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Using your card abroad, and what it doesn't cover
Take your card with you and show it when you need state healthcare. It covers care that can't reasonably wait until you're home. It is not travel insurance.
What it covers
The NHS describes this as "medically necessary" state healthcare, such as:
- emergency treatment and visits to A&E
- treatment or routine care for long-term or pre-existing conditions
- routine maternity care (unless you're going abroad to give birth)
Some treatments, such as kidney dialysis or chemotherapy, need to be arranged in advance with the provider abroad. The doctors in the country you're visiting decide whether treatment is medically necessary.
What it does not cover
- being flown back to the UK (medical repatriation)
- treatment in a private hospital or clinic
- ski or mountain rescue
- any charges a local resident would also pay
That's why the NHS recommends having private travel and medical insurance as well as the card.
At the hospital
- Make sure you're at a state (public) provider, not a private one. The card only works in the state system.
- Show your GHIC or EHIC (or PRC) and some ID.
- Keep every receipt and document.
In some countries you pay upfront and claim back later. Some ask for a co-payment (a patient's share). You can't get that share refunded.
Claiming a refund
If you paid for care your card should have covered, you can claim from NHS Overseas Healthcare Services. You fill in a refund form and send it with receipts. See the NHSBSA refund page. If you think you were charged wrongly, keep invoices, proof it was state care, payment records and discharge papers.
Before you travel
- Check the GOV.UK country healthcare guides for how care works where you're going.
- Read the FCDO travel advice.
- Check your card's expiry date and renew if needed.