Posted 16 May 2023

Free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC)

Update 1
This is still available / ongoing, Free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Just a reminder in case you plan on travelling in 2024.
With holiday season approaching, just a reminder that if visiting the EU or Switzerland to check if you are eligible for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or if you already have a European European Health Insurance Card check the expiry date. For most people, the UK Global Health Insurance Card (UK GHIC) replaces the existing European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for new applications.

You can use your card to access medically necessary state-provided healthcare when you're visiting an EU country or Switzerland, medically necessary healthcare means healthcare that cannot reasonably wait until you come back to the UK.


Applying for healthcare cover abroad (GHIC and EHIC)

I recently applied for mine and came within 10 working days (they quote 15 working days). Something to bear in mind if going on holiday.

Your EHIC or GHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance. It may not cover all health costs and never covers repatriation costs.

4136073_1.jpg


Who can apply for a UK GHIC

You may be eligible for a UK GHIC if you meet 1 of the following criteria:

  • you're legally living in the UK and you do not have healthcare cover provided by an EU country or Switzerland
  • you're living in the EU or Switzerland with a registered S1, E121, E106 or E109 form issued by the UK
  • you're living in the EU or Switzerland with an A1 document which is issued by the UK
  • you're a family member or dependant of an entitled individual already listed



4136073_1.jpg

How to use your GHIC card

You can use your card to access medically necessary state-provided healthcare when you're visiting an EU country or Switzerland.

Medically necessary healthcare means healthcare that cannot reasonably wait until you come back to the UK. Whether treatment is necessary is decided by the healthcare provider in the country you're visiting.

Medically necessary healthcare includes things like:

  • emergency treatment and visits to A&E
  • treatment for a long-term or pre-existing medical condition
  • routine medical care for pre-existing conditions that need monitoring
  • routine maternity care
  • oxygen therapy and kidney dialysis

You'll need to pre-arrange some treatments with the relevant healthcare provider in the country you're visiting – for example, kidney dialysis or chemotherapy.


If you have an existing EHIC

If you have an existing EHIC, it will remain valid until the expiry date on the card. You can apply for a new card up to 6 months before your current card expires.


Related discussions / useful links






Community Updates
New Comment

289 Comments

sorted by
's avatar
  1. slaha11's avatar
    Really easy process, just fill the basic details like name, address etc, and it comes via post. You don't need to send anything to them, no credit/debit card details, and it's free.

    So, no reason to be lazy
    surfbored's avatar
    I'm def lazy so I refer to this stuff as avoiding possible stress later which in turn allows more laziness
  2. ChewingtheCrud's avatar
    Note that the important word is 'free'. Never pay for one of these, if you are asked for payment by getting onto a site by using a Google Search, it is a scam!
    afroylnt's avatar
    If the Post Office provide a link its still likely to be a scam
  3. slaha11's avatar
    By the way, the card has a validity of 5 years, if you are wondering.

    Also provides some support even in Australia!

    servicesaustralia.gov.au/rec…481
    2minutenoodles's avatar
    You do not need this card to get reciprocal health cover in Australia… that is a UK Agreement with Australia and has nothing to do with the EU. New Zealand does not have the same agreement so may make some difference there.
  4. mehdi.tlili's avatar
    You should get an EHIC card if possible and not GHIC
    nhsbsa.nhs.uk/get…ard (edited)
  5. HUKDTony's avatar
    My mate broke his back in Bulgaria in March and despite having travel insurance the hospital would not give him any pain relief or an x-ray until his partner obtained an emergency EHC online from the UK. Definitely will be getting one before I go away next time.
    HimalayaJoe's avatar
    For info, there's now an online service to apply for for emergency cover when abroad. This is for a provisional replacement certificate (PRC).

    nhsbsa.nhs.uk/get…ate

    It entitles you to the same cover as an EHIC or GHIC would in the event you lose your card or don't have it with you at the time. Same things apply, it's not a replacement for travel insurance and all that, but it can get people out of a bind if you need it.
  6. TiscaliSurvivor's avatar
    Small print of most travel insurance says they will not cover you ailments covered by this - so critical you get one
    MonkeysUncle's avatar
    Most insurance companies will wriggle out of everything if they can.

    Been waiting 6 months for them to decide a basic premium payout waiver for Mrs who is unable to work anymore.

    And if you get a serious illness it has to be the exact one / severity stated in the policy or again it's not covered.

    It's all a joke tbh.
  7. stuart3's avatar
    Note: if you are the spouse or otherwise a dependent of an EU citizen you are still eligible to get a EHIC card which also covers Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
  8. Jonwillis's avatar
    Took 7 weeks for these to arrive when I applied back in February
    Shogril's avatar
    Still arrived, tho right? And it was free, right? Cool.
  9. joyf4536's avatar
    One of these will also cover the insurance requirement when applying for (at least some) EU long stay tourist visas. (edited)
    nocturnal74's avatar
    A visa for the EU?
  10. bigbadwolves's avatar
    The use of this card may also allow you to avoid paying your travel insurance excess for some insurance policies in some scenarios as you are reducing the cost to them. Check your policy
    Jonwillis's avatar
    I'm sure I've seen the a term before saying they you must get the ehic/ghic card if eligible, as they wouldn't cover costs which would have been covered by the card
  11. fubuki81's avatar
    If you don't get it after 2 weeks, contact them on twitter. Another week to exchange messages, one per day, and they will reissue it.
  12. Pinksparkles1973's avatar
    My Son goes to America in Aug for his 3rd year at Uni, is this any good to have in place? Thanks x
  13. Ali_Boro's avatar
    Is this needed even if you have a worldwide travel insurance policy
    Jonwillis's avatar
    Yes, because some travel cover won't cover you for items that this card would cover you for.
  14. mikesloper's avatar
    I needed to use the hospital is Spain. I still had the old EHIC but it had expired. Weirdly they didn't care. I pointed it out but no questions asked.
  15. montblanc's avatar
    "The UK GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. We advise you to have private travel and medical insurance for the duration of your trip." So what is it for then? Does it cover anything that medical insurance doesn't or is it just the bare minimum if you don't want to spend £30 extra on your holiday?
    musehead's avatar
    Most, or possibly all, medical travel insurance policies covering Europe require you to have a GHIC / EHIC. They will expect you to use that first, and will then pay the parts that are not covered under the GHIC agreements, which vary by country.
  16. shivclicks1's avatar
    Thanks.... Just applied...I got the below info after I submitted my application.
    What happens next
    • We will check your residency in the UK. This is not a credit check and will not affect your credit score in any way.
    • We will also check to see if you have settled or pre-settled EU Settlement Scheme (EUSS) Status. If your right to reside in the UK is based on something else, such as Indefinite Leave to Remain, we will ask you for evidence of this.
    • If we need additional information to process your application, we will contact you again by email.
    • We will email you again when your application has been processed.
    Important:Travel insuranceYour UK GHIC is not a substitute for travel insurance. It may not cover all health costs and never covers repatriation costs. Make sure you have travel insurance as well as your card. (edited)
  17. razam's avatar
    So this GLOBAL card only covers europe :/
    chillyemily's avatar
    It now covers Australia and New Zealand with more countries to follow in the future.
  18. Chicken_KFC's avatar
    Wait is this not free anyway for UK resident GHIC
    Jonwillis's avatar
    Yes it is. This is just a reminder for holiday season
  19. Good4you's avatar
    Tried to use one of these last year in Spain (Torremolinos) and it was refused. The clinic staff kept pointing out a picture of the EHIC card as the only acceptable card. We had used this public clinic in the past with the EHIC card with no problem and no cost.
    slaha11's avatar
    They must be living under a rock
  20. idkwmpsb's avatar
    Anyone know what to do if you lose this. I tried applying for a new one but was told I already have one! Anyone able to shed some light or been here before?
  21. JayGatsby's avatar
    We wouldn’t have been able to get this without Brexit! Aren’t we lucky?! 
    Pete525's avatar
    Assuming that's sarcasm, this is actually one of the few examples of continued reciprocal treaty obligations between GB and EU states in the Trade and Cooperation Agreement ie citizens rights not lost but continued despite Brexit. Really important in the thankfully rare unfortunate event of illness or accident.
  22. bigbadwolves's avatar
    This is NOT a backup for travel insurance which fully covers your trip and needs. Showing this card for treatment with some insurers may mean they wave your excess.
  23. Tushar_SB's avatar
    I thought it is stopped after. Brexit
    Commentmaker's avatar
    No, the EHIC was the original card, 'E' standing for European Union, after Brexit as we were no long part of the EU it was changed to 'G' for Global. The old EHIC cards are still valid until they expire.
  24. Hotter's avatar
    Covers less countries than the EHIC (eu version) it replaces. Be careful! No longer covers popular destinations like Iceland. (edited)
    kfitzat's avatar
    Fewer
  25. suzaylogan's avatar
    Went to Lanzarote a couple of weeks ago, my partner and I took these with us. His asthma flared up and needed to go to hospital 3 times. Gave the hospital/clinic receptionist passport and GHIC card, he got nebulisers etc and didn't cost a penny bc of the card. Otherwise it would have cost money and would need to claim it back. Definitely worth ordering.
  26. RickSanchez's avatar
    I have £10m of cover through Lloyds, is there any point in me/my partner getting these?
    Jonwillis's avatar
    Yes, some insurances won't cover costs which this card will cover. Certainly no harm in having it. It's just the replacement too the ehic card
  27. deleted1945554's avatar
    Does this cover cosmetic surgery?
    achyyyy's avatar
    I think only if the country you’re visiting deem you ugly enough that it can’t wait til you get back home!
  28. joyf4536's avatar
    This post has obviously been useful for a number of people but the question needs to be asked, WHY does everyone NOT already know about this.
    For us it is as automatic as checking our passport and driving licence is in date. (edited)
  29. DLatimer's avatar
    Thanks for this post. Didn't realise there was even a replacement for the EHIC since leaving Europe, good to know. Just checked my EHIC and it runs out in September, so I will diary to renew this nearer the time.
    joyf4536's avatar
    We didn't leave Europe.
  30. cycleman's avatar
    I had a night in hospital in Italy and it covered everything except the food, the hospital service and treatment was top notch though.
  31. TiscaliSurvivor's avatar
    If you dont get one your travel insurer will not cover for anything it should cover - so be warned
    Mozambezi's avatar
    Yes, I'm aware of that. Funny, you can take travel cover for same trip from another country. Like flying to Italy and taking insurance on Italy web page for UK based insurance company. Wording is identical, price is lower
  32. DoublePortingDad's avatar
    Do I really need this? Never heard of it before. If I get this right, you can always apply for a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) to get temporary cover.
    Commentmaker's avatar
    You can get a PRC but that assumes you are in a fit state to apply for it, have the necessary info and access to a pc/tablet/phone with internet/data access to be able to do so. Also having a GHIC before you go means that if you are 'out of it' they can see from the card that you are covered otherwise you may end up not being treated (!) or more likely have to pay for the treatment and claim it back. Surely it's no brainer to get one beforehand?
  33. wantsomepls's avatar
    Thanks,
    This post prompted me to apply. A younger relative recently suffered an unexpected stroke while on holiday in The Canaries and received excellent emergency treatment under his GHIC card. A must for travellers in Europe.
  34. jklfgh's avatar
    We had a small incident in Ireland requiring A&e.
    they asked for our EHIC, which we had, but must have misrecorded the number as they said there was an issue with it in a letter later.
    we were billed for nearly 100 Euro but phoned and repeated the number which then worked. 

    so worth having one of these cards for trips to EU definitely, otherwise they will bill you! (edited)
  35. joyf4536's avatar
    Hubby used this in France after being bitten by the shears in the garden. Went to A&E (parked for free just outside the door just like in Britain) and we presented the card (said sorry about the Union Flag background) and got charged about £20 instead of £100 the same as a local, although they probably had insurance for the balance. Basically it's an EHIC card (in EU countries) but with a silly Union flag background. Just Boorish being pathetic, like changing the GB plates to UK on the back of your car, at your cost.
    Duke_Nukem90's avatar
    Imagine getting worked up over a flag LMAO. “I know my husbands finger is hanging off but the most important thing to get out the way first is to apologise for a national flag, Monsiuer/Madame.”
  36. sweet_mee's avatar
    What about babies who dont have ni number yet
    speric07's avatar
    You can add dependents during the application process.
  37. WelshTony1's avatar
    How is this a deal? It's always been free!
  38. blondi1's avatar
    Do you need these for kids? My husband and I already have a card so it won’t let me apply for a new one and add the kids? I also tried to say it was lost to get a new one and again there’s no way to add the children? Am I missing something
    Jonwillis's avatar
    I ordered one for my 2 year old when ordering mine
  39. TypicalAsianFindingDeals's avatar
    I've got a holiday planned for Tuesday next week. Will I get the card by then?
    Stephen.Hughes's avatar
    I applied in November last year, and got the card within 4 days. I'd suspect demand will be higher at the moment, so such a quick turnaround is unlikely.
  40. cheapasch1ps's avatar
    Does it work in Balearic & Canary islands?? (edited)
    nocturnal74's avatar
    You mean Spain? No the Spanish watch you die outside the hospital with this card.
's avatar