The GHIC replaced the EHIC in January 2021, following the United Kingdom's departure from the European Union. For more information, please read our blog post regarding Post-Brexit travel.
EHIC stands for European Health Insurance Card, and GHIC stands for Global Health Insurance Card. Your EHIC card will remain valid until its expiry date. After that, you’ll have to apply for a replacement GHIC card for free online. You should only use the official NHS website to apply - www.nhs.uk/ehic.
The GHIC entitles you to free or discounted state-provided, medically necessary healthcare as if you were a resident in the country you’re visiting. Remember, this might not cover all the things you would expect to get free of charge from the NHS in the UK. You may still need to make a contribution to the cost of your care. In some cases, if you use your GHIC, certain insurers might waive the excess on your travel insurance policy.
At present, you can use the card in any country in the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland, although the GHIC may become valid in more countries in the future - please check the NHS website before you travel.