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What to do if you have a lost EHIC or lost GHIC

If you’ve lost your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) or GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) and are currently travelling or are planning on travelling without your European Health Card and want to know how to get an EHIC renewal then check out our story below about when we needed medical care but had a forgotten EHIC card.

When in Spain my partner needed medical attention and we didn’t have our European Health Insurance with us and realised we’d left our EHIC at home.

Since we were already abroad we couldn’t get a new EHIC to replace the lost EHIC card. However, if you know the process you can still be covered for medical expenses while travelling abroad in Europe.

Before we actually needed it, I didn’t even see what the point of an EHIC card was, let alone know how to use it. To me, it was just an EU Health Card that you get told to take on school trips. It didn’t seem to serve any purpose as everyone recommends you get travel insurance anyway.

However, now I know that EHIC cards are very useful indeed. Read on to find out what happens if you can’t find your EHIC card or have lost your EHIC.

Have you got travel insurance? I’ve been using SafetyWing for a while and it’s incredibly easy, affordable and overall hassle-free! Make sure you check them out before your trip (or after, you can subscribe even if the trip has already started!). They offer subscription-based travel insurance which is great for digital nomads. It allows you to claim medical expenses, and you can add travel coverage to cover your for lost or stolen belongings or additional expenses due to delayed travel.

What is an EHIC Card?

An EHIC, European Health Insurance Card, is a free-of-charge card which enables UK citizens, who normally live in the UK, to state-provided healthcare in the European Economic Area (EEA) including Switzerland either at a much-reduced cost, or free. It was previously known as an E111 card.

What is a GHIC Card?

A GHIC, Global Health Insurance Card, is a free-of-charge card which gives UK citizens access to state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free.

This replaces the EHIC card and E111 (as above) since the UK left the European Union.

My EHIC is still valid. Do I need a GHIC?

You can use your EHIC until its expiration date without needing to switch to a GHIC before then. You can apply for a new card up to 6 months before your current card expires

Is an EHIC the same as E111?

Yes, the EHIC is what replaces the old E111. Whilst E111 cards haven’t existed for a while you may remember it being called this.

When you go to get an E111 renewal you’ll notice that it’s now called EHIC. You’ll get a European Health Insurance Card renewal form instead of an E111 form.

Is a GHIC the same as an EHIC?

A GHIC is different from the EHIC and E111 as you’re less likely to get free health care while travelling abroad.

The exception to this is if you have rights under the withdrawal agreement. People with these rights are typically those who:

  • Are a UK national living in an EU country by 31 December 2020

You can read the full details to determine if you have rights under the withdrawal agreement here.

How do I apply for an EHIC?

It’s easy to apply for a European Health Insurance Card. AND it’s free! You can do your European Health card renewal online using the EHIC application form on the NHS website to get your new free EHIC card.

Alternatively, you can apply through the post. Apply online here for an EHIC replacement.

NOTE: An EHIC card and a replacement for a lost lost e111 card for UK residents is ALWAYS free. Never pay a site to do your EHIC renewal for you. ALWAYS use the free official EHIC online application site.

How do I renew my EHIC?

An NHS European Health Insurance Card Renewal is free and covers you for healthcare in Europe. If you’re a UK resident and none of your personal details have changed then you can get a replacement here.

If you do need to change your personal details you can still do your health card renewal online. You’ll need your personal identification number (PIN).

This can be found on your EHIC card and begins with UK followed by some numbers. It’s on the same line as your date of birth.

If some of your details have changed since your card was issued and you don’t have your PIN, you might not be able to renew your EHIC online. In this case try contacting them using the EHIC phone number: +44(0)300 330 1350

Is medical care with an EHIC free?

In a lot of cases, this will be free. However, it’s important to note this isn’t always the case. You should expect to receive the same treatment that a resident of the country you’re visiting does.

Sometimes this just means a reduced price but it many cases the medical treatment will be free when you present your European travel card.

Is medical care free with a GHIC?

Medical care with a GHIC is at a reduced cost and in some cases will be free.

how to use an EHIC card

What medical care is covered with an EHIC?

An EHIC covers the costs of treatment for pre-existing medical conditions, accidents and illnesses whilst abroad, or routine maternity care (provided that you didn’t go abroad specifically to give birth).

Note that this applies only to public hospitals and surgeries, not private ones.

There are also a few grey areas when it comes to what illnesses and accidents an EHIC will cover. The official NHS website says the EHIC will cover all accidents and illnesses that happen abroad.

However, when we called up after we realised we’d lost our EHIC there seemed to be an emphasis on whether the medical condition that needed treatment was pre-existing, or had happened on holiday. Pre-existing medical conditions should be treated with associated costs covered.

You might have more difficulty in getting your healthcare covered for accidents that happened whilst away (but that’s where travel insurance comes in)

The type of treatment that’s covered varies from country to country. Check the NHS Website to see what’s covered wherever you are or are going. check here.

What doesn’t an EHIC/GHIC card cover?

An EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. If you are travelling and require anything like a mountain rescue while skiing or need to be flown back to the UK you will have to pay the costs of this.

Additionally, if you’re travelling in France and require medical attention and an ambulance, you will have to pay the cost of that ambulance unless it’s proved there was no other way for you to get to the hospital. The cost of an ambulance isn’t something that would be covered by the EHIC.

GHICs do not give you free healthcare in the same way that EHICs used to. However, they could potentially save you a lot of money.

Is an EHIC/GHIC the same as travel insurance?

No. An EHIC/GHIC only covers you for pre-existing medical conditions and accidents whilst abroad. You can also not use your NHS EHIC/GHIC while on a cruise regardless of the above.

Travel insurance will cover you for lost or stolen property and often delayed flights. It’ll also cover you for mountain rescue (provided you’ve bought the right type) none of which will be covered by an NHS European Health Insurance Card.

The best thing to do is to make sure you have both a European travel card AND travel insurance.

Can you travel without a European Health Card?

Yes, you can travel without one but if you’re travelling within Europe then you may as well have one with you.

You may be wondering “Do I need a European Health Insurance Card?” Honestly, why wouldn’t you get this free NHS card?

They’re completely free and they could save you a lot of money should something happen while abroad.

How long does it take to get an EHIC/GHIC card?

If you apply for a European Health Card online your card should arrive within 7 days.

GHIC cards are delayed as of summer 2022 so make sure to apply well in advance of your trip. Or, use your EHIC if you still have a valid one.

How long is an EHIC/GHIC valid?

An EHIC is valid for up to 5 years. Remember to check whether it’s still valid before you travel.

How do I use an EHIC/GHIC abroad?

lost my ehic card travelling tomorrow

If you have your EHIC with you, turn up at the nearest public hospital and show it. In most cases, you won’t have to pay anything. However, depending on where you’re travelling you may need to pay your bill up front and then claim a refund afterwards.

This is because some European countries ask patients (both residents & non-residents) to pay a contribution towards the cost of the care they receive. This may hear this called ‘co-payment’ or ‘patient share’.

In this applies to you you can claim back the difference between the total bill and the ‘patient share’. BUT you cannot claim the amount you paid for ‘patient share’.

Check the country guide to make sure you know what the hospital in the country you’re visiting can still charge you for.

For instance, in France, you’re likely to still have to pay the cost of an ambulance. This is unless you can prove that there is no possible way you could make it to the hospital without one.

But what if I forget or have lost my EHIC/GHIC card?

This is the situation we found ourselves in while in Spain. We both have EHIC cards but they were sitting in a drawer or cupboard somewhere back in London.

The great news is that as long as you’ve applied for an EHIC you’ll be covered from the date of your EHIC application.

If you’ve forgotten to take your EHIC with you on holiday and have a moment of . “oh dam, I don’t have my EHIC card with me!”, or have lost your EHIC while abroad, call the EHIC contact number: +44 (0)191 218 1999.

Calling this number will get you a provisional replacement certificate (PRC). This covers you for treatment until you get home.

If you’re calling because your EHIC is lost then you may as well apply for a health card replacement at the same time.

How do I get a PRC for lost EHIC/GHIC?

When calling for a PRC in instances where you realised “I forgot my EHIC card” you will need to provide the following details:

  • National Insurance number
  • Name
  • Address
  • Date of birth
  • NHS number if known
  • The e-mail address for the specific department of the organisation providing your treatment. This is so that the PRC can be sent directly to them. If you do not know that yet you could get it sent to your email address instead.

What happens if you forget your EHIC card? – What happened when we lost our EHIC card while abroad and needed it

In practice, we didn’t even require a PRC for our lost NHS card. We turned up at the hospital and told the reception desk we had an EHIC card but not on us.

We were asked for a passport and given a letter that told us to send proof of an EHIC card via email within 10 days. Sometimes the doctor might demand further proof if you left your EHIC card at home.

In this case, call the number above to get a PRC emailed or faxed to the hospital.

All in all, it was a very easy and quick process that saved us in excess of 200 euros. It also got my boyfriend walking again! If you haven’t signed up for an EHIC you really should. They’re free and can save you loads of money!

I’ve lost my EHIC card or lost my GHIC card & I’m going on holiday tomorrow

If your European Health Insurance Card is lost, or your E111 card is lost, and you’re going away tomorrow then it’s important you still apply for an EHIC card renewal to replace lost EHIC card.

As long as you have applied for a card you should be able to get a PRC and receive treatment while abroad even with a lost health card.

This is the same in the instance that your EHIC card expired and you travel tomorrow.

Can I find my EHIC number online

Unfortunately not. We learned the hard way there wass no easy way to find my EHIC number and use that for medical care abroad.

You’ll need to follow the rest of the instructions in this guide to get a replacement EHIC card and learn what to do if you lost your EHIC card.

Important details about a lost EHIC lost GHIC

  • GHIC/EHIC’s are ALWAYS free, NEVER pay for them
  • While you don’t need to carry GHIC/EHIC cards when you travel, you should if you’re travelling or backpacking in Europe.
  • The GHIC/EHIC card contact number is you’re abroad and need a PRC is: +44 (0)191 218 1999
  • For a new GHIC use the NHS GHIC website and application form here to apply for a free GHIC card
  • GHIC’s are not the same as travel insurance. You should have both if you’re travelling within Europe.
  • Apply for a card well in advance of your trip as there are delays getting hold of GHICs currently.

Last Updated on November 8, 2023 by Hannah

Leave a comment

  1. Daniel says:

    Thanks! This came up top of Google when our little girl has a possible fracture. Will be subscribing!

  2. Haylor says:

    Thanks for sharing this guide. I agree that some unfortunate things can happen while you are traveling.

  3. elizabeth fisher says:

    i have lost my e11 card it dosent run out till 2019 whatcan i do

  4. elizabeth fisher says:

    i have lost my e11 card what can i do

  5. elizabeth fisher says:

    hi i need help i have lost my e11 card how one

  6. Maureen says:

    I live in the USA but I am a British citizen, here’s my question I’m getting ready to visit England and then on to Italy for a week can or do I need to get a E 1 11 card ?? I’m getting travel insurance but every thing I see says you need to live in the U.K. to get a card.

  7. Alison says:

    Hello, I just wanted to thank you so much for your article. It helped me no end today and put my mind at rest at what was quite a scary moment of my holiday. Well written and very informative! I will be sharing your blog. Thankyou again. Ally

  8. Amy says:

    My sister is abroad and not got a ehic card at all, never applied for one. She is pregnant and having pains and out of hours for the provisional certificate. Do you think she would be ok to get treatment and provide details when she gets the certificate?

  9. Mae says:

    Do you have to pay for the temporary EHIC certificate if you have forgotten yours?

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