The European Health Insurance Cards is now being renewed automatically without the need for a renewal application. This measure has just come into effect and, according to the health authorities, a more efficient service is being provided to the citizen. The EHIC ensures emergency medical care in public hospitals in Europe with the same conditions given to citizens of that country when they visit Malta. Last year there were 1,800 Maltese who benefited from this right and used the card during a visit to other European countries.
Over 170,000 Maltese citizens have a European Health Insurance Card -a medical passport in case urgent medical treatment becomes necessary during a temporary stay in any of the countries of the European Union or in Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland. Like other official documents, this card expires after a certain time. In a new procedure that came into effect last month, the cards that expire are being automatically renewed and sent by post to the people concerned in the month prior.
Michelle Galea, director at the Ministry of Health, said that the cards are valid for 5 years.
“We have started this process of automatic renewal of the European health insurance card. So far since March we have issued over 11,000 European Health Insurance Cards.”
Michelle Galea
The new system came into force on March 1st. Mrs. Galea said that over a period of five years all those who have the EHIC will have the document renewed automatically without the need to apply. She added that the old system, where one has to apply for renewal, remains in force for those with an EHIC that expired last February or earlier and did not renew it. In these cases and in applications for new cards, the department has undertaken to process the applications immediately with people receiving the card within five working days. All European citizens have a right to the card, including children, with parents applying for children up to the age of sixteen
The European Health Insurance Card covers emergency cases and gives you the right to receive a service under the same conditions as citizens of the country you are visiting.
“It is important to make sure you are accessing a public service. When you go to a hospital abroad, you must be sure that that hospital is a public hospital. Also, when you go for treatment, don’t take it for granted that everything is covered, because there are European Union countries that have different systems to ours, for example they have co-payments.
She added that the card does not cover everything, such as cases that require repatriation, and therefore it is still recommended that travelers take out private insurance.
Last year there were 1,824 Maltese who used this card while they were abroad and between them received free of charge a care service which was estimated to cost €878,492. Conversely, last year there were 6,414 tourists who used the card in the public health service in Malta and received a service worth over €2.5 million.