If you are travelling, take your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) with you. This is the recommendation from the Social Security Institute (ISS), which recalls that this "allows a person insured or covered by a social protection scheme in one of the 27 Member States of the European Union, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway, United Kingdom and Switzerland, to benefit from medical assistance during their temporary stay in any of the acceding States".

"The card is not an alternative to travel insurance, nor does it cover situations in which the insured person travels to another state with the aim of receiving medical treatment", adds the ISS.

"The card is personal and non-transferable, of a single model and free of charge, common to all participating states and has a validity period of three years. Since the card is individual, each member of the insured person's family must have a card".

"In the event that it is impossible to issue the card in time, the ISS, IP Customer Service may deliver a provisional replacement certificate to the Social Security beneficiary, which guarantees the same benefits as the card".

Where to get the card?

The European Health Insurance Card can be ordered through Social Security, full details can be found here.