While packing to go on holiday means you’ll be collating all the boarding passes and passports for your trip, having a GHIC with you could help with travel costs should you need it.
Currently, EHICs are also still in use but what are they and how do you get one?
Here’s everything you need to about EHICs and GHICs.
What is a GHIC and can EHICs still be used?
A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) allows you to get access to state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost and sometimes you can get it for free.
The UK Global Health Insurance Card is free to obtain from the official UK GHIC website.
— NHS Overseas Healthcare Services (@NHSBSA_OHS) July 6, 2023
You won’t be asked to pay or provide bank or credit card details when you apply for your card.
Visit the official NHS website:
➡️ https://t.co/XjuvoVj2Eu pic.twitter.com/tkUY34lETF
You might already have a UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and you can continue to use this until the expiry date printed on the card is reached.
To replace your EHIC once it has expired, you’ll need to apply for a GHIC via the NHS website.
It’s important to note that EHIC and GHIC do not replace travel insurance – you still need to organise insurance before your trip.
Where can you use a EHIC or GHIC?
EU countries accept EHICs or GHICs but some countries have different rules including Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein.
We complete a residency check on everyone who applies for a UK GHIC or UK EHIC to make sure that the person lives in the UK. You may be asked for proof during the application process.
— NHS Overseas Healthcare Services (@NHSBSA_OHS) July 4, 2023
Find out more:
➡️ https://t.co/UOdJxsvVcl pic.twitter.com/ew3qrg78ky
According to the government website, if you want to use your EHIC or GHIC in Switzerland, you need to be one of the following:
- A British national
- A Swiss national
- An EU citizen
- A refugee
- A stateless person
- The dependant or survivor of someone with one of these nationalities or statuses
A GHIC or EHIC cannot be used in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein - instead, you will need travel insurance with healthcare coverage.
Medically necessary healthcare, for example, emergency treatment or to treat a condition that is pre-existing, can be accessed in Norway by showing a UK passport.
How to apply for a GHIC
If you need to apply for a GHIC, you can head to the NHS website.
Applying for a GHIC is free and you should avoid using websites that charge you to receive help with applying as these are unnecessary and you don’t need to use them, the government websites states.
When applying for a GHIC, you will need to provide your full name, address, date of birth, national insurance number or NHS number (England and Wales), CHI number (Scotland) and Health and Care number (Northern Ireland).
Can you apply for a new EHIC?
Some people can use the NHS website to apply for a new EHIC to use in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland and in EU countries.
The government website outlines the people who can apply for a new EHIC:
- Nationals who are from the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland who started living in the UK before January 1, 2021 as well as their families.
- Some British State Pensioners if they started living in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland before January 1, 2021 as well as their families.
- UK students who started living and studying in the EU, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland before January 1, 2021.
You can out more about travelling abroad via the government website.
Why are you making commenting on The National only available to subscribers?
We know there are thousands of National readers who want to debate, argue and go back and forth in the comments section of our stories. We’ve got the most informed readers in Scotland, asking each other the big questions about the future of our country.
Unfortunately, though, these important debates are being spoiled by a vocal minority of trolls who aren’t really interested in the issues, try to derail the conversations, register under fake names, and post vile abuse.
So that’s why we’ve decided to make the ability to comment only available to our paying subscribers. That way, all the trolls who post abuse on our website will have to pay if they want to join the debate – and risk a permanent ban from the account that they subscribe with.
The conversation will go back to what it should be about – people who care passionately about the issues, but disagree constructively on what we should do about them. Let’s get that debate started!
Callum Baird, Editor of The National
Comments: Our rules
We want our comments to be a lively and valuable part of our community - a place where readers can debate and engage with the most important local issues. The ability to comment on our stories is a privilege, not a right, however, and that privilege may be withdrawn if it is abused or misused.
Please report any comments that break our rules.
Read the rules here