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European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is the free of charge, personal and non-transferable document, which proves the right to receive the health benefits that are necessary, from a medical point of view, during a temporary stay in the territory of Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, the United Kingdom, Switzerland or any of the countries belonging to the European Union, taking into account the nature of the benefits and the duration of the planned stay, in accordance with the legislation of the country of stay, regardless of whether the purpose of the stay is tourism, a professional activity or studies.
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is not valid when the purpose of the trip is to receive medical treatment, in which case it is necessary for the National Social Security Institute (INSS), or the Social Marine Institute (ISM), to issue the corresponding form after receiving a favourable report from the Health Service. Neither will the document be valid if you change your residence to the territory of a different member State.
In certain cases, you will have to pay a fixed amount or percentage of healthcare expenses, in line with the conditions applicable to residents in the State to which you are travelling. These amounts are not reimbursable.
For more information please visit: https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=1021&langId=es
The EHIC can be requested
Entitlement holders and their dependent beneficiaries who meet the requirements in accordance with Spanish law and Social Security Community Regulations.
Application and Renewal
Information on how to apply for the card.
You can apply for or renew your European Health Insurance Card, or that of your beneficiaries, at the Social Security e-Office. We will send it directly to your home address if your address is the same as the one you have registered in Affiliation. If you need us to send it to a different address in Spain, and you have your telephone number registered with us, it can request by having a code sent to your mobile phone. If you have an electronic certificate or cl@ve you can also apply for it here. Remember that if the European Health Insurance Card is for one of your beneficiaries, it is you who must apply for it.
European Health Insurance Card without digital certificate
European Health Insurance Card with SMS
European Health Insurance Card with digital certificate
Irrespective of the EHIC application method, it will be sent to your address within 5 days. Under no circumstances will it be delivered by hand.
When the issue of the EHC is not possible, or if the travel is imminent, the EHC Card Provisional Substitute can be requested.
Validity
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is valid until the expiry date shown on the card. Use of the EHIC during its validity period is subject to the holder continuing to meet the requirements under which the card was issued. Otherwise, expenses incurred may be recovered as undue benefits, in accordance with the provisions of article 76 of Regulation (EC) 883/04.
It is important that you ensure that you have an EHIC and that its validity period includes the planned return date before travelling to another country in the European Economic Area (1) or Switzerland. If not, request a new EHIC to guarantee your health care cover during your stay.
(1) Countries in which the EHIC is valid:
Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, United Kingdom, Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland.
Information note for printing
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25/03/2021 |