It’s now been five years since the European Health Insurance Card was created and now more than a third of Europeans, some 180 million people have them. So how do they work and how can they make your life easier?
The European Health Insurance Card is designed to help people get medical care while on a temporary stay abroad, for example while on holiday, studying, or working in any of 31 countries: that’s the 27 EU member states, plus Iceland, Norway, Lichtenstein and Switzerland. As the social affairs commissioners spokeswoman explains “If you hold an EHIC card it means you are entitled to the care on the same terms as a resident of the country you are visiting.”
A broken leg, toothache, a virus, even chronic problems like asthma or diabetes all are covered. Just show your European Health Insurance Card to be treated.