Brits planning on traveling to Europe this summer are reminded to apply for important cards at least 15 days before departure. This document allows you to access free or cheap healthcare abroad.
Known as the UK's Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) card, it replaced the famous European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which has been available since 2004.
The NHS explains on its website: “The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) provides access to health care in the states required in the same European Economic Area (EEA) and several other countries as residents of that country.
If you still have an EHIC card with the date, you can continue using it until it expires. However, once you do that, you will need to apply to replace your GHIC card.
It usually takes up to 15 days to post and send a new GHIC card. This means you will need to apply within a few weeks before you travel.
How to apply
If you are a UK resident, you can apply for a UK GHIC. You can also add your family to the application form when applying.
You need to provide to you:
Complete nameaddressdate for congenital insurance and care numbers (if from Northern Ireland)
Every member of your family needs their own card. You can add your spouse, civic partner, and children to your application when applying. You will need to first enter your own details and apply for an additional card when prompted.
If you have already completed your application and would like to add a family member, please contact NHS Overseas Healthcare Services. Please give me your reference number, name, date of birth and address so that I can access the record.
After submitting the application, the NHS will email you if it has been approved within 24 hours (if you do not receive a reply, please check the Junk Folder). You may need to view additional information or documents before accepting it.
If you do not receive it before your trip and require medically necessary treatment during your visit, you can apply for a Provisional Exchange Certificate (PRC) to obtain temporary cover.
What your card covers
You can use your card to get health care for a state that you can't reasonably wait until you return to the UK (sometimes called “medically necessary health care”). These include:
Emergency care and visits to A&ETREATMENT or routine medical care for long-term or existing medical conditions unless you go abroad to give birth
It is not guaranteed that local healthcare providers will always have the ability to provide this care, so some treatments must be placed in advance, including relevant healthcare providers in the country they are visiting, such as kidney dialysis and chemotherapy.
Whether treatment is medically necessary will be determined by the healthcare provider in the country you are visiting.
Healthcare in all states is not free outside the UK. If local residents are expected to pay in the country you are visiting, they may have to pay for the treatment they get free of charge on the NHS.
Before you travel, you should check the health services provided by the state of the country you are visiting, as well as the potential fees you may face.
Check out the relevant country guides on gov.uk for information on how to access treatments in the countries you are visiting.
However, GHIC (or EHIC) cards do not in addition to travel or medical insurance or cover services such as:
Returning to UK (removal) treatment in private medical facilities
For this reason, the NHS advises you to have individual travel and medical insurance while traveling.
You can use UK GHIC when visiting.
Montenegro Astriayersey, Guernsey, Manshelena Island, Tristan and Ascension, the European Economic Area (EEA).
You can use Swiss UK GHIC if you are one of the following:
Stateless Persona Family of British National Suisse National EU Citizenna Refugees Family of the People Who Holds Any of the above Nationalities or Statuses
The UK government is negotiating with other countries to expand its use of UK GHIC, so always check compensation before travel. For more information, please see the NHS website here.
