The European Health Insurance Card: EHIC (2024)

FAQs

Is EHIC valid in the USA? ›

Healthcare for visitors to the USA

An EHIC or GHIC card will not cover you in America because this is a reciprocal agreement the UK has only with other European countries.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows you to access public healthcare in another EU/EEA state for free or at a reduced rate. You can use it when you are travelling abroad or when you are staying temporarily in another EU State.

If you have health insurance in an EU country, you can ask your insurer for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), free of charge. Sometimes you can find it on the back side of your national insurance card. The card is proof that you are insured in an EU country.

Although it's called the Global Health Insurance Card, it's only valid in Europe. The main difference is that you can only use the GHIC in EU countries.

Almost all the countries in Europe have a universal healthcare system. There are people who call it a “free healthcare” system but it is actually not free. Each nation has its own variation; however, a common feature is that everyone has to pay for healthcare as a society.

U.S. health insurance plans typically do not cover regular and routine medical care required overseas. This means your health insurance won't pay for care if you need to visit a doctor for a prescription medicine, or if you need treatment for a condition that is not considered an emergency.

The EHIC guarantees direct access to the public health system in the country you are visiting, with no need for prior application to the local health authority. When you show your EHIC, you will receive the same health services as if you were insured in the country you are visiting.

Medical emergencies, stolen baggage, lost passports, cancelled flights. Every travel insurance company provides 24/7 support for all of these needs. This service is most important when you have a medical issue.

The nearest US embassy or consulate can help travelers locate medical services and notify your friends, family, or employer of an emergency. They are available for emergencies 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, overseas and in Washington, DC (888-407-4747 or 202-501-4444).

Do I need to bring my health insurance card abroad? ›

Carry your insurance card and a claim form if your policy covers you outside the United States. Medicare does not cover medical care when you travel the United States. Visit Medicare.gov for more information. Some health insurance companies pay for “customary and reasonable” hospital costs abroad.

Travelers have options when it comes to health insurance for U.S. visitors. For one, you could choose an international travel medical insurance plan, which provides coverage for emergency medical expenses or evacuation abroad. A U.S. short-term health insurance plan is also an option.

You're not required to have travel insurance for your trip to the USA, but as flights, accommodation and healthcare, in particular, are so expensive, it'll cover you if the trip takes an unexpected turn.

Regardless of the requirements for your travels, it's worth considering a travel medical insurance plan based on the high cost of U.S. healthcare. According to GoodRx, an emergency room visit can cost upwards of $2,400 to $2,600 without insurance in the U.S.

'Must have' features. Medical expenses – provides cover towards the costs of emergency medical and surgical treatment while you're away. £1m or more for travel to Europe. £2m or more for the USA.

Why is travel insurance to America so expensive? You may notice when shopping around for travel insurance to the USA that it costs a lot more than for holidays to Europe. The reason for this is the US is deemed a higher risk destination because healthcare is much more expensive than the rest of the world.