European Health Insurance Card

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European Health Insurance Card

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) has been introduced in many European Union countries. It allows that all legal residents of an EU member state who are travelling within the European Economic Area, (i.e. the European Union, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and Switzerland, for private or professional reasons can use a European Health Insurance Card, to simplify the procedure when receiving medical assistance during their stay in a Member State.

The EHIC allows legal residents of Cyprus to benefit from emergency medical treatment and care when temporarily in a member country. 

End of the E forms
The European Health Insurance Card replaces forms: 

• E111 and E111B used by tourists, 
• E110 used by international road transporters, 
• E128 used by students and people working in a Member State other than their own, 
• E119 used by people registered as unemployed and seeking work in another Member State. 

Initially, the card replaces the E111, with others (the E110, the E119 and the E128) to follow later. In a second stage the card will be used to cover people posted on short stays to other European countries, as well as students, job seekers and those working in trades such as international transport. The intention is for the card to become electronic by 2008 to simplify the system.

Further Information

• See AngloINFO INFOrmation Page on The EU National Health Service & Cyprus
• Information from the EU on the European Health Insurance Card
• European Commission FAQ on the healthcard (downloadable PDF from 2004)