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Living abroad - European Health Insurance Card

EU regulations since May 1 2010

Due to changes in European Union regulations, from May 1 2010 the United Kingdom may be responsible for the issue of your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) instead of the member state where you live.  

This will apply if you are a national of an EU member state and live in an EU member state, and you either:

  • receive your state pension or other long-term benefit from the UK and you have registered the form E121 with the health authorities in the member state where you live; or
  • you are dependent on a citizen working in the UK and have registered the form E109 issued by the UK

You will need to send your application by post. An application form, along with an explanatory letter, will be posted to you during February 2010. This application form will be different from the EHIC application form available in the UK, and will be modified to prove your entitlement to the new UK-issued EHIC card.

These cards will be sent out from April 2010 onwards. If you return your completed application form by the end of March 2010, your card should arrive before the new regulations come into force.

If you are not a national of an EU member state, or you live in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, then the country where you live will remain responsible for issuing your EHIC. In these circumstances, please contact the authorities in your country of residence.

For more information please call the Overseas Healthcare Team on 0191 218 1999. 

Comments

22 Comments

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Comments are personal views. Any information they give has not been checked and may not be accurate.

moscam said on 14 January 2013

on calling newcastle today to ask for an application form for my ehic i was told i couldnt be sent one untill they recieved back from the french authorities the copy of the s1 that was registered with them last may after i reached state retirement age
my french health cover has been sorted no problem, as ive been resident in france for over 10 years and im assured by the french authorities that a copy was sent back to newcastle last may
now is it true that i must wait untill someone in newcastle finds this form or can i apply anyway and am i just being given the runaround.

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NHS Business Services Authority said on 02 August 2011

Thanks to all for their comments. Unfortunately, we are unable to reply to individuals via this comments page.

However we can still help you if you have specific queries. The details you will need are below:

For questions, on claiming back the cost of healthcare covered by EHIC, the contact details for the Overseas Healthcare Team are:

0191 218 1999 - The lines are open Monday to Friday 8am until 5pm
E Mail: overseas.healthcare@thepensionservice.gsi.gov.uk

If you're having difficulties with the online application form, to apply for a new or replacement EHIC, for help with a lost or stolen EHIC or to update your personal details, call 0845 606 2030.

Hope this helps.

Chris @ NHS Business Services Authority


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NHS Business Services Authority said on 27 July 2011

Apply for a free EHIC online at www.ehic.org.uk.

The EHIC is entirely free of charge. However, other, unofficial, websites may charge you if you apply through them.

If you're having difficulties with the online application form or to update your personal details, call the automated service on 0845 606 2030.

For general enquiries about the EHIC, to replace a lost or stolen card, or claim refunds, call the Overseas Healthcare Team on 0191 218 1999. If calling from abroad ring +44 191 218 1999.

Chris @ NHS Business Services Authority

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jbtapscott said on 21 July 2011

We registered our E121's at the Greek IKA offices. They spoke very little English but they had a document with translations into Greek for several different countries E121 (including UK/English).

As far as the EHIC cards are concerned, my wife received the first letter saying that her card would now be issued by the UK authorities, applied and got a card. I didn't get a letter and when I went to the IKA offices to renew our healthcare books I was handed a slip of paper advising that Greece would no longer issue my card and that I should contact the relevant authorities in the UK. I did this, got the relevant form and and subsequently my EHIC card.

So the system does work (sometimes!?) - even the single phone call back to the UK!.

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Wanderer15 said on 20 April 2011

Does anyone live in Austria and tell us if the S1 card can be used there? We are thinking about moving / retiring there next year (2012) and are gathering information about it at present.
Thank you in advance.

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Wanderer15 said on 20 April 2011

Does anyone live in Austria and tell us if the S1 card can be used there? We are thinking about moving / retiring there next year (2012) and are gathering information about it at present.
Thank you in advance.

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elkekatharina said on 03 April 2011

Here a reply to Cameron4 enquiry of 19th Jan.:

You have to go to one of the German public (not private) health insurers like the AOK, the Barmer or the DAK.
If you give them your S1 form they will issue you with a medical card . Any cost of your medical treatment will be charged back to the NHS by the insurer. You need not pay any health insurance contributions in Germany, if you receive the British State Pension.
My British partner has done this approx. 2 years ago. He registered with the Barmer which seemed to have the most competent staff and he never had a problem with any medical treatment.
Good luck.

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Ann4 said on 07 February 2011

Friends who are permanent residents in France ,married couple each have had an E121/S1 for the last 5 years.
For the last 2 years she has registered as AE and he is the collaborator to her buisness.
Therefore contributing directly to France for health.
So where should there EHIC be issued from, please?
And can you show a link that differentiates the fact that they first acquired E forms and only after started self employed therefore contributing to French system.
I have always understood that once you start work in France it in effect invalidates your E121/S1. Thank you

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tamtbam said on 03 February 2011

In response to barbaramyrtle on 06.01.2011. I work in Germany for the British Forces. I believe you should take your current S1 form to the local AOK (Allgemeine Ort Krankenkasse) office to register and they will issue you with an AOK card which helps towards your health care. Once in possession of the AOK card you take this to your German medical centre and the know what to do with it.

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cameron4 said on 19 January 2011

ps does anybody answer these questions

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cameron4 said on 19 January 2011

i live in germany and i recieve a uk state pension the international works an pension office in uk sent me a s1 form no body here at the medical center knows anything about this form or what its for, so now i am paying 117 euros a month plus prrescriptions i need out of my small pension can uk not send me this s1 form in the german lnguage so they understand here what it is

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barbaramyrtle said on 06 January 2011

i`ve heard that you now need a form written in spanish to access medical treatment at the clinic in tenerife. You obtain this form in england before you go. Is this true ?

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drop dead fred said on 30 November 2010

Please can any one help I live in Portugal and retired and have to pay 60 euros a month for perscriptions is it possible to claim the money back and how.
Thanks

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jezzer said on 25 November 2010

I've just read the above comment from Keith and Sue having just come to this website for the first time. I also can't see why we, as ex-pats can't apply on-line for our EHIC card. Unfortunately, this is not the only thing you can't do. Did you ever try applying for a state pension forecast? If you don't live in the UK and don't apply before 6 months before your retirement date, TOUGH!! You mention we are still in Europe and not outer Mongolia. Don't bet on it. Since when has Britain and the bulk of its populace really, honestly, considered itself as part of Europe. Only when it suits. Anyway, I hope you managed to sort your EHIC problem. Mine's just starting. Buena suerte.

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spainsally said on 16 August 2010

I live in Spain & had the same problem with the EHIC card. After posting my application several weeks passed, so I telephoned only to be told my application had never arrived & they would send me another application form, which they did. This time however, I used the "normal practise" in Europe for sending documents -by recorded delivery, for a couple of € more than a postage stamp & received my card well before the 3 weeks it was supposed to take. I would advise anyone in the UK or abroad to always use this method, in Spain it is "certificado", as you can prove the date on which you posted the document & so you can't be fobbed off with "I am sorry,we don't seem to have received it"!!

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DGr said on 01 August 2010

It's not a general inefficiency but that of the staff dealing with these issues. Untrained, don't care, not my job, and an I don't know attitude from most of these people.

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lasiesta said on 11 June 2010

I live in Spain and hitherto have had to apply in person to the local 'ambulatorio' for a health card. Always reissued within one hour (although lasting but six months). With the change in procedure I telephoned Newcastle In January and waited into April ( plus several telephone calls) for the Application Form which arrived in May and was posted back the same day. I had between times asked for a second Form which was reluctantly agreed to and this also took a month to arrive. I do not so much blame the Newcastle staff for such delays except that they are clearly using some sort of courier service presumably on cost grounds but which is extremely poor in forwarding its mail. The postal service from UK to me is normally 4/5 days. My EHIC arrived today !

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LIZZY MAC said on 09 June 2010

I applied for my card on-line thinking this would be a faster/efficeint service. After a wait of 10 days i decided to call and ask where my card was or indead been sent. 30 minuites later i'm cut off stating the lines are now closed! Far from good customer services.

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Bettie said on 05 June 2010

Having read the above we are having the same problem. Firstly my application form arrived and I was told my husband's would follow. It didn't. I asked for one and it duly arrived after a long wait, I filled them in and posted them off and low and behold guess what - they haven't got them! Is it me or is it just English bureaucracy that is so inefficient. We were told that France was bad, but believe me all the problems we have had have been with the English side of affairs. Can someone get themselves in gear please and deal with the queries. thanks

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Mel Apedale said on 28 May 2010

Yesterday and today the link to the online application area has been out of order, so even in UK you cannot currently apply online.

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Keith and Lin said on 26 May 2010

I can sympathise with you as we to live in Spain and have for 6 years. Exactly the same happened to us I received my card but my wife has not .Same run around telephoning UK for 3 weeks with no resolution. And we thought the Spanish system was was difficult.

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keith and sue said on 19 May 2010

My wife and I are both entitled to an EHIC card, we live in Spain and are both retired. My card arrived without any problem in the post. My wife despite umpteen calls is unable to get one. There must be several application forms in the post if we are to believe the overseas health care team but none ever arrive. I live at the same address and had no problem receiving mine. Trying to find something on the website is hopeless, just seem to go round and round in circles even though I am in the section for Britons living abroard. I get he impression I am being fobbed off when I telephone the 0191 218 1999 number, they say we have sent a form, wait another week, month or whatever. For all your advice on health and how important it is to have the EHIC card I can't understand why my wife can't get one. Will someone at the Overseas Health care team please, please help and resolve this issue and not just fob us off with some excuse. Why can't we apply online? You can in England, we are still in europe and not outer mongolia. Your Overseas Health Care team say they get most complaints from abroad, I am not surprised, no one wants to resolve the problems, just fob them off and move on to the next complainent. I don't know where this email will finish up, probably in the bin but whoever is reading this please help. Thank you.

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Last reviewed: 23/06/2011

Next review due: 23/06/2013

Apply for a free EHIC 

The EHIC is entirely free of charge. However, other, unofficial, websites may charge you if you apply through them. Apply now for your free EHIC.

If you're having difficulties with the online application form, to update your personal details, or to replace a lost or stolen card, call the automated EHIC application service on 0845 606 2030.

For general enquiries about the EHIC or claim refunds, call the Overseas Healthcare Team on 0191 218 1999. If calling from abroad ring +44 191 218 1999.

E-forms will be replaced

Due to changes in European Union regulations, from 1 May 2010, E-forms will be replaced for British and EU citizens working, living and travelling in the EU. The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not changing and your current EHIC will remain valid until it expires. All E-forms already issued will remain valid and your entitlement to healthcare will not be affected by these changes.

Old E-form and replacement form:

● E101 is now A1
● E102 is now A1 
● E106 is now S1 
● E109 is now S1
● E121 is now S1
● E112 is now S2

The EHIC and PRC (Provisional Replacement Certificate) remain the same.

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