GHIC vs Travel Insurance: What’s the Difference?
A GHIC and travel insurance are not the same thing. A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) gives eligible travellers access to medically necessary state healthcare in participating countries, while travel insurance can provide much wider protection for things such as medical repatriation, cancellation, lost belongings and travel disruption, depending on the policy.
For many trips, particularly within Europe, it isn’t necessarily a choice between a GHIC and travel insurance. They provide different types of protection and the NHS advises travellers to have appropriate travel and medical insurance as well as a GHIC or valid EHIC.
GHIC vs Travel Insurance at a Glance
| GHIC | Travel Insurance | |
|---|---|---|
| Access to eligible state healthcare | Yes, where eligible | Not its primary purpose |
| Emergency medical expenses | Limited to eligible state healthcare arrangements | May be covered |
| Private medical treatment | No | May be covered |
| Medical repatriation to the UK | No | May be covered |
| Holiday cancellation | No | May be covered |
| Lost or stolen baggage | No | May be covered |
| Travel disruption | No | May be covered |
| Personal liability | No | May be covered |
What Is a GHIC?
A UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) allows eligible UK residents to access medically necessary state healthcare when visiting participating countries.
Healthcare is provided on the same basis as it would be to a resident of the country you’re visiting. This means treatment may be free, but you may also have to pay charges that local residents are expected to pay.
A GHIC is free to apply for through the NHS and is normally valid for up to five years.
The GHIC replaced the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for most UK residents following the UK’s departure from the European Union, although some people may still hold a valid EHIC or qualify for a new UK EHIC.
What Does a GHIC Cover?
A GHIC provides access to medically necessary state healthcare that cannot reasonably wait until you return to the UK.
This can include:
- emergency medical treatment
- treatment for long term or pre existing medical conditions
- routine care needed for existing conditions
- routine maternity care, provided you’re not travelling specifically to give birth
- certain treatments such as dialysis or chemotherapy where arrangements have been made in advance
Whether treatment is considered medically necessary is decided by the healthcare provider in the country you’re visiting.
A GHIC does not necessarily mean all treatment will be free. If residents of the country normally pay towards their state healthcare, you may have to pay the same charges.
What Doesn't a GHIC Cover?
A GHIC provides useful healthcare protection, but there are significant costs and situations it doesn’t cover.
In particular, a GHIC does not cover:
- private medical treatment
- medical repatriation to the UK
- ski or mountain rescue
It also isn’t designed to provide the wider protection associated with travel insurance, such as holiday cancellation, lost or stolen baggage or other insured travel disruption.
This is why the NHS and UK government make clear that a GHIC should not be treated as a replacement for travel insurance.
What Does Travel Insurance Cover That a GHIC Doesn't?
Travel insurance can provide protection against a much wider range of problems that could occur before or during your holiday.
Depending on the policy, this may include:
- emergency medical expenses
- medical repatriation to the UK
- cancelling or cutting short your holiday
- lost, stolen or damaged baggage
- certain delays and travel disruption
- personal liability
- additional expenses following an insured emergency
The exact protection varies considerably between policies, including the limits, excesses and exclusions that apply.
Some activities may also require additional or specialist cover, particularly winter sports, cruises and certain adventure activities.
For a more detailed breakdown, see our What Does Travel Insurance Cover? guide.
Do I Still Need Travel Insurance If I Have a GHIC?
Having a GHIC doesn’t provide the same protection as travel insurance. The GHIC helps with eligible state healthcare, whereas travel insurance can protect against additional medical and non-medical costs, depending on your policy.
One of the most important differences is medical repatriation.
If you become seriously ill or injured and need to be transported back to the UK, a GHIC does not cover the cost. Appropriate travel insurance may provide repatriation cover, subject to the terms of the policy.
Travel insurance may also provide protection for circumstances completely outside the scope of a GHIC, including cancellation and lost belongings.
If you’re unsure whether insurance is necessary for your trip, see our Do I Need Travel Insurance? guide.
Do I Need a GHIC If I Have Travel Insurance?
Having travel insurance doesn’t necessarily make a GHIC unnecessary.
A GHIC can provide access to medically necessary state healthcare in participating countries on the same terms as local residents, while your travel insurance provides the protection included within your particular policy.
The FCDO also notes that some insurers may waive an excess for medical treatment when a GHIC or EHIC is used, although this depends entirely on the insurer and policy.
For eligible travellers visiting a country where the GHIC is accepted, having both can therefore provide different forms of protection.
Always check the terms of your travel insurance rather than assuming that holding a GHIC changes what your policy covers.
Is an EHIC the Same as a GHIC?
A UK EHIC and UK GHIC provide access to medically necessary state healthcare abroad, but they are not exactly the same and can be valid in different countries.
For most people in the UK, the GHIC has replaced the old EHIC. However, if you still have an eligible UK-issued EHIC that has not expired, you may be able to continue using it until its expiry date.
Some people covered by the Withdrawal Agreement may also qualify for a new UK EHIC rather than a GHIC.
If your existing EHIC is approaching expiry, check the current NHS eligibility rules to see which card you should apply for.
Where Can I Use a GHIC?
A UK GHIC can be used in the European Economic Area (EEA) and a number of other countries and territories that have applicable healthcare arrangements with the UK.
This includes popular holiday destinations such as Spain, Portugal, Greece, France, Italy and Cyprus.
There are also arrangements covering some destinations outside the EEA, but the rules aren’t identical everywhere and eligibility can vary.
You should therefore check the latest NHS guidance for the country you’re visiting rather than assuming your GHIC is valid simply because you’re travelling somewhere in Europe.
Do I Need a GHIC for Europe?
If you’re eligible for a GHIC and travelling to a participating European country, taking a valid card gives you access to medically necessary state healthcare under the applicable arrangements.
However, a GHIC still doesn’t replace travel insurance.
For example, you could receive eligible state healthcare using your GHIC but still face costs associated with medical repatriation, changed travel arrangements or other circumstances that the card doesn’t cover.
Before travelling, check whether your destination accepts the GHIC and make sure your card will remain valid for your trip.
GHIC vs Travel Insurance for a Package Holiday
Booking a package holiday doesn’t change the distinction between a GHIC and travel insurance.
If your package is ATOL protected, you could potentially have three different types of protection working in different ways:
GHIC – access to eligible state healthcare while abroad.
Travel insurance – protection against the risks covered by your individual policy, potentially including medical expenses, repatriation, cancellation and baggage.
ATOL protection – financial protection for qualifying flight-inclusive package holidays if the ATOL holder stops trading.
ATOL protection therefore doesn’t replace either a GHIC or travel insurance. You can read more in our What Is ATOL Protection and How Does It Work? guide.
GHIC and Travel Insurance FAQs
Yes. A valid UK GHIC can be used to access medically necessary state healthcare in Spain under the applicable arrangements.
It doesn’t cover private healthcare or medical repatriation and isn’t a replacement for travel insurance.
A UK GHIC does not provide healthcare cover in every European country. Check the current NHS and GOV.UK healthcare guidance for Turkey before travelling and make sure you have appropriate travel insurance.
No. A GHIC covers eligible state provided healthcare, not treatment in private medical facilities.
If you need medical treatment abroad, make sure the provider you’re using is part of the state healthcare system if you intend to use your GHIC.
No. A GHIC does not cover the cost of transporting you back to the UK because of illness, injury or death.
Appropriate travel insurance may provide medical repatriation cover, subject to the terms, conditions and limits of the policy.
Before You Travel
A GHIC and travel insurance provide different types of protection. A GHIC can provide eligible travellers with access to medically necessary state healthcare in participating countries, while appropriate travel insurance can protect against additional risks that a GHIC doesn’t cover.
Before travelling, check that your GHIC is valid for your destination and read your travel insurance policy carefully so you understand its limits, exclusions and requirements.
Useful official information: NHS guidance on getting healthcare cover abroad with a UK GHIC or EHIC and FCDO guidance on foreign travel insurance.
Related Guides
Peter - Deal Finder
Peter, based in Belfast, is our content creator and deal finder. With years of experience in the travel industry, Peter is able to spot a top deal quickly. His favourite destination is the Algarve in Portugal because of the beautiful sandy beaches and pleasant all year around weather.
