Why the GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance

As the NHS clearly advises: “The UK GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. We advise you to have private travel and medical insurance for the duration of your trip.”

Here, we explain what the GHIC does – and doesn’t – cover, and why travel insurance is still essential when heading abroad.

What is the GHIC?

The GHIC is a free card issued via the NHS website that lets you access state healthcare when visiting countries in the EU. It replaced the old EHIC for most UK citizens after Brexit.

With a valid GHIC, you’re entitled to healthcare in the same way as a local resident. This means you may receive treatment for free or at a reduced cost – depending on how that country’s healthcare system works.

The GHIC is available to most UK residents and can be used in any country in the European Economic Area (EEA), plus Switzerland, Australia, Montenegro, Jersey, Guernsey, the Isle of Man, St Helena, Tristan and Ascension.

Don’t have yours yet? You can apply for a GHIC on the official NHS website. It lasts for up to five years, and you can reapply up to nine months before your current card expires. This is a free card and application service. Be cautious of unofficial websites that may charge a fee to process your application. When you apply, you can add the details of your spouse / civil partner and children for their own cards too.

What does the GHIC actually cover?

The GHIC is designed to give you access to state-provided healthcare if you become ill or have an accident while visiting a country covered by the scheme.

Here’s what it typically covers:

• Emergency treatment and A&E visits for illnesses or injuries.

• Care for pre-existing or long-term conditions if treatment can’t wait until you return to the UK.

• Routine maternity care as long as you’re not travelling to give birth.

But there are key limits:

• It only covers public healthcare, not private.

• You may still have to pay part of the cost (for example, if residents usually pay a fee).

• It doesn’t cover repatriation (the cost of getting you back to the UK if you’re unwell).

• It doesn’t include non-healthcare issues like cancellations or lost luggage.

That’s why relying solely on the GHIC could leave you out of pocket.

Why travel insurance is still essential

Even with a GHIC, a medical emergency abroad could leave you facing significant costs. Travel insurance offers vital protection in situations where the GHIC won’t go far enough. This includes:

• Private medical treatment: If you’re taken to a private hospital, intentionally or in an emergency, travel insurance can cover the costs, which GHIC won’t.

• Extended stays due to illness or injury: If you’re too unwell to travel home as planned, your insurer may help cover extra accommodation and travel expenses.

• Medical repatriation: Travel insurance can pay for your return to the UK if medically necessary, including air ambulance services if required.

• Cancelling or cutting short your trip: If illness strikes before you travel or during your trip, travel insurance can reimburse costs for cancelled flights, hotels or excursions.

• Personal liability: If you accidentally injure someone or cause property damage while abroad – perhaps due to a medical incident like fainting or a fall – your policy may cover legal costs or compensation.

GHIC has its place, but it doesn’t offer the complete safety net that travel insurance provides when health problems disrupt your trip.

What about other types of cover?

As well as health-related benefits, travel insurance offers much broader protection. Depending on your policy, you could be covered for:

• Lost, stolen or damaged possessions.

• Lost or stolen money.

• Travel disruption due to weather, strikes or airline failure.

• Other holiday features and activities like winter sports or cruise cover.

Without this protection, even a small mishap could turn into a costly headache.

Can I travel with just a GHIC?

You can – but you’ll be taking a risk. The GHIC is a useful backup for accessing public healthcare in Europe, but it doesn’t offer full financial protection.

Travel insurance helps cover the unexpected, the things that can’t be planned for. From broken bones to food poisoning, trip cancellations to emergency flights home, it’s your safety net when things go wrong.

Remember, you should always get travel insurance before you travel. That way, if you can no longer travel due to illness, injury or bereavement, for example, you can typically cancel and recoup all or some of the costs.

Making sure you're fully covered

The Global Health Insurance Card is a helpful tool if you need basic public healthcare while travelling in the area covered. But the NHS itself makes it clear: the UK GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance.

A good travel insurance policy gives you peace of mind that help is available – not just for health emergencies, but for the many other things that can go wrong on holiday.

Before your next trip, make sure you’ve packed both your GHIC and your travel insurance documents.