EHIC Card — Free Healthcare Across the EU for Polish Residents
How the European Health Insurance Card works for Polish residents. What it covers, what it does not, how to get one, and when you still need travel insurance.
7 min czytaniaEHIC Card — Free Healthcare Across the EU for Polish Residents
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), known in Poland as EKUZ (Europejska Karta Ubezpieczenia Zdrowotnego), gives you access to state-provided healthcare in any EU/EEA country and Switzerland on the same terms as local residents. It is free, easy to obtain, and essential for any trip within Europe.
Yet many Polish travellers do not carry one, either because they do not know it exists or because they confuse it with travel insurance (it is not a replacement).
What the EHIC/EKUZ Covers
The card entitles you to necessary medical treatment during a temporary stay abroad, under the same conditions and costs as residents of the country you are visiting.
Covered
- Emergency room visits
- Doctor consultations in public health system
- Hospital admission for urgent conditions
- Prescribed medications (at local co-payment rates)
- Ambulance services
- Treatment for chronic conditions that require attention during your trip (e.g., dialysis, oxygen therapy)
- Maternity care (if you give birth unexpectedly while travelling)
Not covered
- Private healthcare: The EHIC only works in the public system. A private hospital visit in Spain or Germany is not covered.
- Repatriation: If you need to be flown home, EHIC does not cover air ambulance or medical transport. This alone costs 10,000-50,000 EUR.
- Planned treatment: You cannot travel to Germany specifically for a knee operation on EHIC (there is a separate S2 form for that).
- Dental emergencies: Coverage varies by country. Some cover only pain relief, not full treatment.
- Non-EU countries: Turkey, Egypt, Tunisia, and other popular holiday destinations are not covered.
- Search and rescue: Mountain rescue, sea rescue, and helicopter evacuation are not covered.
Co-payments
Many EU countries charge co-payments that also apply to EHIC holders:
| Country | Co-payment example |
|---|---|
| France | 30% of doctor visit (€7-8 of a €25 visit) |
| Germany | None for most services |
| Spain | None for emergency care |
| Italy | €25-50 for specialist consultations |
| Greece | None for emergency care |
| Sweden | SEK 300-400 (~€25-35) per doctor visit |
| Belgium | ~25% of most medical costs |
You pay the co-payment and are treated the same as a local patient.
How to Get the EKUZ Card
Online application (fastest)
- Go to pacjent.gov.pl (login with Profil Zaufany, mObywatel, or e-dowod)
- Select "Zamow EKUZ"
- Choose the purpose: tourism (turystyka)
- The card is generated as a PDF immediately — print it or keep it on your phone
- Physical card arrives by post in 7-14 days
In person
Visit any NFZ (National Health Fund) branch. Bring your ID. The card is issued on the spot.
By email
Send the completed application form (from nfz.gov.pl) to your regional NFZ branch. Processing takes 5-10 business days.
Validity
- Employed or self-employed: Valid for 3 years (recent change from previous 6-month or 1-year limits)
- Pensioners: Valid for 5 years
- Students: Valid until the end of the academic year
- Unemployed registered at PUP: Valid for 30 days
Who is eligible
Anyone covered by Polish national health insurance (NFZ). This includes:
- Employees (employer pays ZUS contributions)
- Self-employed (paying ZUS themselves)
- Registered unemployed
- Students
- Pensioners
- Family members of insured persons (children, non-working spouses)
EHIC vs Travel Insurance — Why You Need Both
The EHIC is not travel insurance. Here is the gap:
| Situation | EHIC | Travel insurance |
|---|---|---|
| Emergency room visit in Spain | Covered | Covered |
| Private hospital (only option nearby) | Not covered | Covered |
| Medical repatriation to Poland | Not covered | Covered |
| Lost luggage | Not covered | Covered |
| Trip cancellation | Not covered | Covered |
| Mountain rescue (hiking accident) | Not covered | Covered (with add-on) |
| Dental emergency | Partially | Covered |
| Third-party liability | Not covered | Covered |
| Non-EU destinations | Not covered | Covered |
The critical gap is repatriation. If you break your leg skiing in Austria and need an air ambulance to Poland, the cost is 15,000-30,000 EUR. EHIC covers your Austrian hospital stay but not the transport home. Travel insurance covers both.
Real-World Scenarios
Scenario 1: Food poisoning in Barcelona
You visit a public hospital emergency room. With EHIC, you are treated for free (Spain has no co-payment for emergencies). Without EHIC, the hospital bills you directly: 200-500 EUR.
Scenario 2: Broken arm while hiking in Austria
EHIC covers the hospital treatment. But the mountain rescue helicopter that flew you off the trail costs 3,000-5,000 EUR — not covered by EHIC. You need travel insurance with mountain rescue coverage.
Scenario 3: Heart attack in France
Emergency treatment at a French public hospital. EHIC covers 70% (France has a 30% co-payment). Your share is 200-500 EUR for emergency care. Hospital stay: EHIC covers the public ward. If you need repatriation, EHIC does not cover the 20,000 EUR medical flight.
Scenario 4: Illness in Turkey
EHIC does not work in Turkey. Without travel insurance, you pay 100% out of pocket. A Turkish private hospital charges 500-2,000 EUR for a basic illness episode. An ICU stay can reach 5,000-15,000 EUR.
Common Mistakes
- Assuming EHIC replaces insurance: It does not. It supplements it.
- Expired card: Check the validity date before every trip. Renew online in 5 minutes.
- Not carrying it physically: Some hospitals accept the PDF on your phone, but many require the physical card. Print the PDF at minimum.
- Family members: Each person needs their own card, including children.
- UK post-Brexit: The UK now issues a separate Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) for UK residents. Polish EHIC still works in the UK for necessary treatment.
The Financial Bottom Line
The EHIC is free and takes 5 minutes to obtain online. It can save you hundreds or thousands of euros in medical costs. Not carrying one when travelling in the EU is leaving money on the table.
Pair it with travel insurance (50-200 PLN per trip) for complete coverage. Track both the insurance cost and any medical co-payments in Freenance as part of your trip budget.
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