Read this article to find out which European Union countries offer a public healthcare system (and with which exceptions) and find out how you can get a European Health Insurance Card.
The European Health Insurance Card provides European Union citizens with medical care while living abroad in other European Union countries. This document is issued to nationals of any European Union country, as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland. The card entitles you to the benefits of the public Healthcare System of the Host Country.
Since the healthcare system is different in every EU country and everyone of them offers different services as part of public healthcare, we recommend to get informed about the specific services that are covered in your Host Country in order to avoid any problems during the Au Pair stay.
Please note that the EHIC does not cover private healthcare and cannot be used as a travel insurance. Moreover, the card will not be valid if you travel to the country to obtain any planned medical treatment, which means any planned surgeries, or also if you have any chronic disease that requires you to be under medical surveillance.
In some countries, like for example France and Luxembourg, you will have to pay for healthcare upfront but you will be able to claim your money back through the use of your EHIC card, so make sure you always have enough money with you in case of emergency.
Please note that we can’t guarantee any of the information that we give about insurances.
The regulations differ from one insurance company to another and also depend on the kind of insurance that you have in your home country (family insurance etc.). Please ask your insurance company for more information!
** Applicants from Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland can also be entitled to a European Health Insurance Card.
The European Health Insurance Card is issued by the institution where the person is insured. You need to be insured by a state social security system of one of the mentioned countries. If you want to know more information about the process, contact your local insurance organization.
**If you come from a non-EU country but are legally residing in any of the mentioned countries, you will also be entitled to the EHIC. You will not have the right to receive medical treatment in Denmark, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland.
The European Health Insurance Card is issued for a temporary stay abroad. Since the Au Pair program is not a job but an exchange program, you will get the benefits of the public health service for free. We recommend Au Pairs to get a private insurance as well in case of any more complex situations.
Read more about Au Pair insurance and other important topics of the program in the Au Pair Wiki.
