European Health Insurance Card: A Guide to Applying and Using

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a must-have for anyone planning to travel or live in Europe. You can apply for an EHIC online, by phone, or in person at a local post office.

To be eligible for an EHIC, you must be a resident of an EU country and have a valid health insurance card. You can apply for an EHIC online through the official government website of your country.

The EHIC is usually issued within a few days of applying, and it's valid for up to five years.

To be eligible for a European Health Insurance Card, you need to be a citizen of an EEA country, the United Kingdom, or Switzerland who is resident and insured with health insurance in Iceland. This is according to the official guidelines.

In some cases, even if you're covered by health insurance in an EU country, you might not be eligible for a European Health Insurance Card. For instance, in Romania, you need to have been insured for the previous five years.

Here are the specific groups of people who are entitled to a European Health Insurance Card:

If you're a family member living in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you might be entitled to a European Health Insurance Card from Norway if you have a certificate S1 from Norway.

If you're planning to get a European Health Insurance Card, you'll need to understand the personal eligibility requirements.

A passport is not enough to receive health care in the European Union, as the right to health care is based on the country of legal residence, not the country of citizenship.

You may still be asked for a photo ID document, since the European Health Insurance Card does not contain a photo.

In some cases, even if you're covered by the health insurance of an EU country, you may not be eligible for a European Health Insurance Card. For instance, in Romania, you need to have been insured for the previous five years to be eligible.

Here are the specific eligibility criteria:

The EHIC is a card that guarantees direct access to the public health system in the country you're visiting, no prior application needed.

You'll receive the same health services as if you were insured in the country you're visiting, with medically necessary care covered.

The EHIC also covers chronic or pre-existing conditions, pregnancy, and childbirth, as long as the purpose of your trip isn't to receive care.

It's not valid if you're traveling for scheduled care, which means it's not a substitute for private travel insurance.

Always show your EHIC or provisional replacement certificate to healthcare providers during your trip abroad.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a valuable document that provides access to healthcare services in certain countries. It's applicable in all EU/EEA countries, Switzerland, and the UK.

If you're a citizen of an EEA country, the UK, or Switzerland, and you're resident and insured with health insurance in Iceland, you're entitled to an EHIC. This also applies to your spouse and children.

The EHIC is not applicable in non-EEA dependent territories like Aruba or French Polynesia, but there are agreements for its use in the Faroe Islands and Greenland.

If you're a family member living in another EU/EEA country or Switzerland, you may be entitled to an EHIC from Norway if you have a certificate S1 from Norway.

The EHIC only applies in the EU/EEA, Switzerland, and the UK. It cannot be used outside these regions.

You can obtain your EHIC by contacting your local branch of the national health service, but it's not issued automatically, so make sure to apply on time.

Apply for your EHIC at least 2 weeks before departure to avoid any issues.

If you've applied too late, you'll be issued with a provisional certificate, which is valid for 3 months.

Each family member must have their own EHIC, including children under 16.

If you're entitled to an EHIC from Norway, you can apply digitally through Helsenorge with BankID, or call them for help with your application.

It normally takes up to 10 working days for your EHIC to be delivered to your mailbox after applying through Helfo.

If you've forgotten to bring your EHIC, Helfo may issue an emergency form, which gives you the same rights as the EHIC.

To get an emergency form, contact Guidance Helsenorge during opening hours, Monday to Friday between 08.00 and 15.30.

The Cleiss does not issue EHICs, so don't bother contacting them for an application.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) has some important details to keep in mind.

The EHIC is generally valid for three years at a time, or five years for recipients of old-age and invalidity pensions.

You can apply for a new EHIC with a validity period of 6 months or less if needed. This can be useful if you're planning a short trip or need to replace a lost or stolen card.

A card is invalid if the cardholder is no longer considered health-insured in Iceland, for example due to emigration or work abroad.

If your EHIC has expired, it's not valid for use and you'll need to apply for a new one.

The period of validity of the electronic card is 3 months.

Here's a summary of the EHIC's validity periods: