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Guides What is the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and How Can I Get One? A Comprehensive GuideOver 30 years of political and economic cooperation between countries means that there are a number of benefits that Europeans and European residents can access, even when they’re not in their home country.
One of the most commonly overlooked benefits to living in Europe that exists thanks to the EU is the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) scheme. We really don’t know why it’s so commonly overlooked or misunderstood because benefiting from it costs absolutely nothing and can save you hundreds or even thousands of euros in an emergency.
Never heard of the EHIC? You’re not alone! Many born-and-raised Europeans still don’t know about it, let alone foreigners living on the continent! Read on, and we’ll tell you everything you need to know to benefit from one of the EU’s most generous programs.
The EHIC is much more than just a little blue plastic card (though technically, that’s what it is).
Under the treaties of the EU, the state-run healthcare systems of all 27 member states, plus Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, and the UK, have agreed to provide healthcare services for each other’s patients under most of the same conditions as their own.
What this means in practice is that if you are covered by the national healthcare system of any participating country, you can utilize the healthcare services of another participating country on the same terms as a local citizen. In case you get sick while in another country, the little plastic EHIC card acts as proof that you’re covered by European healthcare.
The EHIC is issued in the local language of your country, and its name is also translated. Where we are in Poland, it’s called the Europejska Karta Ubezpieczenia Zdrowotnego (EKUZ). But don’t worry—the format is standardized, so doctors in any country will understand it, even if they can’t read the language.
The short answer is (almost) anyone living in Europe.
The only requirement to obtain an EHIC is that you must be covered by the national healthcare system of a participating country. Holding any particular nationality or residence status is not a requirement.
Contrary to popular belief, access to public healthcare in the EU is not a right reserved for EU citizens. Third-country nationals living in the EU can obtain an EHIC and access healthcare services in the EU on the same terms as EU citizens. EU law strictly prohibits all forms of discrimination on this basis.
And contrary to another popular belief, EU citizens are not entitled to obtain an EHIC and obtain state-funded healthcare services in the EU by virtue of their European passport. Access to healthcare in the EU is a privilege granted to tax-paying residents (not necessarily citizens) covered by their country’s national healthcare system.
As such, an EU citizen who does not live in the EU, and thus does not pay into their country’s healthcare system through taxes, will probably not be able to obtain an EHIC.
Though there are a few categories of European residents who might not be eligible for national healthcare and thus cannot obtain an EHIC. Here are a couple of common cases.
Most European national healthcare systems (including Poland’s) cover university students who are EU citizens, but not third-country students.
Most EU countries that offer digital nomad visas do not extend their national healthcare coverage to digital nomad visa holders (though, fortunately, Poland does!)
If you’re covered by national healthcare within Europe, obtaining an EHIC is quick and easy and costs nothing!
The EHIC must be obtained through the healthcare authorities of the country you live in. We’ll outline the process of obtaining one here in Poland, but as this is a standardized system, we think it looks more or less the same in other countries as well.
The fastest way to obtain a European Health Insurance Card in Poland (EKUZ as it’s called here) is to submit a one-page application form. You can print the blank form online or pick it up at the office, though bear in mind it must be completed in Polish.
All you need is the application and your passport as valid ID, and they’ll give you the little blue card on the spot.
Poland’s NFZ offers two ways to apply for the EHIC card online. If you have an ePUAP Trusted Profile (Profil Zaufany), you can apply by using your trusted e-signature. Or, if you have an account on the NFZ’s patient portal, you can apply there.
Once you submit your application online, you can expect to receive the plastic card in the mail within 2–3 weeks (often less).
This is a trick question, but technically the answer is…no!
Under the EU treaties, the simple fact that you are covered by the national healthcare system of a participating country entitles you to state healthcare services in all other European countries. Showing the little blue card is technically not a requirement. The card itself is just proof that you’re covered.
In practice, public healthcare providers in the EU will often treat foreigners for free if they show an EU passport, ID card, or residence card, under the assumption that they’re probably covered. Perhaps this is why many EU citizens (falsely) believe that their passport entitles them to free healthcare anywhere in Europe.
But we don’t recommend relying on human generosity when it comes to a potential healthcare emergency. Just get the card to be prepared, as it is often requested.
In an absolute pinch, if you’re covered by EU healthcare and (for whatever reason) end up being forced to foot the bill for public healthcare in another European country, it is your right to demand a refund.
This must be done through your country’s healthcare service, which will in turn request reimbursement from the service provider where you were treated. This is a process that can take months and has no guarantee of success. Much better to just get the free EHIC card and avoid this headache!
The EHIC and European healthcare scheme is a really amazing thing indeed, but it does have some important catches. As amazing as it is, it’s not a golden ticket to free healthcare wherever you go.
Here are a few important things to remember before trying to use your EHIC abroad.
Many EHIC holders freely travel around Europe without travel medical insurance, and indeed this is one huge benefit of the EHIC. But it is not travel insurance and does not cover everything that most travel medical insurance policies cover.
For example, most travel insurance policies will reimburse repatriation expenses and additional travel expenses incurred due to an injury. The EHIC does not cover this.
If you break your leg while skiing in the Alps, while the treatment itself will be covered under the EHIC scheme, without travel insurance you will still have to pay for somewhere to stay as you recover and your new flight home once you’re able to walk again.
The EHIC scheme entitles holders to healthcare treatment in European countries under the same terms as local citizens. This does not necessarily mean everything is done for free.
In Spain, for example, dental coverage is not free under their national healthcare system. The Spanish have to pay for dental work, and so will you if you come to Spain with an EHIC card. Even if dental treatment is free under your country’s healthcare system.
Many countries in Europe also charge small co-pays for non-emergency medical services to their own citizens, and by extent, to foreign EHIC cardholders as well.
Just because you have the right to access healthcare anywhere in Europe doesn’t mean you can just pop over to Germany or Italy to see a doctor. Medical tourism, defined as trips made specifically for the purpose of seeking medical treatment, is strictly not allowed under the unified European healthcare scheme.
Medical providers can (and often will) deny treatment to EHIC holders if they believe you’re trying to abuse the system in this way. Or if they believe your issue isn’t urgent, they might just say, “Just see your GP when you get home.”
Your EHIC card is tied to your healthcare coverage in the country you live in, which in turn is usually tied to being a tax resident. So if you move abroad, your EHIC will most likely cease to be valid after a certain period of time.
If you’ve moved to another EU country, you should obtain an EHIC card from the healthcare authorities of your new country once you begin paying taxes.
Just moved to Poland and looking to travel around Europe a bit? Obtaining an EHIC card is quick and easy and should absolutely be on your to-do list before getting on the plane.
Confused by the process and need some extra help? We get it; even though it doesn’t take long, the language barrier can make it a bit intimidating if you don’t speak Polish. If you’d like us to help you through the process, contact us, and we’ll be in touch!