European Health Insurance Card
People insured by the Estonian Health Insurance Fund can receive medical care in European Union countries under the same conditions as residents of those countries.
If you have Health Insurance Fund coverage and are staying in a European Union country, the United Kingdom, Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, or Switzerland, you can receive necessary medical care under the same conditions as residents of that country.
To do this, you must have your European Health Insurance Card or a replacement certificate with you. You can also order the replacement certificate to your e-mail while you are already traveling.
To receive medical care, present your European Health Insurance Card (or its replacement certificate) and a valid ID at the healthcare facility.
You can find more information about the European Health Insurance Card on the European Commission's website.
Please note!
The card can only be used at public healthcare facilities and does not apply to scheduled treatment.
Please note!
The card can only be used at public healthcare facilities and does not apply to scheduled treatment.
What is the European Health Insurance Card for?
You can use the card if:
- you fall ill unexpectedly (e.g., stomach pain, heart attack, high fever, sudden injury);
- you need pregnancy-related medical care or give birth in another country due to an emergency or for family reasons;
- you have a chronic illness that requires treatment (e.g., dialysis, oxygen therapy, specialized asthma treatment, echocardiography, chemotherapy).
SWhether medical care is necessary is determined by a doctor. Treatment is considered necessary if you cannot continue your travel plans as usual without it. The expected duration of treatment and the nature of the healthcare service are also taken into account.
You can use the card if:
- you fall ill unexpectedly (e.g., stomach pain, heart attack, high fever, sudden injury);
- you need pregnancy-related medical care or give birth in another country due to an emergency or for family reasons;
- you have a chronic illness that requires treatment (e.g., dialysis, oxygen therapy, specialized asthma treatment, echocardiography, chemotherapy).
SWhether medical care is necessary is determined by a doctor. Treatment is considered necessary if you cannot continue your travel plans as usual without it. The expected duration of treatment and the nature of the healthcare service are also taken into account.
The European Health Insurance Card does not cover all health-related costs.
- For example, medical care at a private hospital or clinic is not reimbursed, nor are costs for cross-border medical transport or interpretation services.
- It also does not cover co-payments that apply to locally insured individuals as well (e.g., doctor’s visit fees, daily hospital bed fees, and copayments for medications at the pharmacy). Service prices and co-payment rates vary by country.
To avoid unexpected additional costs, we recommend taking out a travel insurance policy with medical coverage from a private insurance company before traveling.
How to order an European Health Insurance Card?
You can order the European Health Insurance Card from the Health Insurance Fund, and it will be delivered to you within 10 days of submitting your application. We recommend ordering the card well in advance of your trip.
Ways to order:
- By logging into the Health Portal;
- via the government portal eesti.ee, under the service “Order a European Health Insurance Card”;
- by sending a digitally signed application to info@tervisekassa.ee;
- by sending the application to the address Liivalaia 36, Tallinn 10132.
The European Health Insurance Card will be sent by regular mail to the address listed in the population register or to the mailing address you provided.
Important to know!
- You can apply for the European Health Insurance Card yourself if you are at least 15 years old and insured through the Health Insurance Fund.
- A parent or legal guardian can apply for a card for a child (up to 19 years old).
- The card will be issued if the recipient’s insurance with the Health Insurance Fund is valid for at least another 3 months.
Important to know!
- You can apply for the European Health Insurance Card yourself if you are at least 15 years old and insured through the Health Insurance Fund.
- A parent or legal guardian can apply for a card for a child (up to 19 years old).
- The card will be issued if the recipient’s insurance with the Health Insurance Fund is valid for at least another 3 months.
What to do if you don’t have your card with you?
If you unexpectedly need medical care while traveling but don’t have your card with you, you can order a replacement certificate from the Health Portal, the state portal eesti.ee, or the Health Insurance Fund.
You can order a replacement certificate:
- By logging into the Health Portal(Opens in new tab);
- through the national portal eesti.ee, under the service “Order European Health Insurance Card.” If you order the certificate through the state portal, it will be sent to your state portal mailbox;
- by submitting an application at info@tervisekassa.ee. In the application, please provide the personal details (personal identification code, name) of the person for whom you are requesting a replacement certificate, as well as a phone number;
- by calling the customer service line at +372 669 6630 Mon, Tue 8:30 AM–4:30 PM; Wed, Thu, Fri 8:30 AM–2:00 PM.
If you unexpectedly need medical care while traveling but don’t have your card with you, you can order a replacement certificate from the Health Portal, the state portal eesti.ee, or the Health Insurance Fund.
You can order a replacement certificate:
- By logging into the Health Portal(Opens in new tab);
- through the national portal eesti.ee, under the service “Order European Health Insurance Card.” If you order the certificate through the state portal, it will be sent to your state portal mailbox;
- by submitting an application at info@tervisekassa.ee. In the application, please provide the personal details (personal identification code, name) of the person for whom you are requesting a replacement certificate, as well as a phone number;
- by calling the customer service line at +372 669 6630 Mon, Tue 8:30 AM–4:30 PM; Wed, Thu, Fri 8:30 AM–2:00 PM.