Guide to the GHIC Card: What It Covers, How It Works, and Why It Still Matters

Updated on: 02/04/2026

Travelling around Europe can feel wonderfully straightforward. You hop on a flight, step into a café, hear a language you half-recognise, and before long, it all feels familiar. But if something goes wrong - a slip on cobblestones, a sudden illness, or a flare-up of a condition you already manage at home - that relaxed feeling can disappear quickly.

That’s where the Global Health Insurance Card, more commonly known as the GHIC card, comes in.

This guide explains what the GHIC is, what it covers, what it doesn’t, and how it fits alongside travel insurance. No jargon or scare tactics. Just clear, reliable information so you can travel with confidence.

The Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) allows UK residents to access medically necessary state healthcare in certain European countries on the same terms as local residents. That might mean free care in some countries, or care at a reduced cost in others.

It’s sometimes also called a global health card or UK health insurance card, but they all refer to the same thing - the GHIC.

• What it is: A UK-issued health card for state healthcare in Europe
• What it covers: Medically necessary treatment at state-run facilities
• What it doesn’t cover: Private care, repatriation, travel disruption
• Validity: 5 years
• Cost: Free
• Replacement for travel insurance? No

Almost, but not quite.

The GHIC replaced the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) after the UK left the EU. Functionally, it works in a very similar way. It covers state healthcare during temporary stays and isn’t designed for planned medical treatment abroad.

Some people still have a valid EHIC. If yours hasn’t expired, you can continue to use it until the expiry date. Once it runs out, you’ll need to apply for a GHIC instead.

A GHIC card covers medically necessary healthcare at state-run facilities, including emergency treatment, care for pre-existing conditions, and some maternity care during temporary stays in Europe.

To make that clearer, here’s what the GHIC card does cover.

If you fall ill or get injured while travelling, the GHIC covers emergency and necessary treatment at state-run hospitals or clinics.

That includes:

• Accident and emergency visits
• Treatment for sudden illness
• Care that can’t wait until you return home

In practice, this means you won’t be turned away for treatment simply because you’re a visitor.

This kind of cover is relevant for any trip abroad, regardless of destination or duration, as unexpected illnesses and injuries can happen anywhere. For shorter breaks, pairing a GHIC with short stay travel insurance can provide wider protection for costs the GHIC doesn’t cover.

If you have a long-term or pre-existing medical condition, the GHIC can help cover treatment that becomes medically necessary during your stay.

In this context, medically necessary means care that can’t reasonably wait until you return home. It’s treatment needed to manage your health safely while you’re away, rather than something planned in advance as the purpose of your trip.

For example, if you manage asthma, diabetes, or a heart condition at home and need medical attention while abroad, the GHIC allows you to access state healthcare on the same basis as local residents.

For some conditions that require routine, ongoing care, such as kidney dialysis or oxygen therapy, the GHIC can help ensure you don’t have to pause essential treatment just because you’re travelling. In these situations, it’s important to arrange care with a local state healthcare provider before you travel, so treatment can continue smoothly during your stay.

This isn’t about travelling for treatment. It’s about making sure existing health needs can still be managed safely while you’re away.

This is where misunderstandings often creep in. The global health insurance card is helpful, but it has clear limits. There are specific scenarios where standard travel insurance will also be needed. However, not all travel insurance covers the ‘gaps’ in the GHIC card – certain situations, like medical tourism or planned births, require specialised coverage.

The GHIC is only accepted at state-run healthcare facilities. If you’re treated at a private hospital or clinic, the card won’t be accepted.

In many destinations, private care is the default option tourists are directed to, which can be expensive without insurance.

One of the most important gaps: the GHIC does not cover repatriation.

If you need to be flown back to the UK for medical reasons, the GHIC won’t pay for that. Medical repatriation is one of the biggest costs travellers face, and it’s only covered by travel insurance.

Even with a GHIC, you might still need to pay:

• Prescription charges
• Hospital fees or patient contributions
• Co-payments for certain treatments

These vary by country and are charged to locals too.

The GHIC isn’t designed for medical tourism or planned treatment abroad, including travelling specifically to give birth.

The GHIC includes maternity care if it becomes medically necessary during your trip. This means care that’s needed unexpectedly or can’t safely be delayed until you return home, such as routine checks that arise while travelling or emergency maternity treatment.

However, it’s important to understand the limitations here. The GHIC does not cover travel specifically to give birth. If giving birth abroad is the main reason for your trip, the GHIC is not designed to support that, and you would need to explore other options for coverage.

In short, yes - if you’re travelling in Europe, it’s well worth having.

The GHIC is free, easy to apply for, and provides a valuable safety net if you need medical care while abroad. Even if you never use it, it’s one of those things you’re glad to have tucked into your wallet.

This is a really common question, and the answer is: yes, you should have both.

Travel insurance and the GHIC work together, not instead of each other.

The GHIC helps you access medically necessary treatment at state-run healthcare facilities on the same basis as local residents. This can reduce the cost of treatment if you’re taken ill or injured while travelling.

Travel insurance then covers some of the gaps the GHIC doesn’t cover. That includes the cost of:

• private medical treatment if it’s most suitable option
• medical repatriation back to the UK if needed
• wider travel issues such as trip cancellation, lost or delayed luggage, and travel delays

If you’re asking yourself, “Do I need a GHIC card if I have travel insurance?”, it helps to think of it like this: the GHIC is support for accessing healthcare locally, while travel insurance is there to protect you financially and practically if something more serious or disruptive happens.

Specific Example: UK Expatriates

If you're a UK expatriate living in the European Economic Area (EEA), your eligibility for the GHIC may be affected by your residency status. While the GHIC might not apply in your case, Voyager’s UK expatriate travel insurance is available to cover UK expats living certain countries in the EEA, helping ensure you’re fully protected for emergencies, medical repatriation, and other travel issues.

Here’s a simple comparison showing how a GHIC card and travel insurance differ:

A standard GHIC is valid for five years.

It’s worth checking the expiry date before you travel, especially if you’ve had your card for a while. Renewals are free and straightforward.

Another question that comes up a lot is: how long does it take to get a GHIC card?

In most cases:

• Cards arrive within 15 working days
• Applying 2–3 weeks before travel is recommended

Sometimes they arrive sooner, but it’s best not to leave it until the last minute if you can avoid it.

Applying for a GHIC is refreshingly simple, as long as you use the right website.

The only official place to apply for a GHIC card is the NHS website. The card is free.

Be cautious of unofficial sites that charge a fee to “help” you apply - they’re unnecessary and often misleading.

The application usually asks for:

• Your full name
• Address
• Date of birth
• National Insurance number

That’s it. No lengthy forms or paperwork.

You can add:

• A spouse or partner
• Children

Each person receives their own GHIC card, including children.

When you need treatment abroad, show your GHIC at a state-run medical facility.

In practice:

• Some care may be free
• Some services may require a contribution
• You’ll be treated on the same basis as a local resident

It’s a good idea to carry the card with you rather than leaving it in your accommodation.

Lost your GHIC? Or travelling before it arrives?

You can apply for a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC), which temporarily replaces your card.

A PRC gives you the same cover as a GHIC and can be issued quickly if you need urgent treatment. It’s a helpful backup when plans don’t go quite as expected.

Alternatively, if you’re already on your trip and your GHIC card hasn’t arrived, or if it’s been lost or stolen, Voyager Plus already departed cover can provide protection, including medical cover, for travellers who are already abroad. This option is especially useful for travellers who may need immediate medical support or a replacement card while away.

If you travel regularly across Europe, the GHIC can be helpful, but it has its limitations, especially when it comes to covering everything you might need on a longer stay. While the GHIC provides access to state healthcare, annual multi-trip travel insurance is often a better option for frequent travellers, as it covers you for multiple trips within a year without the need to arrange cover each time.

For medium-length trips, such as seasonal travel or extended stays, 3-month travel insurance can fill the gap between a short holiday and a longer-term trip, ensuring you're covered for things like trip cancellations, medical emergencies, and repatriation, on top of the state healthcare you access with your GHIC.

Children need their own GHIC, even if they’re travelling with parents.

The good news is:

• Applying for children is simple
• Cards are free
• They last the same five years

If you’re organising a family trip, it’s worth checking everyone’s card at the same time.

For households travelling together, family travel insurance helps cover everyone under one policy, while the GHIC supports access to healthcare.

One key benefit of Voyager’s Family Travel Insurance is the GP on Demand service, which gives families 24/7 access to an English-speaking GP online. This is a huge advantage for parents, especially when travelling abroad. The service includes:

• Unlimited virtual appointments during your insured period
• Medical advice for common childhood illnesses, chronic conditions, or urgent symptoms
• Support with prescriptions, travel health questions, or general concerns

This makes it easy to get quick, reliable medical advice without the worry of language barriers or finding local medical help.

Before you travel, keep these points in mind:

• A GHIC card helps you access state healthcare in Europe
• The GHIC does not replace travel insurance
• It only works at state-run facilities
• It doesn’t cover repatriation
• It’s valid for five years
• It’s free to apply for
• You should carry it with you while travelling

The global health insurance card is a simple but powerful travel essential. It won’t cover everything, but it plays an important role in helping UK travellers access healthcare abroad without unnecessary stress or cost.

The smartest approach is to:

• Carry a valid GHIC card
• Take out travel insurance
• Check both before every trip

That way, if something unexpected happens, you can focus on getting better rather than worrying about the practicalities.

After all, travel should be enjoyed with confidence - and a little preparation goes a long way.

Get Cover with Voyager Plus Travel Insurance

Wherever you decide to enjoy a holiday, it’s important not to forget to buy your travel insurance.

Voyager Plus Travel Insurance policies include cover for the following:

• Emergency Medical Expenses up to £10,000,000
• Cancellation or Curtailment up to £10,000
• Baggage up to £3,500
• Missed Departure / Journey Disruption up to £1,000
• Personal Liability up to 3,000,000
• And much more.

Click here to find out more about our Voyager Plus Travel Insurance.

Yes. While it’s not legally required, a GHIC card gives you access to state healthcare if you fall ill or get injured, reducing treatment costs while abroad.

Yes. Travel insurance covers emergency costs at private hospitals if they are the most suitable option for your care. It also covers repatriation, private care, trip cancellations, and other travel-related issues, while the GHIC helps you access state healthcare at local rates.

It covers medically necessary treatment at state-run facilities, including emergency care, treatment for pre-existing conditions, and some maternity services.

A GHIC card is valid for five years from the date of issue.

Most cards arrive within 15 working days, so it’s best to apply at least two to three weeks before travel.

This article is for information and entertainment purposes only. It does not constitute advice in any way. The information provided here is correct at the time of writing however please check the latest policy wording for the latest terms, conditions, and exclusions.