What Health Care are you really entitled to in Europe?

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

Your EHIC will give you a bare minimum of state-provided treatment in certain European countries until your planned return home, even if your illness is related to a pre-existing medical problem. It will also cover you for standard maternity care if you’re pregnant as well as renal dialysis treatment.

You can use your card in all the countries in the European Economic Area (EEC), plus Switzerland. If you’re not sure if the country you’re jetting to comes under that category, it’s best to double check with the NHS Choices website first, especially if you’re not taking out any additional European health insurance.

It’s important to look into the country’s healthcare provisions, as they can vary wildly around Europe. For instance, dental treatment in Spain and Switzerland isn’t generally provided by the state. And non-state pharmacists in Cyprus may ask you to pay for your prescription. 

Venture outside of Europe and you won’t have any medical cover, although some countries like Australia do grant British citizens some discounts if they carry an EHIC. 

What it won’t get you

State-provided healthcare won’t always be free in every country and shouldn’t be treated as an alternative to travel insurance, but as a bolt-on. For one thing, it won’t cover you if your things get lost or stolen. It will only entitle you to state-provided care, and you may face a long waiting list or have to fork out for some or all of your treatment. The last thing you want to be doing when you need treatment is worrying about how you’ll pay your bills. If you want private care when you’re abroad, you need to take out insurance. 

While there’s no hard and fast rule, it’s usually best to rely on your EHIC for minor problems like a graze or headache.  If you need a more in-depth consultation, surgery or extensive medical treatment, it’s best to have a sound insurance policy to fall back on. 

EHIC cannot be used for health-care tourism. Crucially, this means that you cannot simply go into a hospital when you are in another country and ask for pre-planned major surgery or treatment. If you want to get treated abroad, you’ll have to arrange your procedure privately with an overseas doctor yourself. 

What to do in an emergency

When you or someone close to you needs emergency treatment, it can be hard to think clearly and stay calm. If you need to call for help, the European-wide emergency helpline is 112, which is entirely free to call and will get you through to the police or an ambulance. In case you forget it from the stress of the situation , it’s always wise to save the number on your phone. 

You should also make sure that the hospital or practice you go to is a state-run one and that they know you’re planning to use your EHIC, or they may ask you to pay for your treatment. 

How to get your card

The EHIC is entirely free, so never hand over money for one if you’re asked. You’ll have to apply for it from the NHS here in Britain, but the process is very straightforward. Once you’ve got it, it’s valid for up to five years. 

Have you has any experience using your EHIC abroad? 

Join us for Guest Post for Travel Blogs today and submit your content to make it live soon on good websites.