We all love a bargain and the EHIC is one of the best things about being part of the EU. EHIC is an agreement between the countries of the EU to look after each other’s citizens if they ned healthcare while on holiday or business overseas. The agreement is designed to put you in the same position as a resident of the country where you are being treated – remember that this doesn’t mean that you’ll get the same things free as you do here in the UK, but does mean you’ll be processed as a state patient. Having an EHIC makes a lot of sense, but who can apply for one?
UK National Citizens
Anyone who is a UK citizen is entitled to apply for an EHIC. Citizenship is complex and there are many exceptions to every rule depending on individual circumstances. Here’s the easy way to think about it: if you live in the UK, have a job here, have a National Insurance number, pay income tax and National Insurance and are registered with a British GP, then you’re entitled to apply for an EHIC. British citizens who have gone abroad temporarily to study or older people who have retired to warmer climes should check their situation carefully as there may be other schemes similar to EHIC which suit their needs better, depending on where they are and how long they’re staying for.
Children
The other key requirement for applying for an EHIC is that you must be over the age of 16. That doesn’t mean that children don’t need an EHIC though, just that someone over the age of 16 must apply on their behalf. This is usually their parent. The parent responsible for the child fills in the application for on their behalf, giving the parent’s National Insurance number and confirming their link with the child. Children will then have their own cards issued bearing their name and date of birth.
Foreign Nationals Living in the UK
People who live in the UK but who have recently arrived from a different European country may be able to apply for EHIC depending on their status in the UK. If you’re paying tax here and have moved here permanently, you should have no difficulty applying. People who are only here temporarily but are permanently resident elsewhere can apply to the state healthcare provider in their own country to see if they will issue an EHIC. People arriving from outside Europe to live in the UK may be able to apply once they have been issued with their National Insurance numbers.
Isle of Man and Channel Islands
There are a few quirks to the system for issuing EHIC, mainly based on complicated methods for defining the status of countries. The Isle of Man is not classed as part of the UK, and neither are the Channel Islands. Although people living on the Isle of Man or the Channel Islands have their own reciprocal healthcare agreements with the rest of the UK, their citizens cannot apply for EHIC cards.