The European Health Insurance Card has been around for many years, and with any type of scheme which involves over 25 different countries, there have been changes to the way in which EHIC operates over the years. Most of the problems encountered by UK travellers is that we are just not used to being asked to pay anything at all when we are seen by a doctor or treated in hospital, and this leads to the misconception that any charges encountered overseas can be claimed back. This isn’t always the case, but there are some instances in which you might be able to get costs refunded.
State Treatment Only
In many other European countries the private medical market is much larger than it is here. It’s quite normal to have private GPs and state GPs working side by side in the same clinic, and it can be difficult to understand the system, especially if you can’t speak the language. EHIC will never cover you for treatment by a private doctor, in a private hospital, or as a private patient in a state hospital. Anything you are charged can’t be refunded – if you have a separate travel insurance policy with medical cover you might be able to made a claim to your insurer though. It’s very important to establish up front that you have EHIC, and wish to be treated as a state patient. This can be a real problem in tourist areas, where doctors and clinics have referral arrangements with hotels.
Pre-2014 and co-payments
It used to be the case that anything you were asked to pay towards your treatment when overseas could be claimed back when you returned to the UK, but this system stopped in 2014. This process was stopped in an attempt to make the system fairer, and treat UK visitors just as residents of the country concerned would be treated. In some countries, such as France, you are expected to pay the full cost of your treatment to the doctor or hospital, and then claim a proportion back from the French health authorities before leaving the country. A similar system operates in the Netherlands. The key thing to remember is that you cannot claim back the full cost of your treatment, and that the reclaim process must be started overseas, not when you come home.
What happens if I haven’t got my EHIC?
If you’ve not got round to applying for EHIC cover, or have left it at home, don’t think that you can just keep receipts and sort it out when you get home – it doesn’t work like that. If you do find yourself in the situation of needing urgent medical attention in one of the countries which is a member of the EHIC scheme and you have mislaid your paperwork, contact the Overseas Health Team’s helpline. They will be able to speak directly with the state healthcare provider on your behalf and authorise your treatment under EHIC rules. This all takes time though, so pack your EHIC documents to avoid delay.