UK visitors to France: Renew your Ehic if it is set to expire in 2025

UK residents coming on holiday or to visit second homes in France in 2025 should take care to check the validity of their UK Ehic, as in many cases the last such travel health cards will expire this year.

The UK issued Ehics (European health insurance cards) to its residents prior to the end of the Brexit transition period (December 31, 2020) but ceased to do so after this with the exception of EU citizens living in the UK with ‘settled status’ under the Withdrawal Agreement (WA).

As UK Ehics are issued for five years – unlike the French equivalent, Carte Européenne d'Assurance Maladie (Ceam), which is issued for two – cards issued in 2020 will expire during the course of this year. 

Popular UK consumer website MoneySavingExpert reports that the NHS told it an estimated 1.8 million cards will expire in 2025.

UK residents (other than WA beneficiaries) renewing their cards will obtain the UK’s new version of the card, called a Ghic, for ‘global health insurance card’.

As part of agreements between the UK and EU following Brexit, this functions the same as an Ehic on trips to the EU, while the UK continues to recognise cards issued by EU states such as the French Ceam for their residents visiting the UK.

While it was initially aimed at replacing the Ehic the UK has been seeking to expand the number of territories where its Ghic card can be used, so it now applies for travel to:

• Countries in the European Economic Area

• Montenegro

• Australia

• Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man

• St Helena, Tristan and Ascension

• In Switzerland if you are a UK or EU citizen or Swiss national

Ghics are used in France in the same way as Ehics, ie. they can be presented to doctors and other health workers in order to receive the same basic reimbursement rights as those insured in the French system.

However, they are aimed at care for health issues that arise during a trip, not for deliberate ‘health tourism’.

They also do not cover the part of French healthcare that is not covered by the state so the excess of the cost of a doctor’s appointment (for doctors charging the basic state rate), or, for example, mountain rescue or medical repatriation costs.

As a result the UK and French governments advise that suitable travel insurance with a health element be taken out in addition.

For many kinds of healthcare you will be required to pay upfront then submit a claim for reimbursement to the caisse primaire d’assurance maladie (Cpam) state health insurance body for the area where you received the care.

It is also possible to claim via the NHS on your return. 

Applying for a Ghic is free of charge. You need your UK National Insurance number.

The NHS strongly advises against using any unofficial website which may charge to apply for the card.

Everyone in a family needs their own card, however you can add a spouse, civil partner or children to your application when you apply. Applicants must be aged 16 or over to apply for their own card.

Applications can be made up to nine months before an existing card expires.

Once you apply, you will receive an email within 24 hours to let you know if the application is approved or if additional information is needed. Once approved, the UK authorities say it takes about 15 working days for you to receive a new card, which will be sent in the post.