EU – Free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

With the summer holiday season almost upon us, it’s a good time to get your travel documents out and check the expiration dates.  If you are a citizen of an EU member state and haven’t applied for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) this is a good time to do it. 

The EHIC is free and available to citizens of the EU.  It provides proof of entitlement to state (not private) emergency health care in EU member states.  Don’t travel without it – whether you are visiting another European country for business or pleasure, or a backpacker or student going for a short course.  This video provides a very good explanation of the EHIC:

For more information about the EHIC and how to obtain one in your country of residence click here. 

Important:  Note that the EHIC should not be used as a substitute for Travel Insurance.  For example, in an emergency situation you may be taken to the nearest hospital in an EU country, which may be private – and therefore not included under the EHIC. 

Also, remember that the EHIC does not provide cover for many other travel mishaps, such as lost luggage, travel delay, cancellation or curtailment of a trip, scheduled airline failure, emergency medical evacuation and air ambulance. 

Our Travel Insurance is not free – but it is cheap!  We provide single trip or annual multi-trip travel insurance for backpackers, skiers, seniors and motorcyclists - so obtain your online quote here.