What is the EHIC?

European Health Insurance Card

The free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles the holder to free or discounted medical treatment at state-run hospitals and GPs in any European Union country, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland.

If you're in Europe and you've got an EHIC, you’ll be entitled to the same treatment that local citizens are entitled to - extremely useful in emergencies. It’s completely free and valid for up to five years. All UK residents are eligible, residents of the Channel Islands and Isle of Man aren't.

Does an EHIC make treatment free?

No. You get treated the same way as a citizen of that country. If they get free medical treatment then you do too; if they pay, you pay the same rates. As this is a reciprocal agreement across Europe, it also means EU citizens can use the NHS in the same way.

Everybody who is travelling in Europe needs an EHIC. It replaced the old E111 form in 2005. Even if you've already got travel insurance, it's valuable extra protection, even if just for visiting the local GP with a query while away.

The EHIC allows you instant free treatment in some countries, in others you'll need to pay a proportion of your costs and may be entitled to reclaim the money while you're there, or when you get back to the UK.