European Health Insurance Card

							European Health Insurance Card

The holiday season has arrived. Your suitcases are packed, your neighbours are
watering the plants and feeding the cat and your tickets are ready. But have you
also thought about bringing your European Health Insurance Card? When
travelling abroad, you may decide to bring your own European Health Insurance
Card (EHIC), to get access and cover your possibly needed medical treatments. The
card is available free of charge through your local health authority.

European Health Insurance across borders

Free movement in all 27 EU countries is one of the prime achievements of the European
Union. EU Citizens have the right to travel without restrictions. To be able to profit from
this freedom, citizens also need simple reimbursement of necessary health care they
receive abroad. The EU has therefore adopted legislation for issuing one single European
Health Insurance Card (EHIC) that replaces the different forms (in particular the well
known E111) that were previously used.

The Parliament was keen on having the card quickly introduced and MEPs therefore
adopted only a few amendments, merely asking the EU members to ensure that the
individuals concerned would be informed of their rights and obligations.

Since 1 January 2006 it has been issued and is recognised in all the EU Member States as
well as in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.

The EHIC: some practical information

The EHIC makes it easier to obtain access to public sector health care (for example a
doctor, a pharmacy, a hospital or a health care centre) and medical treatment you may
need while staying temporarily in another country. The treatment is provided in
accordance with the rules of the country that you are visiting, and the costs incurred are
reimbursed in line with the tariff scales applied in that country.

The EHIC covers only medical care which becomes necessary during a stay in another
EU country, so in principle the card is not issued for deliberately seeking medical
treatment in another Member State. You can only make use of the EHIC if you go to a
health care provider covered by the health insurance scheme provided for by law in the
host State.

If you are insured, or covered, by a statutory social security system in one EU country,
you are entitled to an EHIC. Each Member is responsible for producing and distributing
the EHIC on its territory. To request a card, you should contact your health institution.

So, bring your EHIC, or a provisional replacement certificate, with you while travelling
abroad, but try to avoid needing it. Have a nice vacation! For more information, click on


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                          European Health Insurance Card

the link to the EHIC website.

The production and distribution of the European Health Insurance Card is carried out
exclusively by the authorities of EU Member States. Therefore, the information in this
article is provided only as a guide with the aim of helping the reader to find information.


REF. : 20060720STO09924




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