United Kingdom - European Health Insurance Card
NHS 111 can assist if you have an immediate medical issue and you are uncertain what to do. To get help from NHS 111 go to 111. nhs.uk or call 111.
- More information about accessing health care services in England
- More details about accessing NHS services in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Using an EHIC in the UK
What you need to do
If you are visiting the UK from an EU nation and you fall ill or have a medical emergency situation throughout your temporary stay in England, you can use a legitimate European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) issued by your home country to access health care.
You will need to bring your EHIC if you are eligible to use it in the UK.
The EHIC is not an option to travel insurance. It will not cover any personal medical healthcare, planned treatment, being flown back home, or lost or taken residential or commercial property. We recommend that you likewise have travel or medical insurance that covers the period of your journey.
Emergency healthcare in England
This details is about getting healthcare in England.
The method you access healthcare in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland could be different from England.
The NHS operates a residence-based healthcare system. This suggests visitors to England may need to spend for NHS healthcare, depending upon their scenarios.
Some services, such as mishap and emergency (A&E) and check outs to a family doctor (GP), are totally free to everybody.
Urgent treatment or treatment that can not securely wait till you leave the country and return home will constantly be provided, and the matter of payment dealt with later on. Only a clinician can decide if your treatment is immediate or immediately required.
Treatment, coverage & expenses
General Practice physicians (GPs)
- Primary care services, consisting of treatment by a General Practitioner (GP) is provided totally free of charge by National Health Service (NHS) medical professionals (family doctors - GPs). Find a general doctor near you.
Dentists
- All NHS dental treatment that is scientifically necessary is supplied at a basic non-refundable charge. Find a dentist near you.
Hospital treatment (NHS)
- Apart from emergency care, health center treatment is set up through your doctor (GP), dental professional or optician. Most treatment at NHS hospitals is free if you have a legitimate European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Find a hospital near you.
- As a visitor with a valid card you are entitled to all scientifically required state supplied medical treatment totally free of charge. The card does not cover organized treatment.
Prescriptions
- You can get prescribed medications from any pharmacy on discussion of a prescription. Find a pharmacy near you.
- Prescribed medications are charged at a basic non-refundable prescription rate.
Ambulance
- Necessary ambulance transport is totally free of charge.
Reimbursement
- In the UK, treatment is most frequently free of charge, so there is no refund system.
- When standard charges are used (such as costs for NHS dentists or prescription charges), these are not refundable in the UK.
- If you have to pay for care, contact your nationwide medical insurance supplier when you return home to seek repayment.
Patient contribution
- In the UK, treatment is frequently totally free of charge, but you need to show your EHIC when accessing health care.
Standard charges that must be paid by patients make an application for NHS dental experts.
- There is likewise a charge for prescriptions, in England only, which is payable at the drug store. Prescriptions in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales are free of charge.
Dialysis, oxygen & chemotherapy
- Oxygen therapy and dialysis need to be organized with a healthcare service provider in advance of your remain in England.
Details of oxygen providers in England.
Details of kidney dialysis units
Doctors & healthcare facilities accepting the EHIC
- Most treatments at NHS health centers are totally free if you have a legitimate European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Find a hospital near you or discover a general physician (GP) near you
- More details about accessing NHS services in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.
Coverage for UK residents going to the EU
If you are visiting an EU Member State from the UK, you can use a UK Global Health Insurance Card (UK GHIC) or a UK European Health Insurance Card (UK EHIC) to gain access to medically essential treatment.
Differences in between the readily available cards
There are 2 kinds of cover available for people insured by the UK. You can request either:
- a UK Global Medical Insurance Card (UK GHIC).
- a UK European Health Insurance Card (UK EHIC), if you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.
For most people, the UK Global Health Insurance Card (UK GHIC) changes the existing European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for brand-new applications.
Further information on how to obtain an EHIC or GHIC
How to utilize your card
You can your card to gain access to clinically required state-provided healthcare when you're visiting an EU nation.
Medically necessary healthcare means health care that can not fairly wait up until you come back to the UK. Whether treatment is required is decided by the health care provider in the country you're going to.
Further info on nations where your card stands
If you have an existing EHIC
If you have an existing EHIC issued prior to the UK leaving the EU, it will stay valid till the expiration date on the card. You can obtain a new card up to 6 months before your present card ends.