Having aEHICdoes not mean that treatment in countries that recognize theEuropean He alth Insurance Cardwill be completely free of charge. Each country has its own regulations - in some, treatment is free, in others, the patient bears part of the costs, and in others, you must first pay out of your own pocket and then recover them after returning to the country. However, the EHIC guarantees that the insured person has the right to medical care in the countries of the European Union and the European Free Trade Association (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, Norway) on the same terms as residents of these countries receive treatment.
How do I get and apply for an EHIC?
You can get an application for an EHIC at a branch of the National He alth Fund or download it from the Internet. You can submit an application in 5 ways:
- in person at a branch or delegation of the National He alth Fund;
- by post or fax to a branch or one of the NHF branch offices;
- by scanning and emailing to the provincial branch of the National He alth Fund;
- sending via ePUAP Electronic Inbox;
- via an authorized person - but before that you have to fill in a document authorizing it to be picked up, it is available on the National He alth Fund website.
The EHIC can be obtained by a person insured in the National He alth Fund and an uninsured person who has the right to medical care in Poland on the basis of national regulations.
How long is the EHIC card valid?
The EHIC card validity period varies and amounts to:
5 years for:
- retirees.
12 months for:
- pensioners;
- of people employed;
- people running agricultural and non-agricultural economic activity;
- students registered by the university;
- family members of the he alth insurance contributor (in this case, if you are over 18years, you must provide a document proving your en titlement to benefits).
In the case of temporary departure, the validity period of the card is counted from the date of its issue, and in the case of a work-related departure, the period may start from the day of departure.
6 months for:
- uninsured pregnant women who live in Poland and have Polish citizenship, regardless of whether they have previously paid contributions;
- uninsured pregnant women who live in Poland and have refugee status, temporary residence permit or subsidiary protection;
- uninsured children (people up to 18 years of age) with Polish citizenship (the card expires on the day they turn 18);
- uninsured children living in Poland with refugee status, temporary residence permit or subsidiary protection.
2 months for:
- unemployed people registered in the employment office;
- people who do not belong to any of the above-mentioned groups and have insurance.
90 days for:
- people using social assistance.
42 days for:
- uninsured women up to 6 weeks after giving birth who live in Poland and have Polish citizenship, regardless of whether they have previously paid contributions;
- uninsured women up to 6 weeks after giving birth who live in Poland and have refugee status, temporary residence permit or subsidiary protection.
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What is included in the application for an EHIC?
- details of the person leaving;
- determination of the title to he alth insurance in the National He alth Fund (employment, studies, retirement and disability benefits, etc.);
- data of the person who pays the premium;
- purpose of the trip (temporary stay, looking for a job, to work, etc.);
- all information regarding the trip;
- define the method of receiving the card.
What should be enclosed with the EHIC application?
For people traveling for tourists, the EHIC is issued on the basis of the data contained in the Central Register of Insureds (CWU), without the need to submit additional documents. The exception is people over 18 who continue their education and have the status of a family member - they must present a document confirming that they are studying, e.g. a student or student ID.
In case of justified doubts as to the insurance situationof the person applying for the EHIC, the NFZ Branch is en titled to demand current documents confirming the insurance, which are, for example, RMUA, insurance card, certificate from the employer, application for insurance together with confirmation of payment of the premium.
Additional documents must also be submitted by people who leave abroad in connection with work (they can obtain the appropriate document from ZUS) and the unemployed who go abroad to look for a job (they receive the appropriate document at the Labor Office).
EHIC issue: how long do I have to wait?
If you submit the application in person at the NFZ branch, you will receive the EHIC immediately, although sometimes during the holiday season it may turn out that you have to stand in the queue. In the case of sending the application by post, when the relevant documents are attached, the issuance of the card takes about 3-5 working days from sending the application. The same may take the waiting for the card if you apply by e-mail or fax. It is worth remembering that the NHF branch is obliged to send information on the method of considering the application within 3 days of receiving the message to the e-mail address.
It is safest, especially in summer, to apply for an EHIC even a few weeks before the planned departure.
How to get the EHIC card?
The EHIC can be picked up in three ways:
- in person at a branch or branch of the National He alth Fund,
- at the post office,
- via an authorized person - after completing and signing the application available on the NHF website.
When do you have to pay for treatment abroad despite the EHIC?
The possession of the EHIC card does not exempt you from subsidies to the costs of treatment (e.g. for a visit to a doctor or for each day of stay in a hospital), also incurred by citizens of the country in which you receive assistance. For example, in Germany, a surcharge of EUR 10 is charged for the first visit to a family doctor or dentist in a given quarter. During subsequent visits to the same doctor, it is enough to show proof of payment. The hospital treatment fee is EUR 10 per day of stay, not more than 28 days per year. In France, we must first pay for the treatment, and only then we can apply for an 80% refund. 20 percent we pay out of our own pocket. In Belgium, even in the event of an emergency, no one will reimburse us for an ambulance.
What won't the EHIC give you?
With the EHIC, you are en titled to assistance only in those facilities that operate under the general he alth care system. In most countries, the European He alth Insurance Card does not cover the costs of medical transport to Poland by the National He alth Fund.Illness or an accident abroad may also involve other costs that are not reimbursed, such as accommodation. Therefore, it is worth taking private insurance against these costs.
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Worth knowingIf you lose your EHIC during your trip and you end up in a hospital, fill out an online application for a certificate that will temporarily replace it. Be sure to sign the document. An authorized person can do it for you, but you must sign the appropriate authorization beforehand - both documents are available on the National He alth Fund website.
Then ask the hospital to send the application by fax to any branch of the National He alth Fund - you will receive the certificate, also by fax, within a maximum of 3 working days.