Health insurance for travel

When you travel, you should make sure that you have travel insurance. You should check your policy to make sure that it will cover the cost of any treatment which you may need when going aboard. If you are going on a skiing holiday, make sure your policy covers winter sports. If you travel a lot consider if an annual policy might be cheaper than buying single trip insurance.

Travel to EEA countries

EHIC card

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows you to use state-provided healthcare in all European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland. This may be free or at a reduced cost.

EHIC is free and is valid for up to 5 years. You can apply and renew your EHIC online. Alternatively, you can phone 0845 606 2030 to apply. You can apply for an EHIC if you are ordinarily resident in UK.

It covers you for treatment that you need during your trip, but doesn't allow you to go abroad specifically to receive medical care. However, the EHIHC does cover maternity care, renal dialysis and managing the symptoms of pre-existing or chronic conditions that arise while abroad. Make sure you take your EHIC with you when you travel.

Your EHIC allows you to access to the same state-provided healthcare as a resident of the country you are visiting. However, many countries expect the patient to pay towards their treatment, and even with an EHIC, you might be expected to do the same.

The EHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance. It will not cover any private medical healthcare or the cost of things such as mountain rescue in ski resorts, repatriation to the UK or lost or stolen property.

Travel to non EEA countries

You may also receive free or reduced cost healthcare if you're traveling outside the European Economic Area (EEA) provided that the country you are visiting has a reciprocal healthcare arrangement with the UK.

The NHS provides a country by country guide to the health care you can expect to receive and what you will need to pay for when you travel abroad.