What is a GHIC and do I need travel insurance as well?
What a UK healthcare card does and does not cover abroad, why it never replaces insurance, and how to apply without paying a markup.
- Difficulty
- beginner
- Time
- 20 min
- Read
- 2 min
- Safety
- warning
Short answer
A GHIC gives access to state-provided medically necessary care in participating countries on the same basis as a local resident — which may still mean paying part of the cost. It does not cover repatriation, private hospitals or rescue. You need travel insurance as well, always. Apply free through the NHS site.
The healthcare card is widely misunderstood as travel insurance issued by the government. It is not. It plugs you into another country's state system on that country's terms, which in much of Europe includes patient charges that are entirely normal there. The costs that genuinely bankrupt travellers — an air ambulance home, a repatriation, treatment in a private clinic because that is where the ambulance took you — sit outside it completely.
Safety
Step by step
- Apply free on the official NHS site.The card is free. Any site charging a fee to obtain one for you is reselling a free service. Go via nhs.uk rather than a search advert.
- Check which countries the card currently covers.Coverage is set by agreement and it has changed since the old EHIC arrangements. The current list is published — read it for your specific destination rather than assuming.
- Understand what 'same basis as a local' means.In many countries state healthcare involves a patient contribution. The card gets you the resident's price, not free treatment. Budget for that and claim it back on insurance if the policy allows.
- Buy travel insurance regardless.Repatriation, medical transport, private treatment, cancellation, and cover outside participating countries all come from the policy, not the card. A serious injury abroad without insurance is a five- or six-figure problem.
- Declare every condition and medication on the insurance.For every traveller. Undeclared pre-existing conditions are the most common reason a medical claim is refused, and a refused claim on a serious incident is the worst possible outcome.
- Apply in good time and check the expiry.Cards have an expiry date and processing takes time. Check the whole household's cards when you check passports — they run out quietly.
- Carry both the card and the insurance details.The card in the wallet, the policy number and the insurer's 24-hour emergency line saved offline and written on paper. In an emergency someone else may need to find them.
- Call the insurer's emergency line before major treatment where you can.Most policies require it, and the line can direct you to a facility they will deal with directly rather than one you have to pay and reclaim from.
Tips
- Take a photo of the card and store it with your other document copies. A lost card is replaceable but not quickly.
- Some bank accounts and credit cards include travel insurance — check what it actually covers and its age and medical limits before relying on it.
- Annual multi-trip insurance is often cheaper than two single-trip policies if you travel more than once a year.
Questions people ask
Does a GHIC replace travel insurance?
No, and this is the important point. It gives access to state care in participating countries on local terms, which may still involve charges. It does not cover repatriation, medical transport home, private treatment, rescue or cancellation.
Is a GHIC free?
Yes. Apply through the official NHS site. Sites charging a fee are reselling a free application, and some are simply scams.