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What is the European Health Insurance Card
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is a free card that offers access to medically necessary care during the temporary stay of European citizens in one of the 27 countries of the European Union (EU), Iceland, Liechtenstein, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom, under the same conditions and at the same cost (in some countries, free of charge) as people insured in that country. The benefits covered include those related to emergencies/urgent cases, chronic or pre-existing illnesses and pregnancy and childbirth.
According to European Commission Regulations 883/2004 & 987/2009, the concept of "necessary care" is a flexible concept, which is assessed on a case-by-case basis, taking into account medical criteria such as emergency/urgent medical conditions and the duration of the planned stay of the affected person. The concept of "temporary stay" is defined as a period during which a person resides in a place other than where he/she normally resides, provided that he/she does not move his/her centre of interest/interests to that place, e.g. students, posted workers, retired persons who spend part of the year in a Member State other than where they normally reside). The full text of the Regulations can be found at the following link: https:/ec.europa.eu/social/BlobServlet?docId=6481&langId=en
Cardholders must be insured or covered by a state social security scheme in any EU Member State, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Iceland, Norway, Switzerland or the United Kingdom. The card is issued by the national health insurance provider with whom the applicant is insured and who is responsible for her/his health care costs.
Please note that the European Health Insurance Card:
[*]is not a substitute for travel insurance. It does not cover private healthcare, nor does it cover costs such as airfare back to the country of origin or loss/theft of property, [*]it does not cover costs if the person is travelling specifically to receive medical treatment, [*]it does not guarantee free services. Since each country's health care systems differ, services provided free of charge in one country may not be provided free of charge in another.
Restrictions on the use of EHIC
[*]Third-country nationals cannot use their EHIC for medical treatment in Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, unless they are refugees residing in an EU Member State or covered as family members of an EU citizen. [*]The EHIC does not guarantee its holder's rescue and repatriation. A separate insurance cover is required for the return of the holder to his/her country following a serious illness or an accident during a visit to another EU country. The EHIC does not cover private healthcare. You can only use it for healthcare from providers who are part of the public system. [*]EHIC does not cover planned treatment in another EU country.
More information about the European Health Insurance Card can be found at the following link:
https:/ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=857&langId=el&intPageId=1304
Information on the importance of the European Health Insurance Card is also presented in the EU promotional videos listed in the following link: https:/ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559&langId=en&videosId=2957&furtherVideos=yes
[/P]Republic of Cyprus and EHIC
All citizens of the Republic of Cyprus who are covered by the General Health System (GHS) are entitled to the European Health Insurance Card. The card is issued at the local Citizen Service Centres and the Provincial Offices of the Department of Postal Services.
For requests for reimbursement of medical expenses, beneficiaries should contact the local insurance institution:
Ministry of Health
Hospital Identity Documents Section
1 Prodromou & 17 Chilonos Street, 1448 Nicosia, Cyprus
Tel: +357 22 605349 | Fax: +357 22 605485
Tel: +357 22 605349 | Fax: +357 22 605485
Tel. Address: sstratis@moh.gov.cy
[/P]Use of the CSMS
The following link provides more information on the use of the CSMS in countries where its use is foreseen:
https:/ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1021&langId=el
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