UK European Health Insurance card - EHIC

Thought this may be of interest:

UK European Health Insurance card - Who can use it and what's it for.

Here's some information about the UK EHIC (UK European Health Insurance card) - A copy of the information leaflet can be found in the town hall in Rojales. It explains to those who may not be sure, or need to know more, just how the UK EHIC (UK European Health Insurance card) works. The leaflet looks like this:


The card is free - no matter what you may see on-line - and can be obtained from the UK Official Government website : https://www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/startApplication.do

People on a temporary stay (e.g. have a second home during some months of the year but still consider they live mainly in the UK) or on holiday in Spain can use the card in Spain. Also students studying as part of a UK course in Spain can use the EHIC.

You can use your UK EHIC in all countries within the European Economic Area except the one where you normally reside. For example, if you normally reside in the UK you would only use your UK EHIC outside of the UK on a temporary visit to another EEA member state. If you are a UK state pensioner living in Spain, you would use a UK EHIC in every EEA member state (including the UK) but not in Spain. Please note that Spain also includes the Canary and Balearic Islands.

The EHIC is only recognised in state hospitals and health centres - Not private hospitals or private doctors.

The European Health Insurance Card is not just for emergencies, it covers all medically necessary treatment while you are on a temporary stay in Spain. This means treatment that can't wait until you return to the UK, as determined by the Spanish health service, so you might be asked to pay for some services which would be free in the UK.

Please note that the EHIC card has an expiry date and only covers you - any other family members need their own card.

The UK EHIC is valid for up to five years and can be used while valid during a temporary stay within the European Economic Area. Check that your EHIC is still valid before you travel. Renewing your card is free and can be renewed up to six months before the expiry date.

If you live mainly in Spain you must register for state healthcare in another way in order to make sure you are fully protected. See http://www.healthcareinspain.eu/ to find out how to register.

If you are a UK State Pensioner residing in Spain and have registered an S1/E121 with the Spanish social security then you can't use the UK EHIC in spain. If you are in possession of a UK EHIC this is for use outside of Spain, during a temporary stay in another EEA member state. If you need to access medical care when returning to the UK on a temporary visit, you should present your UK EHIC in the Accident & Emergency department of your local public hospital.

There's a helpful questionnaire on this link, to find out if you are entitled to healthcare in Spain: http://www.healthcareinspain.eu/index.p ... re-content


Jan

We've recently had some queries about healthcare in Spain and thought the topic above could be helpful.

All good stuff, Jan

My UK EHIC was due to expire TOMORROW (5th March 2015), so I made 2 phone calls and got it renewed very painlessly! (I should perhaps just say i am a UK pensioner, living permanently in Spain, so i need a UK EHIC for emergency treatment in all EU countries ... except Spain. I also have annual EU travel insurance ... so I can be ill in most places I might want to visit ! )

The first call was to The Overseas Health Team, on 0044 191 218 1999, who verified my eligibility and asked me then to call the team which ISSUES replacement cards, on 0044 191 279 0575 ... you need to tell them that your eligibility has been VERIFIED by the OHT, and they will do the rest. (They renewed it immediately, and promised to post the new card to me within about 2-3 weeks)

Easy Peasy .... not at all like the hoo-ha I have had trying to change my UK Driving Licence to Spanish,(explained elsewhere) I believe i now have that in hand, too!