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Nearly Two Million UK Health Cards Set to Expire in 2025

Checking EHIC/GHIC expiry dates at least 15 days before travel ensures continued access to state healthcare abroad, the NHS warns.

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Overview

  • The NHS Business Services Authority reports that 1,960,640 EHIC and GHIC cards will lapse in 2025
  • The GHIC grants UK residents necessary state healthcare in the European Economic Area and selected partner countries on the same basis as local patients
  • These cards exclude costs such as repatriation, cruise treatments and winter sports medical fees, making separate travel insurance crucial
  • Applications and renewals are free via the NHS website and typically take up to 15 days, with provisional replacement certificates available if a card has not arrived in time
  • Since 2016 the UK has spent over £800 million covering treatment costs for Britons abroad, underscoring the cost-saving value of maintaining valid health cards