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Definition. The EHIC is the European Health Insurance Card. It proves that you are entitled to medically necessary treatment in EU countries, the EEA and Switzerland on the same terms as insured people in the host country. It requires statutory health insurance and does not include repatriation. It covers necessary treatment during a temporary stay.
What the card covers and what it does not
The card covers necessary treatment that arises during a temporary stay. It is not travel health insurance and does not replace a policy for stays abroad. Planned treatment that could be postponed until you return home is often not covered either. The card does not pay for repatriation to Germany.
Who applies for the card
Your statutory health insurance fund issues the card. Privately insured people usually do not receive it, because their cover runs through their contract. Before a stay abroad, check whether you are statutorily insured and whether you have the card.
Figures 2026 and their sources
The card itself has no price, and the fact base contains no figure for it. There is a figure for German cover, though: the general contribution rate of statutory health insurance is 14.6 percent in 2026 (§ 241 SGB V, GKV-Spitzenverband fact sheet on 2026 reference figures). The card requires such statutory membership.
An example from an Erasmus semester
You study for one semester in Spain and are statutorily insured. When you see a doctor for an acute illness, you show the card. For repatriation to Germany, however, the card is not enough. You need additional travel health insurance for that.
Related terms
- Travel health insurance: Travel health insurance for Erasmus, USA and work and travel (in German)
- Health insurance for Erasmus students: Health insurance abroad during a semester: what applies (in German)
- Private health insurance in the EU: Private health insurance for students in the EU (in German)
- Statutory health insurance abroad: Health insurance with plans abroad (in German)
- Full glossary: Health insurance for students: A to Z glossary (in German)
Frequently asked questions
Does the card also apply in Switzerland and Norway?
The card applies in EU countries, the EEA and Switzerland. Benefits follow the law of the host country, so the scope may vary.
Do I have to apply for the card before my trip?
Yes, apply for it in good time with your statutory health insurance fund. It should be in your papers before you leave.
Does the card replace private supplementary cover?
No, it does not replace supplementary cover. For repatriation and comprehensive benefits abroad, additional insurance makes sense.
Last updated: October 2026. This entry is general information, not individual advice. The German version is authoritative.
Sources: § 241 SGB V, GKV-Spitzenverband, fact sheet on 2026 reference figures. The scope of benefits is governed by EU law and the law of the host country.
