The Ultimate Travel Insurance Passport: European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a must-have travel insurance passport for those residing in European countries. It allows you to receive accident, illness, and emergency healthcare in other European countries plus Switzerland as you would with a travel insurance policy. And the best part? It’s free!
Issued by Your National Health Scheme
The reason for this is that your National Health Scheme issues the EHIC. You need to be a member of your country’s National Health Insurance Scheme to qualify for it. It has no photo, so you may need to present your passport as an additional identification.
What It Covers
The EHIC cannot be used for elective or urgent medical treatment that can be postponed and done at home. But it does cover treatments for chronic conditions, such as kidney dialysis, which travel insurance may not cover as pre-existing conditions.
Validity Periods and Specifics
Each country has different validity periods for their EHICs, so you need to check the details of your home country. In some countries, such as Romania, you need to be a member of their National Health Insurance Scheme for at least five years to qualify for an EHIC.
Beware of Scammers
Don’t fall for scams where agents charge you a fee to complete an EHIC application for you. This card is free and easy to apply for. Countries like the UK have issued cease and desist orders, but scammers won’t go away.
International Health Insurance vs. European Health Insurance Card
While the EHIC is a great travel insurance passport within Europe, it has its limitations. If you want more comprehensive coverage beyond Europe, you may want to consider international health insurance or global health cover. These policies offer broader coverage, including elective and urgent medical treatment, and you can use them worldwide.
If you need any information on international health insurance coverage to supplement your EHIC feel free to contact us!