Are EHIC Cards Still Valid

The European Health Insurance Card remains valid in the European Union for the time being. The reason is the agreement between the EU and the United Kingdom at the end of last year. The National Association of Statutory Health has pointed this out. However, in the medium term Great Britain will issue new cards without the European logo. Until then, according to the Office for Health Insurance Abroad, all EHIC cards and provisional replacements from the United Kingdom will be accepted for the time being. The new agreement contains regulations for the health industry that essentially correspond to the previous regulations. The association makes it clear that these regulations apply to unplanned treatments. As before, contract dealers could bill their offers according to the fee schedule for doctors if the patients did not present a valid card. If you enter the UK for the purpose of a planned schedule or medical treatment, the regulations remain as before. As in the past, separate permits from the home country are required here.

Private Supplementary Insurance

Many countries provide for co-payments that the insured person has to pay on site. This applies, for example, to treatment at the doctor or dentist, but also in the pharmacy. In many cases, health insurers are not allowed to cover these costs. It is therefore advisable to take out additional private health insurance for travel abroad. This also covers a possibly necessary and costly return transport. Statutory health insurance companies are not allowed to cover such costs. The EHIC cards are also valid in some non-European sovereign areas – for example in French Guiana. The health insurance companies provide details on the areas of validity.