European Health Card (EHIC): everything you need to know

What is the European Health Insurance Card?

Teresa went on holiday to Paris.
On the advice of a friend, before traveling, she asked for the European Health Insurance Card.
On the third day of vacation he slipped and broke his hip. She had to be hospitalized and operated on.
Because she had the card, she went to a public hospital and was treated as if she were a French citizen.

The episode described above exemplifies the advantage of having the European Health Insurance Card, as the European Health Card is commonly called European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).

This is a personalized card that allows you to receive assistance in a medical emergency situation during a temporary stay in any of the participating countries.

Despite its official designation, it is important to understand it We are not dealing with health insurancein the classical sense of the term.

This is a individual cardtherefore each member of a family will have to have their own European health card. THE the issue is free and it must be renovated after 3 years.

To better understand what the European Health Insurance Card is and how it works, we have prepared a short list of frequently asked questions:

• Who can apply for the European Health Card?
• How can I place an order?
• How can I renew my European Health Insurance Card?
• Do children also need CESD? How can I request the card for my children?
• In which countries is the European Health Insurance Card valid?
• In which situations can the European Health Insurance Card be used?
• Is all medical treatment free with this card?

Who can apply for the European Health Card?

You can request this card:

• people registered with Social Security (active workers; pensioners; pensioners and their family members);
• people registered with the Voluntary Social Security;
• people registered in public health subsystems;
• SNS users if they are not connected to Social Security or a public or private healthcare subsystem.

How can I place an order?

The process for getting the card is simple. You can ask in person or via online.

Request the European health card personally

You can do this at one of the Social Security customer services or at Espaços Cidadão.

If you are a beneficiary of Social Security and make the request in person, you must complete the form Mod.GIT53-DGSS. The card will then be sent to your address.

✅Usage: In the Azores the request must be submitted to the Institute for Social Development of the Azores, IPRA. In Madeira, at the Social Security Center services.

Request the European health card online

If you choose to make it through Internetyou have to do it via the site Social Security, following these steps:

1. After entering the site, click on the first drop-down menu on the right side of the screen (a yellow «C») to access the direct social security page;
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2. Once there, you will need to authenticate using your Mobile Digital Key, Citizen Card or Social Security password;
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3. After entering the Direct Social Security page, click on «Illness» and choose the option «Get the European Health Insurance Card»;
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4. Click «Start Order»;
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5. Fill in the requested information;
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6. Click «Send request» and then «OK» to confirm issuing the card;
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7. Click on «View card list» and confirm that the order has been successfully placed;
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8. You can log out and end your session.

The European Health Card is sent to your address within 5-7 days.

✅Usage: it is also possible to request the European health card online via the Social Security + Next app.

How can I renew my European Health Insurance Card?

It’s also very simple. Just follow the steps described above, as the procedure is the same as for the request, but you will have to indicate your current card number.

❗Remember: renewal needs to be done within the last 30 days before the expiry date indicated on the card.

Do children also need CESD? How can I request the card for my children?

Yes, as we said, this card is individual. Therefore each member of the family unit must have their own European Health Insurance Card.

The procedure for requesting the card for children and teenagers is the same as for adults. This means that, to request the card onlinemust be registered with Social Security, with their Social Security Identification Number (NISS).

In which countries is the European Health Insurance Card valid?

In all European Union countries: Austria, Germany, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Czech Republic, Romania and Sweden.

Added to these are the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.