European Health Insurance Card vs Travel Insurance: What Actually Covers You

Many travellers assume that because the European Health Insurance Card is free and official-looking, it provides comprehensive coverage. It does not — and the gap between what the card covers and what actually happens during a medical emergency abroad can mean a bill of tens of thousands of euros. Here is exactly what each document does and does not cover.

What the EHIC actually is

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC, also called CEASS in Romanian) is a document issued free of charge by your national health insurance authority. In Romania, you apply through CNAS at cardeuropean.ro — the card is free and valid for up to 24 months.

What it gives you: the right to necessary medical treatment during a temporary stay in another EU member state, the EEA (Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway), Switzerland, and the UK — under the same conditions as local residents.

The word "necessary" is important. It means treatment for an acute problem that arises during your trip — not treatment you travelled specifically to receive, and not anything beyond what the local public system provides.

What the EHIC covers — and does not cover

The gaps that cost people the most

Medical repatriation — the most expensive gap

If you are seriously ill or injured abroad and need to be transported home, the EHIC does not contribute a single euro. A medical air ambulance from Western Europe back to Romania costs €15,000–30,000. From the USA or Asia, considerably more. This cost falls entirely on your family unless you have a private policy.

Travel insurance covers repatriation completely, including accompanying family members if needed.

Private hospitals — the gap you hit in tourist areas

In many popular tourist destinations, the conveniently located clinics near beach resorts and ski slopes are private. In Rhodes, Crete, Antalya, and similar tourist-heavy areas, the nearest hospital may well be private — and the EHIC does not cover private treatment anywhere.

When you arrive at a hospital abroad, ask specifically whether they are part of the public system before receiving treatment. If they are private and you only have the EHIC, you will pay out of pocket.

Mountain and ski resort accidents

If you ski in France, Austria, or Bulgaria, the first-aid infrastructure on most ski slopes operates privately. The EHIC covers none of it. A helicopter rescue from a ski slope in the Alps can cost €3,000–8,000. A standard winter sports extension to your travel insurance costs €5–15 extra and covers it completely.

The same logic applies to water sports, quad biking, paragliding, and any activity where accidents happen in private medical facilities.

The UK — no longer covered the same way

Since Brexit, the UK is technically still in the EHIC scheme (bilaterally with most EU countries), but the coverage is more limited and less predictable than within the EU. For full protection in the UK, a private travel insurance policy is the safer option.

Real costs of medical emergencies abroad — without insurance

These are actual cost ranges for medical situations that travellers encounter:

The EHIC covers the Germany appendicitis scenario reasonably well — public hospital, EU country. It covers nothing in Turkey, Greece (private), France (rescue), USA, or Egypt.

How much does travel insurance cost

For comparison with the potential costs above:

Indicative prices for adults 18–65, individual policy, medical cover + baggage + repatriation. Winter sports add €5–15. Over-65s: prices increase 50–100%.

Annual multi-trip policy: €120–250/year, covers all journeys (typically with a cap of 30–45 days per trip). Worth it from 3+ trips per year.

The seven most common mistakes travellers make

1. "I have the EHIC, I'm covered"

False. The EHIC covers only public hospitals in the EU. An ambulance in Germany, repatriation from Portugal, or any treatment in Turkey costs thousands of euros with no EHIC contribution.

2. "My credit card includes travel insurance"

Sometimes partially true. Many Gold and Platinum cards include travel insurance benefits, but with low coverage limits (€10,000–25,000), requirements to have paid the flight with that specific card, and significant exclusions for pre-existing conditions. Check your card's terms document — the coverage is often insufficient for serious situations.

3. "I'm only going for a 3-day city break, I don't need it"

Trip duration does not affect the probability of an accident. A broken wrist on cobblestones in Prague or food poisoning in Istanbul can happen on day one. A 3-day policy for Europe costs €5–8.

4. "I'll buy it at the airport before the flight"

You can, but airport insurance desks have significantly higher prices (commission-based) and you risk forgetting. Buy online 2–3 days before departure — it takes five minutes and costs less.

5. "I'm driving to Greece, I don't need travel insurance"

Yes, you do. Your car insurance (RCA/CASCO) covers the vehicle. Travel insurance covers you — your health, your luggage, and your ability to cancel and recover costs if something goes wrong. They are entirely different products.

6. "I won't declare my pre-existing condition — they'll never know"

This is the most dangerous mistake. If you have a medical emergency related to an undeclared pre-existing condition, the insurer can legally refuse the claim — and they have access to medical databases. Declare everything. The additional premium is small (€5–15 extra) and the difference in claim acceptance is enormous.

7. "I'll go to the hospital first, then claim later"

Wrong. Call the insurer's 24/7 emergency line first. They will direct you to network hospitals (where payment is handled directly between the insurer and hospital) and pre-authorise treatment. If you walk into a private hospital without prior authorisation, you may pay out of pocket and face complications with reimbursement.

The right approach: use both

The practical recommendation is not to choose between the EHIC and travel insurance — it is to use both:

Get the EHIC free from CNAS (apply at cardeuropean.ro, valid 24 months). Keep it in your wallet on every trip. It supplements your insurance and can cover public hospital treatment in EU countries at no cost to either you or your insurer.

Buy travel insurance for every trip outside Romania — EU or non-EU. The cost is small relative to what it protects. For an EU city break, you need €12–20. For Turkey or the UK, €15–30. For the USA, €35–70.

The EHIC is the floor. Travel insurance is the ceiling. You want both.

What to look for in a travel insurance policy

When comparing policies, check specifically:

Medical cover amount: minimum €30,000 for EU/Schengen (required for Schengen visa), €50,000+ for worldwide, €100,000+ for USA/Canada.

Repatriation: must be explicitly listed, with no sub-limit that would make it effectively useless.

Pre-existing conditions: does the policy cover them if declared? What is the additional premium?

Activities: are your planned activities covered? Skiing, scuba diving, cycling, and water sports require explicit confirmation.

Cancellation: is trip cancellation included or an add-on? What situations trigger it?

Direct payment vs reimbursement: policies that pay the hospital directly (rather than reimbursing you later) are significantly easier to use in a crisis.

For Schengen visa applications specifically, the insurance requirements are stricter — read the complete guide: travel insurance for Schengen visa — exact requirements.

For the full travel insurance guide covering all policy types, costs, and how to choose: travel insurance guide 2026.