The so-called European Health Card is the entry point for European citizens to receive medical and health care in all those countries that make up the European Commission. Until a few years ago, the only way to apply for the European Health Card was based on the CAISS, the Social Security Information and Attention Centers. Although today this route is still valid by prior appointment, the most comfortable way to request the card remotely is based on going to the Internet , and more specifically on the MUFACE page or through the Social Security page authorized by the Government from Spain.
Table of Contents
So you can apply for the European Health Card online
How long does it take to get the European Health Card home?
I can't wait 10 days, how can I speed up the receipt of the card?
How much does it cost to apply for the European Health Card online?
How can I renew the European Health Insurance Card?
How long does the European Health Insurance Card last?
Which countries are compatible with the European Health Insurance Card?
What does the European Health Insurance Card really cover?
What does the European Health Insurance Card not cover?
How to request the Provisional Substitute Certificate if you cannot wait 10 days
So you can apply for the European Health Card online
Applying for the European Healthcare Card is really easy. To do this, simply access the Social Security page that the Government has enabled for this purpose.
- Access the European Health Card request form
Within the platform we can see a form like the one we attach just below this paragraph. In this case the process is as simple as filling in the information with our personal data and the postal address where we want to receive the card . Once we have completed all the data, we will click on Accept and then on Send to send the request to the Social Security server.
It should be added that if we do not have our own Social Security affiliation number, we will have to indicate the number of the beneficiary . The most common is that it matches the affiliation number of our father, mother or legal guardian. In this case we will have to check the second or third option in Type of request. Only for beneficiaries in charge of the holder of the right if we are the main responsible parties and For the holder of the right and beneficiaries in her charge if we are the person in charge of the applicant.
After submitting the request, we can follow the issuance process through this link. Within the form we will have to indicate our ID and the reference number assigned after sending the original request.
How long does it take to get the European Health Card home?
The average waiting time is estimated at 10 calendar days from the date of issuance of the application . This time can be extended if there are festive periods.
I can't wait 10 days, how can I speed up the receipt of the card?
Advancing the issuance of the European Health Card is not possible. In this case, it is best to use the Provisional Substitute Certificate , which we will discuss below.
How much does it cost to apply for the European Health Card online?
Ask the EHIC is completely free , either through Internet or through other paths.
How long does the European Health Insurance Card last?
The duration date of the card is usually indicated on the card itself. In any case, the average validity time is usually two years from the date of issue.
How can I renew the European Health Insurance Card?
The process to renew the card in case of expiration coincides with the issuance process . Therefore, the steps to follow do not differ from those we have just indicated in the previous paragraphs.
Which countries are compatible with the European Health Insurance Card?
Countries with full coverage are Germany, Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Denmark, Slovakia, Slovenia, Estonia, Finland, France, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Iceland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Norway, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, the United Kingdom, the Czech Republic, Romania, Sweden and Switzerland.
What does the European Health Insurance Card really cover?
As a general rule, the coverages of the European Health Card coincide with those of any national health card. Emergencies, prescriptions, treatments derived from a disease, health care, outpatient surgeries and hospital surgeries . In some countries, however, there is a co-financed healthcare system, as is the case in Germany.
This means that we will have to pay a part of the total amount of assistance , which generally corresponds to 10%. Later we will be able to claim through a formal request (access this link) to the Social Security the refund of the amount.
What does the European Health Insurance Card not cover?
Social Security has added a series of exceptions that limit the use of the European Health Card to receive health coverage .
The two exceptions set by the Government are based on the following points:
- You will not be able to use the European Health Card to receive specific medical treatment in a foreign country
- You will not be able to use the European Health Card to receive assistance if you are going to change your residence. In this case you will have to request the health card of the corresponding country.
How to request the Provisional Substitute Certificate if you cannot wait 10 days
There is an alternative to the MUFACE European Health Card that allows us to obtain a valid document immediately. We are talking about the Provisional Substitute Certificate, a document that allows us to obtain a maximum of 90 days of assistance from the date of issuance .
- Access the Social Security page
To obtain it through the Internet, we will have to access the Social Security page through a digital certificate issued by the central government or by means of a PIN code .
Within the platform, we will go to the Healthcare section , and more specifically to the European Healthcare Card option.
Finally, we will click on the Provisional Substitute Certificate option and a wizard will automatically open to us that will allow us to select the dates on which we want the certificate to be valid. After this, a certificate will be issued in PDF format that we will have to print later.