Everything you need to know about GHIC
The free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is being phased out following the Bexit deal. It will be replaced by a new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). While both cards are free and offer essentially the same benefits, there is still some confusion regarding the two. This guide helps us understand the crucial differences, as well as who can apply for the new GHIC.
EHIC and GHIC
Both GHIC and EHIC are medical cards aimed to do essentially the same thing. If you are a UK national who lives currently in the UK, the card entitles you to the same medical treatment as the local citizens of any European Union member country. This means that if medical care is free in a certain country for its local citizens, then it would be free for you too.
For both cards, there are certain things to remember. If the treatment in question is not free for locals in a country, then you would have to pay for it too. Also, the cards cover only the state-run hospitals and GPs in these countries, not the private ones. The cards are not valid if you are going abroad for medical tourism (which means, going to certain countries for the specific purpose of getting medical treatments, primarily for saving money). The whole arrangement is reciprocal – citizens of EU countries also enjoy the NHS services when they visit the UK.
Before 1 January 2021, the date of the UK formally leaving the EU, EHIC also covered some countries which are not part of the EU. This includes Iceland, Norway, and Switzerland. However, post-Brexit, neither EHIC nor GHIC are valid in non-EU countries.
GHIC for People with valid EHIC
A common question many have right now is whether you need to get the new GHIC. The simple answer is: No. If you are a UK citizen living in the UK and have an EHIC which is still not expired, then you do not need to get the new GHIC. All you need to do is check your EHIC’s expiry date. EHIC is usually issued with a validity of 5 years.
On the other hand, if your EHIC has expired or you are trying to get the insurance card for the first time, then you would need to apply for the new GHIC.
GHIC vs Travel Insurance
For many people, GHIC might seem like the replacement for travel insurance (or vice versa). However, this is far from the case. Even if you have EHIC or GHIC, it cannot be a replacement for travel insurance. GHIC is strictly about medical cover, while travel insurance is far more comprehensive protection. Here is why you would need travel insurance despite having GHIC/EHIC:
- A GHIC/EHIC might not cover your medical treatment. Both cards are limited to only state-run hospitals in any EU country. Even then, there might be certain countries where healthcare is not free even in state-run hospitals.
- Even if healthcare in state-run hospitals is free, it might not be available to you. The hospital might be booked or the first responders take you to a private hospital. It is important to note, any treatment in a private setting are not covered by our policies, unless our emergency assistance team have confirmed there are no public facilities available.
- EHIC/GHIC is only concerned about medical care. However, it won’t cover issues like cancellation of flight, loss of baggage, theft of valuables, etc. For such things, travel insurance is an absolute must.
On the other hand, having travel insurance doesn’t mean that you won’t need a GHIC either. Many particular scenarios are excluded from the purview of travel insurance but covered under GHIC. For instance, if you get hospitalized due to an existing health condition, many travel insurance policies do not cover it, as standard. However, GHIC/EHIC does. So, it is prudent to have both travel insurance and GHIC/EHIC when going abroad.
Our travel insurance policies can include cover for pre-existing medical conditions, as we do consider them all, however it is vital that these are disclosed and accepted by our bespoke online medical screening to ensure you have full cover. You can complete the health screening online, and your cover for your conditions will run alongside your travel insurance policy.
Getting a free GHIC
A GHIC is easy to get and absolutely free of cost. All you have to do is apply on the official government website. Getting a new card issued might take some time, so try to apply for your GHIC at least 2 weeks prior to any travel arrangements.
To apply for a GHIC for yourself, you must be over 16 years of age. GHIC only works for the applicant himself/herself, so if you are traveling as a family, each member must have their own GHIC. In the case of a child below 16 years of age, he/she must be mentioned as a dependent in the cards of their guardians or parents.
You cannot get a GHIC from a doctor or a post office. Any private website claiming to issue a GHIC, especially if charging a fee, is probably a shyster website and must be avoided.
Beware of Fraudulent Websites
Both EHIC and GHIC are popular services that have spawned a range of fraudulent businesses around it. When you google either, you would encounter a large number of websites claiming to make your cards ‘instantly’ or ‘in simple steps’. However, these fraudulent sites almost always charge money. You would also notice these websites claiming to make other government documents like driving license and passport. Always avoid such sites and only apply for the GHIC on the official website.
Unfortunately, many of these websites operate as a sort of ‘reviewing’ service, which is technically legal. Hence, if you accidentally paid money to such sites, it is hard to get it back. However, do lodge a complaint against them with the authorities so that other people don’t get fooled by them in the future.
Lookout for GHIC/EHIC refusals
It has happened in the past that the EHIC got refused at the hospital in another country. While this happens quite rarely, it is still a possibility. Hence, always ask beforehand if your card would be accepted before getting admitted into any hospital when abroad. Try to make sure it is a state-run hospital that accepts EHIC/GHIC.
While signing documents when you are admitted, make sure you read whatever the document says. Sometimes, the hospital might refer you to a private one, citing ‘medical necessity’. In such cases, seek enough evidence to justify such transfer.
In case your EHIC/GHIC gets refused during medical treatment, it would be wise to have travel insurance as a backup. Unfortunately, if you have neither, you will have to pay the full expenses and cannot seek a refund on them either. However, you can contact the local British Embassy, explain the issue to them, and seek counsel. In the rare case that your card was rejected due to the fault of the hospital, you might be entitled to a refund.
List of Countries
Before planning your trip, it is important to know if your destination country comes under the purview of the GHIC/EHIC. The official website of the European Commission offers detailed information about each country, along with emergency contacts and medical help. If your destination is from one of the countries below, do remember to read its European Commission information page.
