Health coverage during short stays abroad
If you are a citizen of an EU member state and suddenly fall ill while temporarily staying abroad – for holidays, business trips, or studies – you are entitled to any type of healthcare that must be provided to you immediately before returning to your home country. You have the same healthcare rights as citizens insured in the country where you are staying.
When traveling abroad, you should always carry your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you. This card serves as tangible proof that you are insured in an EU member state and will simplify payment and reimbursement procedures.
If you do not have the European Health Insurance Card or cannot use it (e.g., because it involves private healthcare), they cannot refuse to provide you with healthcare, but you may be asked to pay and then seek reimbursement when you return to your country.
The procedures governing unplanned healthcare (in case of sudden illness) and planned healthcare (if traveling abroad specifically for medical treatment) differ significantly.
Application for issuance of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
In some countries, the European Health Insurance Card is issued together with the sickness insurance booklet. In others, you must request it separately. Normally, you do not have to pay anything. You are entitled to receive it for free from your health insurance provider before leaving your home country.
Some opportunists have created websites from which you can order your own European Health Insurance Card for a fee. Never use such websites: contact your health insurance provider directly.
Check with your public health insurance provider to what extent your health insurance covers you and your family members.
More information about the European Health Insurance Card:
Please note that the European Commission is not responsible for the content of external websites.
Restrictions on the use of the European Health Insurance Card:
- Citizens of countries outside the EU cannot use the European Health Insurance Card for medical treatment in Denmark.
- Citizens of Croatia cannot use the European Health Insurance Card in Switzerland.
- This card cannot assist you in cases of rescue and repatriation. To return to your country free of charge due to serious illness or accident during your visit to another EU country, you will need separate insurance coverage.
- The card does not cover private healthcare or expenses for planned healthcare in another EU country.
Update : 29/06/2015
Air Passenger Rights
Firstly, when purchasing your ticket, you are prohibited from being charged an additional amount due to your nationality or the place of ticket issuance.
Secondly, you also have rights if you encounter a problem such as delays, cancellations, and overbookings that prevent your boarding the aircraft, provided that:
- you are departing from an airport located in the EU, or
- you arrive in the EU with an air carrier from an EU country or Iceland, Norway, or Switzerland .
Refund or alternative transportation
In the event of denied boarding, flight cancellation, or overbooking, you have the right either to:
- be rerouted to your final destination under comparable conditions, or
- be refunded the price of your ticket and, if necessary, return without any charge to your initial place of departure.
In case of a significant delay, i.e., if your flight is delayed by 5 hours or more, you are also entitled to compensation (however, if you accept the refund, the carrier is not obliged to arrange for the continuation of your journey or provide you with further assistance).
The air carrier is obliged to inform you of your rights and the reason for denied boarding, cancellation, or significant delay (more than 2 hours, or 4 hours if the flight distance is more than 3,500 km).
Meals and accommodation
You may also be entitled to free refreshments, meals, communication facilities (such as free telephone calls), and, if necessary, accommodation, depending on the distance of the flight and the duration of the delay.
Monetary Compensation
Additionally, if you are denied boarding, or if your flight is canceled or arrives with a delay of more than 3 hours at the final destination specified on your ticket, you may be entitled to compensation ranging from 250 – 600 euros, depending on the distance of the flight:
Flights within the EU
- up to 1,500 km: 250 euros
- over 1.500 km: 400 euros
Flights between an EU airport and an airport outside the EU
- up to 1,500 km: 250 euros
- 1.500 – 3.500 km: 400 euros
- over 3.500 km: 600 euros
If the airline offers you an alternative flight with a comparable arrival time, the compensation may be reduced by 50%.
In the case of flight cancellation, you will not receive compensation if:
- the cancellation was due to extraordinary circumstances, e.g., bad weather conditions, or
- you were informed of the cancellation 2 weeks before the scheduled flight date, or
- you were offered an alternative flight for the same route and with a comparable arrival time.
In the event of cancellation due to extraordinary circumstances, you may not be entitled to compensation, but the airline must provide you with the option to choose:
- to be refunded the ticket price (in full or only for the unused portion)
- to be transported to your final destination on the earliest available flight
- to rebook for a later date of your choice (subject to availability of seats).
However, even in extraordinary circumstances, airlines are required to provide you with assistance, if necessary, for as long as you wait to board another flight.
How to obtain a refund or compensation
You must submit the EU complaint form for air passenger rights to your airline and ensure that you keep a copy.
If you do not receive a response or if the response does not satisfy you, you can file a complaint with the national enforcement body in the EU country where the incident occurred.
If the incident occurred at a departure airport outside the EU but involves an EU carrier, you can submit the complaint to the competent national enforcement body in the EU country that was your destination.
Loss or damage of baggage
Checked baggage during ticket control
If the baggage you have checked during ticket control is lost, damaged, or delayed, you may be entitled to compensation from the airline of up to 1,220 euros.
Exception: does not apply if the damage is due to a defect in the baggage itself.
Hand luggage (including personal items)
The airline is only liable if it was responsible for the damage caused.
Do not forget to submit a relevant declaration within 7 days of receiving your baggage (or 21 days in case of delayed delivery).
If you wish to take further legal action, you must do so within 2 years from the date of receiving your baggage.
If you are carrying expensive items with you on your trip, you may be entitled – for a fee – to compensation exceeding 1,223 euros provided that you have previously submitted a special declaration to the airline no later than during ticket inspection. However, it is preferable to have private
travel insurance. There is no standardized form for the special declaration. It is up to the airlines to decide on the form of the document.
Last updte : 08/03/2016