Key points at a glance
- The EHIC is valid in 31 states: the 27 EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and the United Kingdom (Common Institution under the Federal Health Insurance Act).
- It covers unforeseen, medically necessary treatment for illness, accident or maternity during a temporary stay.
- You receive benefits under the law of the country you are staying in, i.e. with its payment rules and co-payments.
- Outside these states, basic health insurance pays for emergencies up to a maximum of twice the amount the treatment would cost in Switzerland (Art. 36 para. 4 KVV).
What is the European Health Insurance Card?
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is your proof that you have basic health insurance in Switzerland. It applies when you are temporarily in one of the states with which Switzerland coordinates health insurance: the 27 EU states, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and the United Kingdom. Temporarily means a holiday, business trip, visit or short stay after which you return to Switzerland.
With the card, you are entitled in the country you are staying in to the medically necessary benefits that become unexpectedly necessary during your stay, for illness, accident or maternity. You are treated like a person with statutory insurance in that country. The card is part of basic health insurance under the Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG/LAMal); you do not need supplementary insurance for it.
With most health insurers, the EHIC is printed on the back of your health insurance card. In that case, the card numbers on both sides are identical.
How it works
If you need a doctor or a hospital abroad, you show your EHIC. It is important that you go to service providers that belong to the statutory system of the country you are staying in. Private clinics and private doctors often do not accept the card.
Billing follows the rules of the country you are staying in. This has three consequences:
- Different co-payment. You pay the retention fee, flat charge or co-payment that applies to insured persons there. These amounts differ from country to country and are not offset against your Swiss deductible.
- Different payment methods. In some states, the local health insurance fund pays directly; in others, you pay the bill up front and claim reimbursement.
- Different scope of benefits. Anything that is not part of statutory insurance there is not covered with the EHIC either.
The Common Institution under the Federal Health Insurance Act (Gemeinsame Einrichtung KVG) handles coordination between Switzerland and the partner states as the liaison body.
Outside the EU/EFTA and the United Kingdom, the EHIC is not valid. Basic health insurance only pays for emergencies there, up to a maximum of twice the amount that would be reimbursed for the same treatment in Switzerland. Basic health insurance only pays rescue costs for rescues in Switzerland, where it covers 50% up to a maximum of CHF 5,000 a year. The EHIC does not cover repatriation from abroad.
Legal basis
For relations with the EU, Art. 95a KVG declares the Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons with Annex II, and thus Regulations (EC) No 883/2004 and 987/2009, applicable; the same applies to Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway via the EFTA Convention. These regulations govern what is known as international benefits assistance: the country you are staying in provides the benefits, and the Swiss health insurer bears the costs.
Art. 3 para. 2 of the Ordinance on the Health Insurance Card (VVK) allows the EHIC to be printed on the back of the health insurance card, with an identical card number. For emergencies outside these states, Art. 36 paras. 2 and 4 of the Health Insurance Ordinance (KVV) apply: an emergency exists if you need treatment during a temporary stay abroad and returning home is not appropriate; the insurer covers at most twice the Swiss amount. Art. 27 of the Health Care Benefits Ordinance (KLV) limits the contribution to rescue costs to rescues in Switzerland.
Example: emergency in Italy and in the USA
Sophie, 30, has a deductible of CHF 300 and has already used it up this year. She falls ill twice while travelling and has to go to hospital. The amounts are assumed in order to illustrate the rules.
| Holiday in Italy, with EHIC | Holiday in the USA | |
|---|---|---|
| Bill on the spot | according to the Italian tariff | CHF 15,000 |
| Same treatment in Switzerland | – | CHF 2,000 |
| Basic health insurance pays | costs according to the Italian system | at most CHF 4,000 (twice the Swiss amount) |
| Sophie’s share | Italian co-payment | at least CHF 11,000 plus a 10% retention fee on the covered part |
What this means for you
- Check the back of your health insurance card before you travel, including the expiry date. If the EHIC is missing, order it from your health insurer.
- Always carry the card with you, not just in your suitcase.
- Go to service providers in the state system and keep all bills and receipts.
- Clarify your cover abroad for trips outside Europe. Some supplementary insurance policies include it; travel insurance is an alternative.
The EHIC is part of basic health insurance with every insurer, and the entitlement is the same everywhere. When choosing your basic health insurance, you can therefore decide based on the premium; the premium calculator shows the offers. You can find out which insurer offers which cover abroad in supplementary insurance via the profiles under Health insurers. If you live abroad and work in Switzerland, separate rules apply, see cross-border commuters.
Common mistakes
- Showing the front of your health insurance card. Abroad, only the EHIC on the back counts.
- Choosing a private clinic. Many private providers do not accept the EHIC, in which case you pay yourself.
- Travelling to the USA or Asia with the EHIC. It is not valid there, and basic health insurance only pays up to twice the Swiss tariff.
- Forgetting about repatriation. The EHIC does not cover transport back to Switzerland.
We explain how we compare offers under How we calculate.
Frequently asked questions
Where do I get the European Health Insurance Card?
From your health insurer. With most insurers, it is printed on the back of your health insurance card. If it is missing, order it from your insurer, ideally a few weeks before you travel.
Do I have to pay anything myself abroad with the EHIC?
Often, yes. You pay the co-payment that applies to people insured in the country you are staying in, and sometimes you have to pay the bill up front. You then claim reimbursement through your health insurer or the office in the country you are staying in.
Does the EHIC cover planned surgery abroad?
No. The EHIC only covers treatment that becomes necessary unexpectedly during your stay. If you deliberately go abroad for treatment, you need your health insurer’s approval in advance.
Do I still need travel insurance if I have an EHIC?
The EHIC only entitles you to treatment in the country you are staying in, not to repatriation or private treatment. For repatriation, travel outside Europe or higher costs, you need travel insurance or supplementary insurance.
Related terms
- Cover abroadCover abroad is what your health insurance pays if you fall ill or have an accident outside Switzerland. When you travel, basic health insurance only pays for emergency treatment: in the EU, EFTA and the UK via the European Health Insurance Card, elsewhere at most twice the Swiss amount, and in hospital at most 90% of the Swiss costs. It does not cover repatriation.
- Health insurance cardThe health insurance card is the card your health insurer issues to you for basic health insurance. It shows, among other things, your name, your AHV number, the insurer and an expiry date. You show it at every doctor’s visit, at the pharmacy and in hospital. The back often carries the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
- Cross-border commuterCross-border commuters live abroad, work in Switzerland and usually return to their place of residence every day or at least once a week. If you come from an EU or EFTA state or the United Kingdom, you generally have to take out health insurance in Switzerland within three months of starting work. If you live in Germany, France, Italy or Austria, you can choose your country of residence instead.
- Common Institution KVG (Gemeinsame Einrichtung KVG)The Common Institution under the Federal Health Insurance Act (Gemeinsame Einrichtung KVG) is a foundation set up by all health insurers and based in Olten. It carries out tasks that no single insurer can take on: it runs risk equalisation, pays benefits if an insurer becomes insolvent, and looks after insured persons with links to the EU, EFTA states and the United Kingdom.
- International studentsInternational students in Switzerland are in principle required to take out health insurance, but can be exempted if they have equivalent cover. Students from the EU, EFTA and the United Kingdom who do not work stay in their home system with the European Health Insurance Card. Students from other countries apply to the canton for an exemption, for a maximum of three plus three years.
Sources
- Federal Health Insurance Act (KVG), Art. 95aArt. 95a KVGfedlex.admin.ch
- Health Insurance Ordinance (KVV), Art. 36Art. 36 KVVfedlex.admin.ch
- Ordinance on the Health Insurance Card (VVK), Art. 3Art. 3 para. 2 VVKfedlex.admin.ch
- Health Care Benefits Ordinance (KLV), Art. 27Art. 27 KLVfedlex.admin.ch
- Agreement on the Free Movement of Persons (AFMP), Annex IIfedlex.admin.ch
- Common Institution under the Federal Health Insurance Act (Gemeinsame Einrichtung KVG): Stay in the EU/EFTAkvg.org