Press release                                                               

                              31 March 2010

YOUR BASIC GUIDE TO THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD (EHIC)

There has been a lot of discussion recently about healthcare rights and some

 confusion about the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), the little blue

 cards that used to be known as E111 forms.  Here is a brief guide to EHIC

 entitlements which should answer some of your questions.  Of course, if you

 still have doubts about EHIC use, you can visit

 www.nhs.co.uk<http://www.nhs.co.uk>, ukinspain.fco.gov.uk or contact your

 local Pension, Benefit and Healthcare Team based at the British Consulates

 in Alicante and Malaga.

Who can get an EHIC?

What does the EHIC cover?

Where can you use the EHIC?

Where can you get the EHIC from?

Resident in UK

Everyone.

All necessary treatment. This means any treatment which allows you to

 continue with your temporary stay in comfort.

State run hospitals, health centres and local GPs in any EEA country outside

 of UK e.g. Spain.

*         online: UK National Health Service  www.ehic.org.uk

* by phone: 0845 606 2030 or +44 191 203 5555 (if outside the UK)

* by post: EHIC Applications, PO Box 1115, Newcastle-Upon-Tyne, NE99 1SW

Resident in Spain

(1)

People paying social security contributions in Spain or in receipt of a

 Spanish benefit and their dependants.

All necessary treatment. This means any treatment which allows you to

 continue with your temporary stay in comfort.

State run hospitals, health centres and local GPs in any EEA country outside

 of Spain e.g. UK

 Local Social Security Office (Instituto Nacional de la Seguridad Social).

 The Spanish EHIC is called a "Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea"

Resident in Spain

(2)

People registered for healthcare in Spain on an E121 form (mainly UK State

 Pensioners or people in receipt of long term incapacity benefit) or an E109

 form and their dependants.

All necessary treatment. This means any treatment which allows you to

 continue with your temporary stay in comfort.

State run hospitals, health centres and local GPs in any EEA country outside

 of Spain e.g. UK. You will need to present your UK issued EHIC to access NHS

 services.

Before 01/05/10, your local Social Security Office in Spain.

After 01/05/10, the UK Department of Health.  You and your dependant should

 receive an application form in the post.

A few other things to remember about EHICs:

-       Residency in this instance refers to your centre of interest.  This

 can be defined by where you spend most of your time, where you work or where

 you have your main ties. -       EHICs offer access to treatment on the same

 basis that health care is normally provided to nationals of that State. -   

    Most EHICs issued by the UK are sent to UK residents, and some of the

 letters that usually accompany a UK resident's EHIC have been sent to UK

 citizens living abroad.  The letters have now been adapted, and all cards

 issued in the future to those living abroad should be catered towards an

 international audience. -       If you are not eligible for a European

 Health Insurance Card, it is advisable to take out private health insurance

 when travelling abroad.

For more information on this press release please contact:

Sally Aston, Consular Communications Officer, British Embassy Madrid, 917 146

 475, sally.aston@fco.gov.uk