Learning objective: To explain the foundations and applications of the European Health Insurance Card across member states and healthcare systems.
FOUNDATIONS OF THE EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD
The European Health Insurance Card (Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea, documento de asistencia sanitaria en la Unión Europea) is a standardized card that certifies the right of individuals to receive necessary healthcare when temporarily staying in another member state. It was created within the framework of the European Union (Unión Europea, organización política y económica de Europa) to ensure continuity of medical protection beyond national borders. The EHIC (sigla de European Health Insurance Card, tarjeta de salud internacional) covers medical attention under the public healthcare system of the host country, following the same conditions and costs applied to its residents. Its purpose is not to offer private coverage but to harmonize access to public health across regions. Importantly, the EHIC does not substitute a comprehensive travel insurance policy; it excludes private treatments, mountain rescue services, or repatriation expenses. By defining these limits, the card provides a balanced mechanism of solidarity among European citizens. 🌍
APPLICATIONS AND COMPARATIVE CONTEXTS
The EHIC demonstrates its relevance when comparing healthcare systems across Europe. In countries with universal public healthcare, such as Spain (España, país del suroeste de Europa), the card grants visitors the same rights as locals, facilitating access to doctors and hospitals without additional paperwork. In states where public healthcare is mixed with private systems, the EHIC ensures that foreign patients receive treatment under the public track, though they may still face co-payments. From a cultural perspective, the card reflects the European Union’s principle of integration and mobility, allowing students, workers, and tourists to travel with reduced health insecurity. Geographically, the EHIC fosters equality by applying the same mechanism whether in central regions like Germany (Alemania, país de Europa central) or peripheral states like Portugal (Portugal, país del suroeste de Europa). Institutionally, it symbolizes cooperation between national health agencies, as each state recognizes and bills healthcare through standardized procedures. Thus, the EHIC not only protects individuals but also embodies the shared values of solidarity, freedom of movement, and regional cohesion. 💡
Sources
- European Commission. “European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).” europa.eu. https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=559
- Ministerio de Sanidad de España. “Tarjeta Sanitaria Europea.” sanidad.gob.es
My Diary - Leonardo Cardillo 