GHIC and Travel Insurance in Europe: What the Card Won't Cover
A UK GHIC is free, lasts up to five years and covers medically necessary state healthcare in the EU and some other countries. It doesn't cover being flown home, private treatment or ski and mountain rescue, and the NHS says it is not a replacement for travel insurance.
Ten minutes now saves you a fortune in a foreign hospital. Here's how to sort your cover for Europe properly, step by step.
Step 1: get your free GHIC
Apply on the official NHS website. It's free, lasts up to five years, and any site charging for it is one to avoid.
Step 2: know what the card actually does
What does the GHIC cover?
Medically necessary state healthcare, at the same cost as locals pay. That includes emergency treatment and A&E, care for long-term or pre-existing conditions, and routine maternity care unless you've gone abroad to give birth. Some things, like kidney dialysis or chemotherapy, need arranging in advance.
What doesn't the GHIC cover?
- Being flown back to the UK. Medical repatriation is not covered
- Treatment in a private clinic or hospital
- Ski or mountain rescue
- Anything locals would pay for themselves. If they pay, so do you
That's why skiers in particular get caught out. The rescue off the mountain and a private clinic at the bottom of the slope are both on you.
Want to see where your money actually goes? BudgetBro tracks it in any currency, free.
Which countries does it work in?
EU countries and the wider EEA, plus Montenegro, Australia, Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, and St Helena, Tristan and Ascension. Switzerland is covered for some people, including British nationals. The NHS says the list may grow, so check before you travel.
Do you still need travel insurance?
Yes. The NHS says it plainly: the GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance, and you should have private travel and medical insurance for your whole trip. Get both. The card is free and lasts up to five years, so there's no reason not to have it.
What should a travel insurance policy for Europe cover?
- Medical costs, including private treatment, because the GHIC won't pay for it
- Repatriation, so you can be flown home if you need to be
- Winter sports cover if you're skiing, including mountain rescue
- Your pre-existing medical conditions, declared up front, so the policy actually pays out
- Cancellation and lost bags, the stuff the GHIC was never meant for
Single trip or annual policy?
If you travel two or three times a year, get a quote for an annual policy as well as single trips. For lots of short trips, annual often works out cheaper. Compare a few insurers and read what's covered, not just the price.
Heading to Europe for the day? See today's cheapest day trips.
Founders pay £19 a year for BudgetBro Day Trips, for as long as they stay. See the founders offer
Source: NHS, apply for a free UK Global Health Insurance Card. Photo: Mike is Michi, CC BY-SA 4.0.
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