From the 1st June onwards, European citizens who are travelling within the European Economic Area, (i.e. the European Union, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein) and Switzerland, for private or professional reasons will be given a European Health Insurance Card, which will simplify the procedure when receiving medical assistance during their stay in a Member State.

The European Health Insurance Card replaces forms:

• E111 and E111B used by tourists,

• E110 used by international road transporters,

• E128 used by students and people working in a Member State other than their own,

• E119 used by people registered as unemployed and seeking work in another Member State.

Two variations of the model of the card have been defined:

• One variant for the front side of the card; the reverse side is then left freely available to the Member State issuing the card

• One variant for the reverse side of the card, when the Member State issuing the European card wishes to position it on the reverse side of an existing national or regional card. The European card may also be with or without chip and with or without magnetic stripe

Every Member State is responsible for the distribution of the European Health Insurance Card to its citizens. However, the model of this card is identical and has the same technical specifications in all the Member States, which enables health care providers in every Member State to identify the card immediately. Every Member State is free to either integrate the technical specifications of the new card within its national card, or to distribute a separate card.

The EU Member States are committed to lay down the practical and technical arrangement for introducing the EHIC from the above mentioned date; however, Member States whose institutions do not have a health insurance card may benefit from a transitional period, which may not extend beyond 31 December 2005,

By year 2008 an electronic EHIC will replace the eye-readable cards for all E-Forms

It is essential that European citizens have a European Health Insurance Card or equivalent document whilst holidaying in a Member State of the European Economic Area and Switzerland. As a matter of fact, these documents will facilitate access to health care during your stay abroad and will allow you to receive health care in accordance with the legislation of State of stay (i.e. in some countries, it will allow you to receive free health care). This document guarantees immediate reimbursement given the case whereby you forfeit the cost in advance of any health service received. It is obligatory for your appropriate health institution to deliver at your request a European Health Insurance Card or equivalent document.