EHIC Card: European Health Insurance Card Explained

Written by Tim Bailey

Reviewed by Ankit Sureja

5 min read

Updated: 5 Nov 2026

EHIC Card: European Health Insurance Card Explained

The EHIC card, or European Health Insurance Card, is a free card that lets UK residents access state-provided, medically necessary healthcare when visiting the EU and a small number of other countries. It is being phased out after Brexit and replaced by the free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), issued by the NHS Business Services Authority (NHSBSA). A UK-issued EHIC remains usable until it expires, after which you apply for a GHIC instead.

An EHIC or GHIC is not travel insurance and it is not private medical insurance. It gives you access to the same state healthcare a local resident gets, often free but sometimes at the reduced cost a local would pay. It does not cover private hospitals, repatriation to the UK, trip cancellation or lost luggage. Private medical insurance (PMI) is a separate product that funds planned private treatment in the UK, usually excluding pre-existing conditions. This explainer covers what the card does and does not do, how it compares with PMI, and when you need both.

Quick Answer: EHIC Card

The EHIC is being replaced by the free UK GHIC, issued by the NHSBSA.
A valid EHIC still works until it expires; then apply for a free GHIC.
Both last up to 5 years and cover state, not private, healthcare.
Neither covers repatriation to the UK or private hospital treatment.
Apply only at the official NHS site, nhsbsa.nhs.uk, where it is free.

Last updated: October 2026

Written by the Free Price Compare editorial team | Reviewed October 2026

Content in this article

What is the difference between EHIC and GHIC?
- Is my existing EHIC still valid?
- Can you have both a UK EHIC and GHIC?
What does the EHIC not cover?
- Does the European health card cover pre-existing medical conditions?
How to apply for a GHIC and avoid copycat sites
- Does each family member need their own card?
- How do you claim a refund for emergency treatment abroad?
EHIC, GHIC and private medical insurance compared
- How much does private medical insurance cost?
FAQs about EHIC card

What is the difference between EHIC and GHIC?

The difference between EHIC and GHIC is mainly the name, the issuer and the list of countries where the card works. Both give UK residents access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare abroad on the same terms as a local resident, and both are free and valid for up to five years. The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) replaced the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for new applicants after the UK launched it in January 2021, according to gov.uk.

A UK GHIC covers the 27 EU countries plus several non-EU territories, and its geographic reach has broadened over time to include places such as Australia, Montenegro and Switzerland (for eligible applicants). The practical cover is the same: emergency treatment, routine care for pre-existing conditions that need monitoring, routine maternity care where you are not travelling to give birth, and treatments such as kidney dialysis and oxygen therapy where arranged in advance.

The card used to be called the E111 years ago. If you still hold an E111, it is no longer valid and should be disposed of.

Is my existing EHIC still valid?

Yes, a UK-issued EHIC that has not expired is still valid and you can keep using it until its expiry date. You do not need to apply for a GHIC while your EHIC is in date, and swapping early gains you nothing. Once your EHIC expires, you apply for a free GHIC to replace it.

Card expiry is worth a quick calendar note. Many GHICs and EHICs are due to expire during 2026, so a large number of households may need to renew this year. Check the date printed on your card and reapply in good time if a trip is coming up.

Can you have both a UK EHIC and GHIC?

You hold one card at a time in practice, not both an active EHIC and GHIC. If your EHIC is still in date, keep using it; when it expires, the GHIC becomes your replacement. A specific group of people can still obtain a new EHIC rather than a GHIC: UK state pensioners living in the EU or Switzerland, UK-resident students on an EU or Swiss study or work placement, and UK-resident workers posted abroad by their employer.

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What does the EHIC not cover?

The EHIC does not cover private healthcare, repatriation to the UK, trip cancellation, lost baggage or any treatment at a private facility. It only gives access to the state healthcare system of the country you are visiting, so if you choose or end up in a private clinic, you pay for that yourself. A UK EHIC or GHIC also never covers the cost of transporting you back to the UK due to illness, injury or death.

State care abroad is not always free, either. You may have to pay the statutory charges a local resident would pay, such as prescription or treatment co-payments, and these cannot be refunded through the card. Whether a treatment counts as medically necessary, meaning it cannot reasonably wait until you return to the UK, is decided by the healthcare provider in the country you are visiting, not by you.

This is the gap that travel insurance fills. A good travel policy adds emergency repatriation, cancellation, lost belongings and private treatment where no suitable state option exists. The card and a travel policy work together; one does not replace the other. For a fuller look at how the two fit, our guide on health insurance for travelling to Europe sets out the overlaps.

Does the European health card cover pre-existing medical conditions?

Yes, a UK EHIC or GHIC can cover pre-existing conditions abroad as part of medically necessary state healthcare, which is a key point of confusion. The NHSBSA confirms the card includes treatment for a long-term or pre-existing condition and routine care for pre-existing conditions that need monitoring, such as kidney dialysis or oxygen therapy, provided you arrange ongoing treatment before you travel.

This is the opposite of how private medical insurance usually treats the same conditions. UK private medical insurance typically excludes pre-existing conditions, either outright under full medical underwriting or through a moratorium that only covers them once you have been symptom-free and treatment-free for a set period. So the state card can help with an existing condition on holiday, while a PMI policy at home would normally not fund it. Our explainer on the European Health Insurance Card and what to know in 2026 goes into this contrast.

If you have a medical concern before travelling, speak to your GP or NHS 111 rather than relying on the card to arrange care in advance. Free Price Compare does not give medical advice.

Planned private treatment at home

Private medical insurance funds planned care in the UK, separate from your travel card

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How to apply for a GHIC and avoid copycat sites

Apply for a free GHIC only through the official NHS site at nhsbsa.nhs.uk, where the application takes a few minutes and the card arrives within about 15 working days. Apply at least two weeks before you travel. The card is always free on the official NHS route; copycat websites charge £20 or more for the same free service, so ignore any site asking for a fee.

If your card has not arrived in time for a trip, you can request a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) by contacting NHS Overseas Healthcare Services before you travel. The PRC gives the same cover as a GHIC and works in all the same countries, so you are not left unprotected while the physical card is in the post.

Does each family member need their own card?

Yes, each person needs their own EHIC or GHIC, including children. There is no single family card, so every member of the household travelling abroad must hold a valid card in their own name. You can apply for family members as part of one online application on the NHS site, but each card is issued individually.

How do you claim a refund for emergency treatment abroad?

You claim a refund for emergency treatment abroad by keeping every receipt and medical document, then applying to NHS Overseas Healthcare Services after you return. If you had to pay upfront for care that should have been covered under the card, or paid the statutory patient charge that a local would pay, keep the paperwork; the recoverable element depends on the country and whether the treatment was state-provided and medically necessary. Statutory co-payments a local resident also pays are not refundable.

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EHIC, GHIC and private medical insurance compared

The EHIC and GHIC are free state-healthcare cards for travel, while private medical insurance (PMI) is a paid UK product that funds planned private treatment at home. They solve different problems. The card gets you treated in a state hospital abroad when something cannot wait; PMI buys faster access to private consultations, diagnostics and treatment in the UK, usually excluding pre-existing conditions and ongoing management of chronic conditions. PMI also does not replace the NHS and does not cover A&E or emergencies, which remain NHS services.

Feature	EHIC / GHIC	Private medical insurance (UK)
Cost	Free, valid up to 5 years	Monthly premium
Where it works	EU and listed countries, abroad	Private facilities in the UK
Type of care	State, medically necessary	Planned private treatment
Pre-existing conditions	Covered as necessary state care	Usually excluded or moratorium
Repatriation	Not covered	Not covered

Figures are indicative and may change.

Demand for PMI has grown alongside long NHS waiting lists. A total of 6.5 million people were covered by health insurance in the UK in 2024, up 4% on 2023, according to the ABI (published January 2026), of which 4.8 million were covered through workplace schemes. UK health insurers processed a record £4 billion in individual and workplace private medical insurance claims in 2024, according to the ABI (published January 2026). None of this changes what the travel card does; the two products sit side by side.

If you are weighing up whether a travel card plus travel insurance is enough, or whether cover closer to home makes sense, our piece asking is European health insurance enough is a useful read. For longer stays or living abroad, international health insurance is the more relevant product.

How much does private medical insurance cost?

Cover starts from £23 a month with us, with WPA promotional cover ranging from £22.90 to £38.58 a month across the single, couple and family tiers. That is a far smaller sum than most people expect for planned private treatment in the UK, and the exact price depends on your age, where you live, the excess you choose and the plan terms. Premiums may vary depending on each individual’s circumstances. £22.90/month (about £5.28/week) for a 29-year-old non-smoker with Treatment Cover (£100 excess). £25.17/month (about £5.81/week) for a 35-year-old non-smoker with Treatment Cover (£250 excess). £38.58/month (about £8.90/week) for a 50-year-old non-smoker with Treatment Cover (£250 excess). All prices under WPA promotion. All include limited cancer cover and a £50,000 Treatment Cover limit per year. These are indicative UK examples; prices correct as of May 2026 and vary by individual circumstances, location, exclusions and plan terms.

We compare health insurance options across a range of leading UK insurers in one place through our partnership with Health Window, so you can see how changing the excess or cover level moves the price. A quote takes only a few minutes.

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Whichever route you take, keep the free travel card and a travel policy separate from any PMI decision. For trips specifically, our guide on health insurance for European travel in 2026 brings the card, travel cover and pre-existing conditions together.

FAQs about EHIC card

Is the GHIC widely accepted across the EU?

Yes, the UK GHIC is accepted across the 27 EU countries and several additional territories on the same basis as a local resident. In practice you present it at a state healthcare provider; private clinics are not obliged to accept it. Occasionally a provider is unfamiliar with the UK card, so carry the physical card and a note of the NHS Overseas Healthcare Services contact details.

What should I do if my European Health Insurance Card has expired?

If your EHIC has expired, apply for a free replacement GHIC through the official NHS site at nhsbsa.nhs.uk before your next trip. There is no way to renew an expired EHIC itself unless you fall into a specific group, such as a UK state pensioner living in the EU. Allow at least two weeks for the new card to arrive.

Can US citizens or Americans get a European Health Insurance Card?

No, the EHIC and UK GHIC are for UK residents, and the original EHIC scheme was for EU citizens, so US citizens cannot obtain one through the UK. Americans travelling in Europe need private travel or international health insurance instead. The card is tied to residency in a participating country, not to being a tourist there.

Does the card cover me if I go abroad specifically for treatment?

No, an EHIC or GHIC covers medically necessary care that arises while you are abroad, not planned treatment you travel for deliberately. Going overseas to give birth, or to have a scheduled operation, is not covered by the card. Pre-arranged ongoing care, such as dialysis during a normal holiday, can be covered if you organise it before you travel.

Do I still need the card if I have travel insurance?

Yes, it is worth holding both, because many travel insurers reduce your excess or waive certain charges if you also use a valid EHIC or GHIC. The card accesses state care, while travel insurance adds repatriation, cancellation and private treatment. Using them together often works out cheaper if you claim.

Does the card cover children automatically on a parent's card?

No, children need their own EHIC or GHIC and are not covered on a parent's card. You can add them to a single family application on the NHS site, but each child receives an individual card in their own name. Check every family member's card is in date before travelling.

Can I use the card in Switzerland or non-EU countries?

The UK GHIC works in a growing list of countries beyond the EU, including several non-EU territories, and eligible groups can be covered in Switzerland. The exact list changes over time, so check the current list on the NHS site before you rely on the card for a particular destination. The older EHIC covers fewer non-EU countries than the GHIC.

What happens if my card does not arrive before I travel?

If your GHIC has not arrived in time, contact NHS Overseas Healthcare Services before you travel to request a Provisional Replacement Certificate. The PRC gives the same cover as a GHIC and works in all the same countries, so you are protected while the physical card is in transit. Keep a copy with you during the trip.

Does private medical insurance cover me abroad?

Standard UK private medical insurance is designed for planned private treatment in the UK and does not usually cover you abroad. Some insurers offer an international or overseas add-on, but the core product is domestic. For treatment while travelling, rely on your EHIC or GHIC plus travel insurance rather than a UK PMI policy.

Why would I buy private medical insurance if the card is free?

The free card only helps when you are abroad and only accesses state care, whereas private medical insurance funds faster private treatment at home in the UK. With NHS waiting lists long, many people use PMI for quicker diagnostics and planned procedures that the card and the NHS do not speed up. They cover entirely different situations, so one does not remove the need for the other.

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Information correct as of 16 October 2026. Prices, tariffs, policy details and providers change frequently, so please check the latest details before making a decision. This article is for general information only and does not constitute financial advice. Free Price Compare is authorised and regulated by the Financial Conduct Authority (FCA).