European Health Insurance Card: EHIC
You must apply for the EHIC (formally the E111) before you travel. It is a free card that gives the holder rights to health care within the EEA (European Economic Area) or Switzerland. If you holiday to a country in the EEA or Switzerland and have an accident or become ill, you'll receive the same healthcare as the nationals receive in whichever country you are in. You will receive this healthcare at a lower cost or perhaps for free. This does mean that you won't necessarily get cover for things you normally receive for free on the NHS.
It is a free card and is really easy to apply for. Watch out for websites charging for EHIC cards or providing premium rate telephone help lines. The official website is ehic.org.uk.
You must apply for a card for each member of your family including babies and children.
The EHIC doesn't cover all medical costs - for example it doesn't include sending you back to the UK if you are too ill to return by your expected means. Therefore you will need family travel insurance to cover any additional costs.
You can get your EHIC card in three ways:- apply on the European Health Insurance Card website ehic.org.uk,
- phone EHIC enquiries on 0845 606 2030 (charged at local rates), or
- complete the application form available from some Post Offices
Source: fco.gov.uk, February 2010 © Crown Copyright
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