European Health Insurance Card
An EHIC card is a proof that you are insured in an EU country, including Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
In the Czech Republic, the EHIC card is issued automatically with your national health card by your Public health insurance provider. If you are an EU citizen, you receive a blue EHIC card valid in all EU countries including Iceland, Norway, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
The EHIC card is a free card that gives you access to medically necessary, state-provided healthcare during a temporary stay in another EU country under the same conditions and at the same cost as people insured in that country. However, while travelling, we recommend you to take an extra travel insurance, as the EHIC card covers only necessary care.
EHIC card
- is not an alternative to travel insurance. It does not cover any private healthcare or costs such as a return flight to your home country or lost/stolen property
- does not cover your costs if you are travelling for the express purpose of obtaining medical treatment
- does not guarantee free services. As each country’s healthcare system is different, services that cost nothing at home might not be free in another EU country
- the right can be claimed only by doctors and health facilities that are connected to the national system. This right cannot be claimed by private doctors.
If you move your habitual residence to another country, you should register with the S1 form instead of using the EHIC to receive medical care in your new country of habitual residence.
You can check the validity of your insurance card here: https://eforms.zpmvcr.cz/ehic/
If you have any kind of questions, please don't hesitate to contact your UCT coordinator or to check the FAQ's: https://ec.europa.eu/social/main.jsp?catId=857&langId=en&intPageId=1304
Here is a Sample of a standard VZP ČR/EHIC card issued by VZP ČR to Czech citizens and EU/EEA and Switzerland citizens who carry out the substantial part of their working activities in the Czech Republic or who have permanent residence in the Czech Republic.
Here is a Sample of a yellow VZP ČR card used by persons who are temporarily living in the Czech Republic and their public health insurance is paid to another EU/EEA + Switzerland state country. VZP ČR is their Czech auxiliary health insurance company and this card is issued according to the S1 form. This card is only valid in the Czech Republic.
The yellow card has several variations according to the residence status of the EU national in the territory of the Czech Republic. The range of medical care is specified on the card. Read more on the web page of VZP ČR.
Sample of full medical care:
Sample of medically necessary care:
Sample of necessary and urgent care:
