EHIC Information page
For European Travel an EHIC is indispensable
Whether it be Paris, or the Algarve for some golf, or perhaps site seeing in Berlin; Europe has a wide appeal to travellers from all walks of life. If you don’t live with a medical condition – and especially if you do – you need to know that you can get decent quality medical attention should you need it on your travels. In Europe a standard health card is required to get you hospital treatment within the European Union.
The old E111 form, which you used to find in the post office, was replaced in January 2006 by the European Health Insurance Card, or EHIC. A valid EHIC enables you to receive the same treatment in French, or Italian (to name two) hospitals as locals are entitled to. If you have a medical condition, or have suffered from cancer in the past, this could be important to you - although hopefully that wouldn’t be the case.
Whilst the EHIC is not a substitute for medical travel insurance, it’s always worth carrying the card with you in your wallet or purse.
You can apply for a card using three methods:
- online at the Department of Health
- by telephone, 0845 606 203
- in post offices
The European Health Insurance Card is valid in these countries:
| Austria | Hungary | Netherlands |
| Belgium | Iceland | Norway |
| Cyprus (but not Northern Cyprus) | Ireland | Poland |
| Czech Republic | Italy | Portugal |
| Denmark | Latvia | Slovakia |
| Estonia | Liechtenstein | Slovenia |
| Finland | Lithuania | Spain |
| France | Luxembourg | Sweden |
| Germany | Malta | Switzerland |
| Greece |