How do I renew my EHIC (European Health Insurance Card)? What is the new UK card scheme? What can I get with it? There are two cards, the EHIC card and the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). They both allow you to receive discounts on medically necessary healthcare abroad. In fact, you may not have to pay anything at all. They are a form of health benefit, but do not replace things such as travel insurance. This Your Benefits article will tell you all you need to know about the EHIC.

How to renew a ehic card

The way that you renew your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is manually. Indeed, it does not happen automatically. In order to do so, you will need your National Insurance number, or number of the person over 16 years old that you are applying for. Then, you can apply online on the NHS website.

You may already have an existing ehic card. If this is the case, you can use it until it expires. The date is indicated on the card itself. Furthermore, 6 months before your card’s expiration date, you can apply for a new one. 

Ehic or ghic: which is better?

A majority of individuals will likely be more eligible for the uk ghic (Global Health Insurance Card), which is a replacement for the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Indeed, this concerns new applications to the card. However, the new uk ehic card may be more appropriate for some people.

What is a ehic?

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a card that allows you to get healthcare outside of the United Kingdom. More specifically, to get state-provided healthcare treatment for medically necessary healthcare at a reduced cost, or none at all. This is also the case for the uk ghic (Global Health Insurance Card).

You can use either your ehic or your uk ghic when visiting a country in the European Union. Additionally, you may also use them in Switzerland. However, to do so, you must also be one of the following, a:

• Refugee;
• British or Swiss national;
• Stateless individual;
• European Union citizen;
• Dependent or person surviving an individual that was one of these.

However, you may travel to Lichtenstein, Norway or Iceland. In this case, you cannot use an existing ehic card or a ghic card. Then, you will need to have a travel insurance that includes cover for healthcare. However, note that you may use a new UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

What is medically necessary healthcare?

Both the ehic card and ghic card can cover medically necessary healthcare. This is any treatment that can be assumed to not have to wait. Additionally, it concerns treatments that needs to be administered at the location at which you are at that moment. In other words, it cannot wait for you to come back to the UK. 

Here are some examples of medically necessary healthcare:

• Kidney dialysis and oxygen therapy;
• Treatment for a pre-existing or long-term condition;
• A&E (emergency room) visits and healthcare received during an emergency;
• Routine treatments for a long-term or pre-existing condition;
• Maternity care (if you are not going abroad for the purpose of giving birth).

These are only a small number of procedures and situations where healthcare is considered medically necessary. However, ultimately, whether it is considered as such is decided by the healthcare provider themselves. 

Additionally, you may need to stay in a quarantine hotel. This is likely if you tested positive for Covid-19. Further, it could be because you were a close contact with someone who tested positive. Then, neither the ehic card or the ghic card can cover the costs incurred by the quarantine hotel.

Quarantine hotel costs are not covered by your ehic card. This is because they are considered a public health measure by the UK. As such, they are not considered a medically necessary state-provided healthcare.

Can I get more discounts when travelling?

You are inquiring about the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). If this is the case, you are likely at least thinking about travelling abroad. However, you are in luck. For example, there are a variety of railcards that people can apply for.

For example, if you are over 60 years old, you could get a Senior Railcard. If you are disabled, you could get a Disabled Railcard. For the disabled railcard, you need to be earning a qualifying benefit. More specifically, one of the following:]

Note that sponsors differ from railcard to railcard. Indeed, some offer reductions on a variety of offers. However, although offers are often shared across railcard, most of the time, they are not exactly the same.

Am I eligible for a new uk ehic?

Not every citizen of the UK is eligible to receive this card. If you qualify, however, you would then receive a card that you can use in Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein, among other numerous places. Indeed, you qualify if one of the following applies, you are a:

• Students, originally from the United Kingdom, who started studying in Switzerland, the European Union, Norway, Iceland or Lichtenstein prior to 1 January 2021;
• Switzerland, Norway, Lichtenstein, Iceland or European Union nationals who started living in the United Kingdom with their families prior to 1 January 2021;
• Some British State Pensioners who started living in Switzerland, Lichtenstein, Norway, the European Union or Iceland prior to 1 January 2021, with their families.

Additionally, you may be able to apply for the new UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) under the Withdrawal Agreement. Then, one of the following must apply to you, you are a:

• Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein or European Union national, covered by the Withdrawal Agreement, who started living in the United Kingdom prior to 1 Janurary 2021 (this may not apply to you, like if you were born in are a national of the United Kingdom);
• Person who, since prior to 1 January 2021, started living in Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein or the European Union, thanks to an A1 given to you by the United Kingdom;
• Person who, since prior to 1 January 2021, started living in Switzerland, Iceland, Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein or the European Union, thanks to a registered S1, E109, E121 or E106 form issued to you by the United Kingdom;
• Relative, family member or someone dependent on another person for whom one of the conditions listed applies;
• Ibrahim/Teixeira or Chen Carer.

Apply for ehic for dual national

You may living in the UK. Additionally, you may hold a UK citizenship, as well as another. More specifically, a Swiss, Icelandic, Lichtenstein, Norwegian or European Union citizenship. If this is the case, you will typically not be able to apply for a new UK EHIC card.

This is true unless some conditions apply to you. First, if you obtained a British citizenship via the naturalization process. Second, if you were a citizen of said countries prior to being a British citizen.

Can I apply for a new UK EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) if I live in Ireland?

If you live in Ireland, you could receive the new UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if you are eligible. For this to be true, you must be one of the following, a:

• United Kingdom State Pensioner living in the Republic of Ireland since prior to 1 January 2021;
• Person living in the Republic of Ireland since prior to 1 January 2021, receiving some exportable benefits;
• Frontier worker, which is a person living in a country different from the one they work in, since prior to 1 January 2021.

Can I apply for a family member?

When travelling abroad, every member of your family has to have their own card. Indeed, this is either the UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or UK GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card). However, you may apply for them. Indeed, to do so, simply include their information in your application.

You may have completed your application but still want to add a family member to it. In such a case, you must notify NHS Overseas Healthcare Services. Then, you will need to give your own date of birth, name, address and reference number. This is so they can find your claim.