Living in Portugal offers you a great variety of experiences, while also opening doors to freely explore other countries in the European Union. Ensuring you have access to medical assistance during your travels across Europe is crucial, and the European Health Insurance Card can provide you with this much needed peace of mind.

Our guide was made specially for you to understand what the European Health Insurance Card offers, how you can obtain it, and what its benefits and limitations are!

What is the European Health Insurance Card?

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), also known as CESD (Cartão Europeu de Seguro de Doença) in Portugal, is a card that simplifies healthcare for travelers within Europe, by allowing its holders to access public medical care during trips or temporary stays in member countries.

This card can reduce medical costs significantly by entitling you to the same healthcare prices as citizens. Furthermore, in case of need, all you have to do is present the EHIC at a medical facility and immediately get access to the required assistance.

Eligibility

If you are looking to request a European Health Insurance Card from Portugal, you must fit one of the following requirements:

• You are a worker covered by a Social Security regime;
• You are a pensioner or a member of their family;
• You are unemployed;
• You are a beneficiary of a Public or private Healthcare subsystem;

Countries Covered by the EHIC

The European Health Insurance Card is valid in all European Union countries: Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Croatia, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, the Netherlands, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Romania and Sweden. Additionally, it is also accepted in a few non-European Union countries, namely Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, Switzerland and the United Kingdom

Certificate of Portuguese as a Foreign Language (PLE)

Requesting a European Health Insurance Card is usually a straightforward process, and you can rest assured that, upon request, you will receive a temporary document – the Provisional Replacement Certificate. This document offers the same benefits as the EHIC, and ensures you are covered while waiting for the permanent card to arrive. The application tends to last a few weeks until you receive the original card.

The EHIC is valid for three years, and it can be renewed to continue its coverage. In case of loss or robbery, you should immediately report it in order to prevent misuse and receive a replacement.

Benefits and Limitations

The European Health Insurance Card presents many benefits to its user, namely the cost reduction when requiring medical assistance in another country, the ease of access to medical facilities with minimal bureaucracies, and the general coverage that includes preventive treatments that may be needed.

Keep in mind that there are some limitations when using your EHIC. First and foremost, it does not replace travel insurance, thus not covering costs related to repatriation, theft or loss of luggage. It is also not intended for people traveling specifically to receive planned medical treatment, and usually it can only be used withing the public healthcare system of the country.

In some cases, you may need to pay upfront and request reimbursement later. This should vary according to each country’s healthcare rules and values.

The European Health Insurance Card, or CESD, can be an invaluable asset when travelling around Europe, which is why it is so important that you apply in advance, so you can enjoy peace of mind during your stay. Obtaining the EHIC can be complex if you’re not yet familiar with the Portuguese services, which is why our assistance is always available. If you need help with obtaining your CESD, contact us today and let all the details be taken care of for you!