April 2021 Newsletter

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is being phased out following the Brexit deal in favour of a new, free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Here's what you need to know, including what the two cards are, who needs which one and how to get a GHIC for free.  (EHIC and GHIC are FREE via the official NHS website).

For kidney patients this will mean you can continue to access dialysis, or other specialist treatments like oxygen therapy when you travel in the EU using your EHIC. If your EHIC has expired you can apply for a new one, which will be renamed the GHIC, with GHIC standing for ‘Global Healthcare Insurance Card’. As previously, this does not replace the need for you to take out travel insurance but it does mean that the cost of your dialysis will be covered if you dialyse at a public unit (this should also be agreed in advance when booking your holiday dialysis). As before, you may need to make a contribution towards the cost of dialysis because of the unit/country where you were having treatment, but in most cases it will be free of charge to you.

EHICs and GHICs are essentially the same thing – what do they cover?

If you're a UK national living in the UK, the only real difference is in the name:

• The EHIC entitles you to the same treatment at state-run hospitals and GPs in the EU that locals are entitled to, at the same cost (so in some cases it could be free).
• The GHIC does the same, but despite being called a 'Global' Health Insurance Card, like the EHIC, it too only works within the EU.

Before Brexit, and during last year's transition period, the EHIC entitled UK holders living in the UK to the above when travelling in the EU. Plus it extended to non-EU countries Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, as well as some other overseas territories. Sadly, neither card is valid outside the EU as of 1 January 2021 if you're a UK citizen living in the UK.

Neither card is a replacement for travel insurance, as they don't cover holiday cancellation, mountain rescue, repatriation and more. Travel insurance should always be taken out to fully cover you.

If I have a valid, in-date EHIC, do I need a GHIC?

Not if you're a UK national living in the UK. If you currently have an EHIC, you can continue to use it in the EU until the card expires, even if that is years away.

How do I check my EHIC expiry?

The expiry date is on the bottom right of the physical card, so check if you've still got time left on yours.

So who needs a GHIC?

If you're a UK national living in the UK, when your EHIC expires or you're applying for the first time, you'll now need to get a free GHIC instead.

How do I get a free GHIC?  

You need to go via the official Government website: Apply for a free GHIC via the official website.


The announcement of a continued reciprocal healthcare agreement is much welcomed, and we hope that we can all begin to travel again soon.