Website of the Department of Health
Please note that this website has a UK government access keys system.
Page menu
You are here:
Country-by-country guide to entitlement
Each country has different rules about state medical provision. We advise you to print out the information for the countries you are visiting and take it with you..
How to get treatment
You must show your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to access reduced-cost, sometimes free, medical treatment that becomes necessary during your visit. Each country has different rules about state medical provision but in some, treatment is free. In many countries you will have to pay part or all of the cost, and then claim a full or partial refund. Please note, if claiming a reimbursement abroad, you will need your UK home address to enable prompt payment.
Claiming a refund
In most countries, you need to claim while you're still abroad. If you can't claim while you're away , contact DWP when you get back to the UK by calling 0191 218 1999. The call centre will take all your necessary claim details, offer advice about your reimbursement, and then request that you forward your receipts to Medical Benefits. DWP will contact the authorities in the other country on your behalf, but it can take a long time for your refund to come through. Some charges are non-refundable (e.g. your EHIC never covers repatriation back to the UK) so you are advised to take out private insurance as well as your EHIC. Remember to keep copies of documents that you submit, for your own records.
Country-by-country guide
Detailed information on the UK's healthcare agreements with the EEA countries and Switzerland.
Additional links
Access keys
