European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)

If you have health insurance in an EU country, you can ask your insurer for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), free of charge. Sometimes you can find it on the back side of your national insurance card. The card is proof that you are insured in an EU country.

If you don't have your EHIC, or you can't use it (for instance, for private health care), you can't be refused treatment but you might have to pay the full amount for your treatment and claim reimbursement once you get home. Read more detailed information about the European Health Insurance Card.

EU legislation

• EU Directive on the application of patients' rights in cross-border healthcare Open as an external link
• EU Regulation laying down the procedure for implementing Regulation 883/2004 on the coordination of social security systems Open as an external link

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