European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles you to urgent and essential medical care during a temporary stay abroad. By presenting the card, you prove to the foreign healthcare provider that you are insured for medical treatment. Within Europe, in many cases this means that you do not have to pay any charges upfront. Read more about the EHIC on this page.
What is the European Health Insurance Card?
The European Health Insurance Card is a personal card that entitles you to necessary medical care whilst you are temporarily abroad. The European Health Insurance Card allows healthcare providers to verify that you are insured for medical care. In Europe, you will often not have to pay upfront. The European Health Insurance Card also features the number of the OHRA Helpline. OHRA Helpline. The card is personal and free of charge. OHRA policyholders can request it online at Mijn OHRA Zorgverzekering.
No costs upfront
In Europe, the European Health Insurance Card is accepted by most healthcare providers. Are you using medical care abroad? Then show your EHIC to the healthcare provider. The foreign healthcare provider, for example a hospital, will then claim the costs back from your health insurer. Based on your health insurance and excess, your health insurer will determine which costs are reimbursed and what you have to pay yourself. Note that some non-hospital healthcare providers do not yet accept the EHIC. If you visit one of them, you will have to pay upfront.
Reimbursements under your OHRA Health Insurance are subject to an annual policy excess. But when a foreign healthcare provider bills us for costs incurred using your EHIC, you do not pay any excess. If you have to pay medical costs in advance you can claim them under your OHRA policy. Any outstanding excess is deducted from your reimbursement.
When using the EHIC abroad, you are covered for treatment based on the national health insurance scheme of that country. If your costs exceed the maximum reimbursement or include non-covered services, you are responsible for paying the extra charges. In this case, keep the invoices and submit a claim to OHRA when you return home. But note that we will only reimburse these additional costs if you have the relevant supplementary cover with us.
Where is your EHIC valid?
The EHIC card is valid in most European countries and Australia. It is also valid in islands/areas that are outside Europe and belong to an EU country
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The European countries
- Austria
- Belgium
- Bulgaria
- Croatia
- Cyprus (but not Northern Cyprus)
- Denmark
- Estonia
- Finland
- France
- Germany
- Greece
- Hungary
- Iceland
- Ireland
- Italy
- Latvia
- Liechtenstein
- Lithuania
- Luxembourg
- North Macedonia
- Malta
- the Netherlands
- Norway
- Poland
- Portugal
- Romania
- Slovakia
- Slovenia
- Spain
- Sweden
- Switzerland
- the United Kingdom (England, Scotland, Wales en North Ireland)
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Territories outside Europe which are part of an EU country.
Spain
- the Canary Islands
- Ceuta
- Melilla
France
- French Guiana
- Guadeloupe
- Martinique
- Mayotte
- Réunion
- Saint-Barthélemy
- Saint Martin
United Kingdom
- Gibraltar
Portugal
- Madeira
- the Azores
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Australia (and Tasmania)
Register with Medicare using your EHIC. You will then receive an insurance card from Medicare. This allows you to access healthcare covered by Australia's social security system.
You can download from the Australian government website an application form for registration. Immediately upon arrival, report to a Medicare office (service center) to complete the necessary formalities.
Insurance certificate
Some other countries require a different proof of insurance, such as Form 111. For Russia and Belarus, you must have an insurer’s declaration that you hold sufficient medical cover.
When is the EHIC not valid?
The EHIC will not be accepted if you:
- are travelling to undergo planned care or treatment abroad
- visit a private healthcare provider or clinic
- reside permanently abroad
- are in a country not mentioned above
How to request your free EHIC?
If you are insured wia OHRA, you can apply for the European Health Insurance Card free of charge through Mijn OHRA Zorgverzekering. The EHIC is personal and must therefore be applied for by each insured person, including children under the age of 18. Once you have applied, you will receive the card at your home within 10 working days. The European Health Insurance Card is valid for 5 years, provided you remain insured with OHRA.
Frequently Asked Questions about the EHIC
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What to do if you need urgent medical care abroad?
Have you had an accident or fallen ill? You will receive immediate assistance. We are always available via the OHRA Assistance Service on +31 (0)26 400 48 68. The number for the OHRA Helpline is also printed on your European Health Insurance Card.
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Do I have to pay excess if I get medical care abroad?
An excess applies to reimbursements under the OHRA Health Insurance. However, if the foreign healthcare provider claims the medical costs through the European Health Insurance Card, you do not pay any excess. The medical costs that you pay upfront and which are covered by your OHRA Health Insurance will, however, be deducted from your excess.
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Claiming medical costs abroad
You will be reimbursed for the medical costs in accordance with the statutory health insurance scheme applicable in the country where you receive treatment. If the medical costs exceed the maximum reimbursement under the local statutory health insurance scheme, you will need to pay these additional costs yourself initially. Upon your return, you can submit the bill to OHRA. You will be reimbursed for the medical costs if you are entitled to reimbursement through your supplementary insurance.
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Other useful documents
Are you taking medication on a regular basis or having any ongoing medical conditions? Than we strongly recommend that you also carry a European Medical Passport (EMP) when travelling abroad. This contains information about your health and the medicines you take. You may also need an official declaration if you take medications which are classified as controlled drugs in other countries.