The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) — or the UK's Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) — provides free or reduced-cost medical treatment in EU/EEA countries. But it's not travel insurance. Here's what each covers, where they overlap, and why you probably need both.
Comparison Table
Provider
Medical Coverage
Repatriation
Trip Cancellation
Baggage Protection
Cost
Emergency Evacuation
EHIC / GHIC Card
★★★☆☆
★☆☆☆☆
★☆☆☆☆
★☆☆☆☆
★★★★★
★☆☆☆☆
Travel Insurance Policy
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★★
★★★★☆
★★★☆☆
★★★★★
ℹ️ Good to Know
Scores are based on our hands-on testing, user reviews, and price monitoring across multiple European countries.
1. EHIC / GHIC Card
Pros
Completely free — apply online, valid for 5 years
Provides access to state healthcare on the same terms as local residents
Covers pre-existing conditions (treatment available on the same basis as locals)
Valid in all 27 EU countries plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland
Cons
Does NOT cover repatriation (medical flights home can cost €10,000-50,000+)
Does NOT cover trip cancellation, baggage loss, or travel delays
Only covers state healthcare — private hospital treatment is NOT included
Does NOT cover emergency evacuation, search and rescue, or mountain rescue
You need both. The EHIC/GHIC card is free and provides a valuable baseline of state healthcare access — use it for GP visits, pharmacy prescriptions, and non-emergency hospital treatment while travelling in Europe. But it does NOT cover the catastrophic risks that justify insurance: medical repatriation flights (€10,000-50,000+), trip cancellation (potentially thousands in non-refundable bookings), and emergency evacuation from remote areas. Get the EHIC card (it's free), then buy travel insurance on top.
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BTS
BestTravelScout Editorial Team
Our editorial team researches and tests travel products hands-on, comparing prices and policies across dozens of providers to bring you honest, data-backed recommendations.