EU Health Insurance Card: What It Covers in 2026

An EU health insurance card gives UK residents access to necessary state healthcare in the European Economic Area (EEA) and some other countries, on the same basis as a resident of that country. For UK travellers this now means the free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which has replaced most EHIC applications since 2021, according to GOV.UK.

The card is free, lasts up to five years and is issued through the NHS. It is not a substitute for travel insurance and it is not the same thing as private medical insurance (PMI) at home. Below we explain exactly what the card does and does not cover, who is eligible, which countries accept it, and where private medical cover fits alongside it. Free Price Compare is a whole-of-market comparison service, not an insurer or a medical provider, so any health concern should go to a GP or NHS 111.

Last updated: August 2026

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

What the EU health insurance card actually is

The EU health insurance card is a free card that lets UK residents access medically necessary, state-provided healthcare while temporarily in the EEA and some other participating countries. For UK travellers this is now the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which the UK launched as a free replacement in January 2021, according to GOV.UK. The older European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) still exists and remains valid until its printed expiry date.

The card entitles you to treatment on the same basis as a resident of the country you are visiting. If locals pay a small charge for a service, you pay the same charge; if it is free for them, it is free for you. It is provided by the NHS Business Services Authority through its Overseas Healthcare Services team.

Importantly, the card only covers state healthcare. It does not pay for private clinics, and it is a UK document for UK residents, not an all-purpose global medical pass. For a broader look at how far the card stretches, our explainer on whether European health insurance is enough on its own sets out the gaps.

Is my EHIC still valid after Brexit?

Yes – a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued before the UK left the EU stays valid until the expiry date printed on the card. You do not need to swap a valid EHIC for a GHIC early; you can keep using it until it lapses and then apply for a free GHIC through the NHS. The NHS confirms the UK GHIC replaced most EHIC applications and is free and valid for up to five years (NHS, August 2026).

A small number of people remain eligible for a new UK EHIC rather than a GHIC, such as certain UK pensioners living in the EU and some students, because their rights sit under specific arrangements. Most UK residents applying today will be issued a GHIC. Either card gives you access to necessary state healthcare in participating countries.

Apply only through the official NHS service. Unofficial websites may charge an application fee for a card that is free from the NHS. There is no cost, and the card is posted to you.

What does the card actually cover?

The card covers necessary state healthcare that cannot reasonably wait until you return home. That includes treatment for an accident or sudden illness, and care for an ongoing or pre-existing condition where treatment becomes necessary during your stay, such as routine dialysis or oxygen therapy that needs to continue on holiday.

You are treated on the same terms as a local resident of the country you are visiting. Where residents pay a contribution towards care, you pay the same amount, so the card reduces cost but does not always make treatment entirely free. It covers state-provided care only.

• Emergency and medically necessary state treatment during a temporary stay.
• Ongoing treatment for a pre-existing condition where it becomes necessary while abroad, arranged in advance where required (for example dialysis).
• Care for pregnancy and routine maternity needs that arise during the visit.
• Treatment on the same cost basis a local resident would pay.

The card does not cover private treatment, repatriation back to the UK, mountain or sea rescue, or the cost of a cancelled trip. For those, you need travel insurance. Any medical worry while abroad should be dealt with through local emergency services or, back home, your GP or NHS 111 – the card is a payment and access route, not medical advice.

Compare UK private health insurance quotes

Does the GHIC replace travel insurance?

No – the GHIC does not replace travel insurance, and the two are designed to work together. The card only pays towards state healthcare on the same basis as a local resident, so it leaves several major costs uncovered that travel insurance is built for.

Travel insurance typically covers repatriation to the UK, air ambulance, private treatment, cancellation, lost baggage and personal liability – none of which the card touches. Many travel policies also require you to hold a valid GHIC or EHIC and may waive the excess on medical claims if you use the card first, which lowers your out-of-pocket cost.

Carry both when you travel. The card handles state medical costs on the ground; travel insurance handles the large one-off costs the card ignores.

Which countries can I use it in?

The UK GHIC covers all 27 EU countries plus some others, giving broader geographic reach than the older EHIC in certain cases. It applies across the European Economic Area (EEA) and, under current arrangements, in a small number of additional countries. Ireland is included: UK visitors can access necessary state healthcare there, and the card works on the usual same-as-a-resident basis.

Coverage does not extend worldwide. The card is not valid in countries such as the United States, Australia, Canada or most of Asia, where you rely entirely on travel insurance. Switzerland and some non-EU EEA states have their own rules, so check the country before you travel.

Whichever country you visit, the principle is the same: you get state healthcare on the terms a local resident would receive, and private care sits outside the card. Always confirm current country coverage on the official NHS healthcare abroad pages before you go, as the list can change.

Travelling and want cover at home too?

Compare private medical insurance from UK insurers in minutes.

Compare health insurance

Am I eligible, and can I hold both EHIC and GHIC?

You are eligible for a free UK GHIC if you are a UK resident covered by the NHS, and you apply through the NHS Business Services Authority. Most UK residents qualify, and each family member needs their own card, including children. Applications are free and the card lasts up to five years (NHS, August 2026).

On holding both cards: you would not normally use a UK EHIC and a UK GHIC at the same time, because a valid EHIC keeps working until it expires and you simply move to a GHIC afterwards. A small group is eligible for a new UK EHIC instead of a GHIC, such as some pensioners living in the EU and their dependants, and certain students, based on their specific status.

EU citizens visiting the UK use their own country’s EHIC for necessary state care here, which is separate from the UK-issued cards. If your card is lost, stolen or damaged, you can order a replacement through the NHS at no cost.

Does the card cover pre-existing conditions – and how is that different from PMI?

Yes – the card can cover treatment for a pre-existing or chronic condition abroad where that treatment becomes medically necessary during your stay, such as continuing dialysis or managing a long-term condition that flares up. You may need to arrange some ongoing treatments (dialysis, oxygen) in advance with the clinic in the country you are visiting. This is state care, on the same cost basis a local resident pays.

Private medical insurance (PMI) in the UK works very differently. PMI is designed for planned private treatment of new, acute conditions that arise after you take out the policy, and it generally does not cover ongoing management of chronic conditions, A&E and emergencies (which are the NHS), or pre-existing conditions. Pre-existing conditions are typically excluded outright or handled through a moratorium.

A moratorium is an underwriting method where an insurer excludes conditions you had in a set period (often the last five years) before the policy started, but may cover them later if you go a defined stretch – commonly two years – without symptoms, treatment or advice for them. Full medical underwriting instead assesses your history up front and sets exclusions from the start. Neither the card nor PMI replaces the NHS; both sit alongside it. If you are weighing underwriting types, our overview of how a major UK health insurer structures cover shows how these choices play out.

See how UK health cover levels compare

How much does private medical insurance cost in the UK?

Private medical insurance for a single adult in the UK clustered around £80 to £100 a month across several 2026 market guides, with cheaper entry points for basic cover and higher prices for older ages or fuller outpatient benefits. Indicative market examples show that monthly premiums can differ significantly depending on the insurer, the policy features selected and the applicant’s circumstances. These are indicative figures, not quotes.

Price depends on your age, where you live, your chosen excess, the cover level (core hospital only versus full outpatient) and any added benefits. Basic hospital-only cover is materially cheaper than comprehensive policies, and premiums can rise sharply with age.

• Excess: the amount you pay towards a claim before the insurer pays; a higher excess usually lowers the monthly premium.
• Cover level: core in-patient cover costs less than adding outpatient consultations, diagnostics and therapies.
• Underwriting: moratorium is quicker to set up; full medical underwriting gives clarity on what is excluded from day one.
• Age and location: older applicants and those in higher-cost areas typically pay more.

Free Price Compare compares private medical insurance across the main UK insurers, so you can weigh excess, cover level and underwriting side by side. For price-sensitive buyers looking for the best health cover in the UK, comparing basic and comprehensive tiers together is the quickest way to see the trade-off. You can also review individual insurer options such as Aviva’s health cover, AXA’s plans or Vitality’s cover before you decide.

Figures are indicative and may change.

Get impartial health insurance quotes

• Is European Health Insurance enough? – FreePriceCompare
• What Makes You Look for Life Insurance? | FreePriceCompare
• Everything You Ever Asked About Life Insurance and More
• Digital Green Card for UK Drivers
• MS Offer: Life Insurance | FreePriceCompare

Information correct as of 28 August 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).