GHIC and travel insurance: what each one covers abroad
Published · 3 min read · Figures checked . UK rules and rates change, so check the official sources below before you act.
The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) and travel insurance are often mixed up. This guide explains what the free GHIC gives you, what it leaves out, and what travel insurance is usually there to cover.
Who this guide is for
This is general information for people in the UK who are planning a trip abroad. It is not advice for your own trip, and it does not cover business or long-term stays abroad. The details below were checked on 12 October 2026.
What the GHIC is
The GHIC is a free card that gives you access to state-provided healthcare in some countries, on the same terms as local residents. The NHS says it covers healthcare that cannot reasonably wait until you are back in the UK, such as emergency treatment, care for long-term or existing conditions, and routine maternity care.
- It is free. The NHS warns that unofficial websites may charge a fee to apply.
- It lasts up to 5 years, and you can apply up to 9 months before your current card runs out.
- Each family member needs their own card.
- You must be ordinarily and legally resident in the UK, and not have healthcare cover from an EEA country or Switzerland.
- Applicants in Northern Ireland use their Health and Care number.
Where it works
The NHS lists the UK GHIC as valid in EEA countries, Montenegro, Australia, Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, St Helena, Tristan da Cunha and Ascension. It works in Switzerland only for certain nationality or status groups. In other countries you pay for treatment unless the UK has a healthcare agreement with that country. You may have to pay upfront and claim some money back, and you must use a state provider, not a private one.
What the GHIC does not cover
- Flying you back to the UK (repatriation).
- Treatment in private medical facilities.
- Ski or mountain rescue.
- Costs that a local resident would also have to pay, such as a patient share.
The NHS says some treatments, such as kidney dialysis or chemotherapy, should be arranged with the provider before you travel. Whether treatment is medically necessary is decided by the local provider.
What travel insurance is for
GOV.UK says travel insurance should cover your existing health conditions and the activities you plan, and it advises reading the exclusions first. It gives examples of how costly care can be without cover, including £25,000 or more for a broken leg in Spain and £150,000 or more for a serious infection treated in a US hospital. These are examples from GOV.UK, not quotes.
- The full length of the trip, as many policies limit trip length or annual days abroad.
- Emergency transport, which is often charged separately.
- Repatriation, including costs if you or a family member die abroad.
- Every country you visit, including stops on the way.
Medical conditions need to be declared, including ones under investigation. GOV.UK says that failing to declare something may invalidate your cover. Insurance may also be affected if the FCDO advises against all but essential travel to a destination. People with serious medical conditions may need a specialist insurer.
If you have no card with you
A Provisional Replacement Certificate gives the same cover as a card if you need emergency treatment and do not have one, or your card has not arrived. Without a card or certificate you pay in full, so asking for an invoice and receipt matters if you want to claim later.
Check before you act
Rules, covered countries and policy terms change, so it can be worth confirming the details on the official pages linked below before you travel.
Sources
For information only. See our disclaimer and editorial standards. Spotted an error? Tell us.
