EHIC & GHIC in Spain 2026: What's Covered and What's Not
Complete guide to using your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) or Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) in Spain. What's covered, how to claim, and when you still need a private doctor.
Your EHIC or GHIC covers medically necessary treatment at Spain's public facilities only — public hospital ERs, GP appointments at centros de salud, prescriptions with the resident co-payment, and emergency ambulance transport. It does NOT cover private doctors or clinics, home doctor visits, dental treatment, or repatriation. Both cards are free; never pay a website to apply. Because public facilities can be 20-40 minutes from resorts with 3-4 hour summer waits, many tourists still need travel insurance and private care — you need both.
What Is the EHIC (and GHIC)?
The European Health Insurance Card gives EU/EEA citizens access to state-provided healthcare in Spain under the same conditions as Spanish residents. The UK replaced it with the Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) after Brexit, which works identically in practice.
Both cards are free — never pay a website to apply. Get your EHIC through your national health authority; GHIC through the NHS website.
What does the EHIC cover in Spain?
The EHIC covers medically necessary treatment at Spain's public facilities: emergency room visits at public hospitals, GP appointments at centros de salud, prescriptions with the resident co-payment (typically 40-60%), ambulance transport in emergencies, and maternity care for complications. The full list is below.
Your card covers medically necessary treatment at public facilities:
- Emergency room visits at public hospitals
- GP appointments at centros de salud (public health centres)
- Prescriptions (with resident co-payment, typically 40-60%)
- Ambulance transport in emergencies
- Maternity care for complications
What does the EHIC NOT cover?
The EHIC does not cover private doctors or clinics — which is most of what's available near tourist hotels — nor home doctor visits, dental treatment except emergencies, repatriation to your home country, non-emergency treatment of pre-existing conditions, or mountain rescue and helicopter evacuation. This is where most tourists get caught out.
This is where most tourists get caught out:
- Private doctors or clinics — which is most of what's available near tourist hotels
- Home doctor visits — not available through the public system for tourists
- Dental treatment (except emergencies)
- Repatriation to your home country
- Pre-existing condition treatment that isn't an emergency
- Mountain rescue or helicopter evacuation
What's the reality of using an EHIC as a tourist?
The reality is that having an EHIC doesn't mean healthcare is easy to access. The nearest centro de salud may be 20-40 minutes from your resort, summer wait times can exceed 3-4 hours, staff may not speak English, and weekend or evening coverage is limited to emergency departments.
This is why many tourists with valid EHIC cards still choose private healthcare options — including home doctor visits — when they fall ill on holiday.
How do I use my EHIC in Spain, step by step?
To use your EHIC in Spain: go to a public facility (a centro de salud for a GP or a hospital público for emergencies), present your EHIC and passport at reception, get treated as a Spanish resident would be, pay any small co-payments for prescriptions, and keep all receipts in case you can claim reimbursement at home.
- Go to a public facility — centro de salud (GP) or hospital público (emergency)
- Present your EHIC at reception along with your passport
- Get treated — you'll receive the same care as a Spanish resident
- Pay any co-payments — prescriptions and some services have small fees
- Keep all receipts — you may be able to claim reimbursement at home
When should I skip the public queue?
You should consider skipping the public queue for non-life-threatening situations — stomach bugs, ear infections, sunburn, minor injuries, fever — where waiting 3+ hours in a public ER isn't the best option. A home doctor visit gets a licensed, English-speaking physician to your accommodation within 30-60 minutes, with a detailed receipt most travel insurers reimburse.
Emergency (always call 112): chest pain, difficulty breathing, severe bleeding, stroke symptoms, severe allergic reactions, loss of consciousness.
EHIC vs travel insurance: do you need both?
Yes — you need both, because they complement each other. The EHIC/GHIC saves you money at public facilities (ER and GP visits). Travel insurance covers everything the card doesn't: private doctors and clinics, home doctor visits, dental emergencies and repatriation. This table shows who covers what.
| EHIC/GHIC | Travel Insurance | |
|---|---|---|
| Public hospital ER | Covered | Covered |
| Public GP visit | Covered | Covered |
| Private doctor/clinic | Not covered | Usually covered |
| Home doctor visit | Not covered | Usually covered |
| Dental emergency | Not covered | Usually covered |
| Repatriation | Not covered | Covered |
Bottom line: EHIC saves you money at public facilities. Travel insurance covers everything else.
What's the key takeaway?
The key takeaway: your EHIC/GHIC is valuable but limited — it works at public facilities only, and accessing those as a tourist can be time-consuming. For non-emergencies, a home doctor visit gives fast, convenient, English-speaking care that travel insurance typically reimburses. For true emergencies, always call 112.
Frequently asked questions
Does EHIC cover doctor visits in Spain?
Can I use GHIC instead of EHIC in Spain?
Does EHIC cover prescriptions in Spain?
What if the nearest hospital is far from my hotel?
Should I get travel insurance if I have an EHIC?
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