The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can be used to cover any necessary medical treatment due to either an accident or illness within the European Economic Area (EEA). The EHIC entitles the holder to state-provided medical treatment within the country they are visiting and the service provided will be the same as received by a person covered by the country's 'insured' medical scheme.
The EHIC is the replacement for the E111. As of 1 January 2006, E111s are not valid.
How to Apply for the EHIC:
- At the Post Office® - Takes 21 Days - You can collect an application form and post it yourself or you can use the Post Office® Check & Send service, where they will check the application form and post the form off for you. This service offers the convenience, ease and reassurance that the form is completed correctly and the charge is £2 per application form. Your application should be processed within 21 days.
- By Telephone - Takes 10 Days - You can telephone the NHSBSA EHIC Application Line on 0845 606 2030. Your application should be processed within 10 days.
- Online - Takes 7 Days - You can use the NHSBSA website which can be found here to apply yourself or you can use the EHIC Review and Forward service on this website. This service means that you will have the reassurance that all of your details have been checked by us for common mistakes made during applications and that we will contact you directly should we believe there will be any problems with your application which could delay it's processing. Your application will then be submitted to the NHSBSA by on your behalf. The charge is £9.95 per application. Your application should be processed within 7 days.