uk residents are eligible, residents of the channel islands and isle of man arent. When applying for a card, make sure you do so through an official site. Travelling to europe from 1 january 2021 your ehic might not be valid from 1 january. Why was i charged for a european health insurance card ehic. The ehic card is free of charge and is valid on every european country. Well also make sure to renew for you when it is required so that you can be sure that you are always covered when travelling.
Its purpose is to provide for essential care for european holidaymakers in another eu state. An email told me that my european health insurance card ehic was due to expire, which was true. Beware copycat european health insurance card websites. For urgent medical help use the nhs 111 online service, or call 111 if youre unable to get help online. Free ehic card medical cover in europe sunshinestacey.
Your ehic will normally arrive within 10 working days if you apply by phone or using the official ehic website. Nhs business services authority, european health insurance card, ehic applications, bridge house, 152 pilgrim street, newcastle upon tyne ne1 6sn. The free european health insurance card ehic entitles the holder to free or discounted medical treatment at staterun hospitals and gps in any european union country, plus iceland, liechtenstein, norway and switzerland. In france apply to your local cpam caisse primaire dassurance maladie the organisation that administrates the french national health service via a network of local offices. Apr 05, 20 ehic stands for the european health insurance card. Beware copycat european health insurance card websites which. Ehic frequently asked questions find the answers here. Free european health insurance card ehic money guide ireland. You can apply for or renew an ehic using the official ehic online application form. A shortterm stay is generally accepted as for a period of less than 3 months.
See how to apply for an ehic card and what to do about a lost ehic card. Learn about the european health insurance card, what it is, who needs it. What is the card number and how does this relate to me. The european health insurance card ehic is free and entitles you to free or. To receive your genuine ehic apply directly through the ppas website below. Replacing a lost or stolen european health insurance card. Having an ehic card will give you significantly lower cost or even free, medical treatment or care in any of the eea countries listed below. It will cover you for treatment that is needed to allow you. If you need to replace your ehic while youre in the uk, call 0300 330 50. In this area one can find information about the european health insurance card ehic, the maltese citizens passport to free or reducedcost emergency care in most other european countries and european economic area. In this guide you will find information on how to apply, renew or replace an ehic card, and a comprehensive list of countries which accept the ehic. You cannot apply for this card in the uk and without it you could be charged for using the nhs unless you have alternative, adequate medical insurance. If youve got an ehic card you may be able to lower your medical costs while on holiday in europe the card is free and important to carry with you while travelling in.
Ehic stands for european health insurance card and is the document you need to get the necessary health care cover when traveling in qualifying countries of europe. This area also contains advice for travellers about planning ahead, staying healthy and getting treatment elsewhere in the world. Jul 17, 2017 the european health insurance card ehic gives you access to gps or state hospitals in the eu at the same price as a local, yet more than five million are outof date and invalid. Beware of unofficial websites, which may charge if you apply through them. Having an ehic card means you can use state healthcare services in the country you are visiting, so long as its in the european economic area see below. Ehic applications unavailable but nhs says its nothing to. Beware of unofficial websites, which may charge if you. What an ehic card covers and how to apply for one for free. Ehic cards generally give you access to free medical care in the eu if you fall ill while abroad.
Laptops tablets printers antivirus software packages broadband deals. What cover does the ehic really offer and are cards. Jan 20, 2020 the ehic is a free card available to all residents of ireland which entitles them to get free or reduced price public healthcare if needed whilst travelling in europe. As healthcare systems vary between countries, the ehic may not cover all of the treatments that are given for free in the uk under the nhs. What is covered by the european health insurance card. This means at a reduced cost or sometimes free of charge. With your european health insurance card you can access stateprovided healthcare if you fall ill or have an accident during your stay abroad. The european health insurance card ehic is a personalised card that gives the holder the right to receive medical assistance during a temporary stay in any of the countries of the european union, the european economic area iceland, liechtenstein, norway and switzerland. The european health insurance card ehic is an individual card that allows the holder to receive medical attention during a temporary stay in any country in the european union, the european.
Uk state pensioners will no longer need to produce a ehic for uk only. If youve got an ehic card you may be able to lower your medical costs while on holiday in europe the card is free and important to carry with you while travelling in some european countries. It covers you if you are on holiday, or on a shortterm stay. In the case of the daily mail story, the nhs issued an ehic to an individual that wasnt eligible to receive the card because a gp was duped into issuing an nhs number. Free european health insurance card ehic money guide. Anyone aged 16 or over can apply for a free ehic card through the nhs parents. May 16, 2012 with your european health insurance card you can access stateprovided healthcare if you fall ill or have an accident during your stay abroad.
As of february 2019, the uk has issued a total of 27 million ehic cards. If you apply by post, your card will normally arrive 10 working days after we receive your application. If you prefer to apply by post, the application form is available as a pdf and should be sent to. Data for applications processed for ehic cards formerly e1 11 cards to let patients get state healthcare in europe at a reduced cost or free. We offer a audit and submission service for european health insurance card applications for a small processing fee. Please note that you can apply independently and at no cost for a card by visiting the official nhsbsa website or through the automated ehic application service on 0300 330 50. Even if you dont have any plans to travel in the near future, it is always a good idea to get one. Each countrys health system is different and might not include all the things you might expect to. Apr 05, 20 in the uk lots of web based companies offer to supply an ehic card for a fee the card is free. A european health insurance card ehic is a free and simple way to avoid potentially huge hospital bills abroad, and yet a surprising amount of brits dont have one and dont really know what its for. An ehic card renewal is completely free of charge and you can apply for one through the ehic website. You can renew an ehic up to 6 months before the expiry date, but any time left on the card will not be added to your new card. The rule is eu wide, part of the eu regulations and it is that ehic card gives free treatment throughout the eu but specifically on the same terms as nationals of the country you are in.
It has the same value as the european health insurance card. Jun 12, 2006 european health insurance card ehic is free 12 june 2006 the department of health working with the nhs prescription pricing authority ppa provides the ehic free of charge. Ehic the european health insurance card the good life. Your ehic will normally arrive within 10 days and will usually be valid for 5 years. You can apply on line directly via the nhs ehic website. And dont forget that the card needs to be renewed after five years. Apply for a european health insurance card ehic the european health insurance card ehic lets you get healthcare in another eu or european economic area eea state for free, or at a reduced cost. This means you may have to make a patient contribution to the cost of your care. Are foreigners really gaming the nhs to pay for their.
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