When planning a trip to Europe, one of the most common questions is: “Is the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) enough, or do I need additional insurance?”
We discuss this topic with an expert from Colonnade Insurance, who has extensive experience with international insurance cases.
Colonnade:
The European Health Insurance Card gives travelers access to emergency medical care in countries within the European Economic Area (EEA). This means you can receive treatment in public healthcare facilities under the same conditions as local citizens.
The benefits are clear: the card is free, valid for a long period, and provides access to emergency care abroad. However, it also has its limitations.
Colonnade:
The EHIC does not cover private healthcare services, additional payments, or fees that local patients may still have to pay. It also does not organize your treatment, provide translation when communicating with doctors, and is valid only in public healthcare facilities.
That’s why travelers are often surprised when private clinics or services outside the public system are not covered.
Colonnade:
It is not formally mandatory, but it is strongly recommended. Travel insurance provides comprehensive coverage: treatment in both public and private facilities, hospitalization, surgeries, medications, repatriation, and 24/7 assistance in Bulgarian.
In addition to medical care, insurance also offers extra benefits – baggage loss or delay, roadside assistance, trip cancellation coverage, flight delay coverage, and even special protection for extreme sports.
Colonnade:
Our insurance is flexible – packages can be customized according to the purpose, duration, and individual needs of the trip. It can be arranged quickly online and provides protection not only in Europe but worldwide.
Most importantly, in case of an issue, our clients receive fast and effective support through 24-hour assistance in Bulgarian.
Colonnade:
The EHIC is useful for basic healthcare services, but it doesn’t cover everything. Travel insurance provides peace of mind – you know that in case of an accident or illness, you have full protection.
Our advice: combine both. Use the EHIC for basic coverage and add travel insurance for full protection, especially if you are traveling outside the EEA or planning active or extreme activities.
Travel should bring memories and experiences, not concerns about costs and health.
The EHIC is a good starting point, but true peace of mind comes from proper travel insurance. With the right combination of both, you are protected wherever your journey takes you.