UKMy EHIC/GHIC doesn't seem to cover my medical costs abroad. What are my options?
The EHIC/GHIC only covers necessary state-provided healthcare in EU countries and some others — it does not cover private treatment, repatriation, or all costs. You should check your travel insurance, contact your UK GP or NHS for advice, and consider making a claim if care was wrongly denied.
What the Law Says
The Civil Aviation Act 1982 does not govern EHIC/GHIC coverage or healthcare rights abroad — it deals with liability for surface damage caused by aircraft. Your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) or GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) rights come from UK and EU social security coordination rules, not aviation law.
The EHIC and GHIC are issued under reciprocal healthcare agreements. The EHIC remains valid in EU countries for UK residents who were lawfully resident before 1 January 2021. The GHIC replaced it for most new applicants after Brexit and covers medically necessary, state-provided healthcare in EU countries only — not Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, or Switzerland unless separately arranged.
Neither card covers private healthcare, routine maternity care (unless medically necessary), planned treatment abroad without prior authorisation (S2 form), repatriation, or travel-related costs like mountain rescue or lost property. If your card was refused or care denied, you may appeal locally or seek reimbursement via NHS Business Services Authority — but this is administrative, not statutory, under UK law.
Statutory Textc. 16
— Civil Aviation Act 1982, s. 76
What to Do
Check if your destination is covered: GHIC works only in EU countries; EHIC may still be valid in some cases if issued pre-Brexit.
Contact your travel insurer immediately — most policies require prompt notification of medical incidents.
Keep all receipts, prescriptions, and official medical reports — you’ll need them for claims or NHS reimbursement.
Apply for a replacement GHIC free at nhs.uk/ghic if yours is lost, stolen, or expired.
If denied care unfairly, ask the local health authority for a written refusal and contact NHSBSA within 6 months for possible retrospective reimbursement.
Sources
Not legal advice. This article is general information based on publicly available sources, written for educational purposes. Laws change and individual situations vary. Consult a licensed attorney in your jurisdiction before acting on anything you read here. Last reviewed: 2026-06-08.