If you’ve previously relied on European Health Insurance Cards (or EHICs) to access healthcare in the EU, you can still use these until their expiry date. After this, you can apply for a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). Despite the name, the new card will be valid across the EU only. The main change seems to be that neither card will work in the non-EU countries of Norway, Lichtenstein, Iceland and Switzerland1.
The cards mean you can access the same medical treatment as the residents of that country do, in a state-run hospital or clinic. If you’re an EU national living in the UK, you’ll still be able to access the National Health Service (NHS). Both scenarios are good news for expats, but it is important to understand that these are not substitutes for either travel insurance or private health insurance. Travel insurance often covers things like lost luggage and cancellations, not covered by an EHIC or GHIC. Private health insurance would usually give you access to a wider range of medical treatments, at private hospitals and clinics.