United Kingdom - European Health Insurance Card

NHS 111 can assist if you have an immediate medical issue and you are not sure what to do. To get assist from NHS 111 go to 111. nhs.uk or call 111.

- More details about accessing healthcare 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 the UK from an EU country and you fall ill or have a medical emergency throughout your short-term stay in England, you can use a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) released by your home nation to gain access to health care.

You will require to bring your EHIC if you are eligible to utilize it in the UK.

The EHIC is not an option to take a trip insurance coverage. It will not cover any personal medical health care, prepared treatment, being flown back home, or lost or stolen residential or commercial property. We suggest that you likewise have travel or health insurance coverage that covers the duration of your trip.

Emergency health care in England

This information has to do with getting healthcare in England.

The method you access health care in Scotland, Wales and Northern Ireland might be various from England.

The NHS operates a residence-based health care system. This indicates visitors to England might need to pay for NHS healthcare, depending on their situations.

Some services, such as mishap and emergency (A&E) and sees to a general specialist (GP), are totally free to everybody.

Urgent treatment or treatment that can not safely wait till you leave the country and return home will always be supplied, and the matter of payment dealt with later. Only a clinician can choose if your treatment is immediate or instantly needed.

Treatment, coverage & costs

General Practice physicians (GPs)

- Medical care services, including treatment by a General Practitioner (GP) is provided totally free of charge by National Health Service (NHS) doctors (family doctors - GPs). Find a basic medical professional near you.


Dentists

- All NHS oral treatment that is clinically essential is offered at a basic non-refundable charge. Find a dentist near you.


Hospital treatment (NHS)

- Apart from emergency care, healthcare facility treatment is arranged through your medical professional (GP), dentist or optician. Most treatment at NHS hospitals is free if you have a valid European Medical insurance Card (EHIC). Find a medical facility near you.

- As a visitor with a legitimate card you are entitled to all clinically required state offered medical treatment free of charge. The card does not cover organized treatment.


Prescriptions

- You can get recommended medications from any pharmacy on presentation of a prescription. Find a pharmacy near you.

- Prescribed medicines are charged at a standard non-refundable prescription rate.


Ambulance

- Necessary ambulance transport is complimentary of charge.

Reimbursement

- In the UK, treatment is frequently complimentary of charge, so there is no refund system.

- When standard charges are applied (such as charges for NHS dental experts or prescription charges), these are not refundable in the UK.

- If you have to spend for care, contact your nationwide medical insurance service provider as soon as you return home to seek repayment.

Patient contribution

- In the UK, treatment is most typically free of charge, but you should reveal your EHIC when accessing health care.

Standard charges that must be paid by clients get NHS dental experts.

- There is also a charge for prescriptions, in England only, which is payable at the pharmacy. Prescriptions in Northern Ireland, Scotland, and Wales are totally free of charge.

Dialysis, oxygen & chemotherapy

- Oxygen treatment and dialysis require to be set up with a health care supplier in advance of your stay in England.

Details of oxygen providers in England.

Details of kidney dialysis units

Doctors & health centers accepting the EHIC

- Most treatments at NHS medical facilities are totally free if you have a legitimate European Medical insurance Card (EHIC). Find a health center near you or find a general physician (GP) near you

- More details about accessing NHS services in Wales, Scotland and Northern Ireland.

Coverage for UK citizens visiting the EU

If you are visiting an EU Member State from the UK, you can utilize a UK Global Medical Insurance Card (UK GHIC) or a UK European Health Insurance Card (UK EHIC) to access medically necessary treatment.

Differences in between the readily available cards

There are 2 types of cover offered for individuals insured by the UK. You can apply for either:

- a UK Global Medical Insurance Card (UK GHIC).

- a UK European Medical Insurance Card (UK EHIC), if you have rights under the Withdrawal Agreement.


For many individuals, the UK Global Medical Insurance Card (UK GHIC) changes the existing European Medical insurance Card (EHIC) for new applications.

Further info on how to look for an EHIC or GHIC

How to utilize your card

You can utilize your card to access medically required state-provided healthcare when you're visiting an EU country.

Medically essential healthcare implies health care that can not fairly wait until you return to the UK. Whether treatment is required is decided by the healthcare company in the nation you're visiting.

Further info on countries where your card is legitimate

If you have an existing EHIC

If you have an existing EHIC released prior to the UK leaving the EU, it will stay legitimate until the expiry date on the card. You can get a brand-new card as much as 6 months before your current card ends.