How do immigrants to Portugal apply for EU medical insurance card EHIC? How to use it free of charge in other EU countries?

Portuguese citizens or residents who live in Portugal and have a social security identification number or a national health service user number can apply for a European health insurance card. The European health insurance card mainly covers these services: 1, medical visits; 2, prescription drugs; 3, dental treatment. The specific content and see EasyGo easy travel international detailed introduction.

1. who can apply for a European Health Insurance Card?

If you live in Portugal and have a social security identification number or a national health service user number, Portuguese citizens or residents can apply for this European health insurance card. Specifically, it also includes the following groups:

1. Employees, non-working employees, retirees and their families protected by the social security plan;

2, the beneficiaries of the public health subsystem;

3. Beneficiaries of the private health subsystem;

4. NHS users (not linked to social security or public or private health subsystems).

What services are covered by the 2. European Health Insurance Card?

Item 1: Visit

Those who hold EHIC can consult the national health insurance fund of the local country (EU country) and whether there are cooperating doctors who can provide medical services. If you are not familiar with the local medical health plan, you can ask the hotel you are staying at or a local person for help to find a doctor.

Usually a referral from a doctor is required for hospitalization in EU countries, except for emergencies of course. Hospitals in some EU countries may charge a small fee in the first few days, while some hospitals do not charge any fees.

Generally speaking, ambulances are covered by the National Medical Fund, so if an ambulance is needed, EHIC can also provide protection.

Item 2: Prescribing prescription drugs

Health insurance funds in most EU countries cover the cost of prescription drugs in full or to some extent. But like flu, cold medicine or over-the-counter painkillers, these are usually not covered and need to be known in advance.

Item 3: Dental Diagnosis and Treatment

In most cases, EU citizens can enjoy basic and urgent dental treatment through EHIC. However, more complex or expensive dental surgery, such as dentures or crown treatment, is not included in the national medical insurance plan, so EHIC cannot be reimbursed.

In which countries 3. EHIC cards can be used

How should EHIC be used in other EU countries after new immigrants leave Portugal? Although EHIC can make cross-border medical treatment for EU citizens easier, each country will also have some additional regulations for EHIC. Let's give examples of several countries to understand:

1. France

EHIC cardholders can be divided into two categories if they need hospitalization in France.

For treatment in a public hospital or institution, you can show your EHIC card when you are admitted to the hospital. You do not need to pay the deposit in advance, but only need to pay the corresponding medical expenses and hospitalization expenses;

When visiting a private hospital, you need to pay the full cost before applying for reimbursement, which usually ranges from 70% to 80%.

2, Spain

On the website of the Spanish Ministry of Health, you can find a list of public medical centers and hospitals corresponding to EHIC and go to see a doctor. Usually public medical treatment in Spain is provided free of charge, and of course, ambulance transportation is also free.

3. Ireland

Ireland has a system of in-kind welfare health care, so there is no reimbursement system. In case of emergency, EHIC cardholders can go directly to any public hospital for accident and emergency room treatment without any charge for any necessary care.

The above lists the EHIC medical welfare policies of some countries. It can be seen that the emergency treatment of EHIC cardholders during their stay in EU countries is mostly free in public medical institutions. However, it should be noted that EHIC is mainly a guarantee for the need to obtain emergency medical assistance during its stay in EU countries, and does not apply to the situation of going to the country for medical purposes.

At present, both citizens holding Portuguese passports and residents holding gold visas who live legally in Portugal and are protected by the national social security plan can apply for this free and efficient medical insurance card. New immigrants may as well consider trying to apply for it themselves!