I have the European Health Insurance Card: do I still need travel insurance, and what does the airline pay if my flight is cancelled?
What the EHIC does and does not do (private hospitals, repatriation, air ambulance), that it is not valid in the northern part of Cyprus, why GESY is not travel insurance, the €30,000 for a Schengen visa, the €250, €400 and €600 compensation for delays and cancellations, luggage, and what to check in a travel policy.
In short
The European Health Insurance Card covers necessary care in another country’s public system, not private care, rescue or repatriation, so travel insurance covers different things. For flight delays and cancellations, EU law gives compensation from the airline, except in extraordinary circumstances.
- Check that each family member’s card has not expired; it is not valid in the northern part of Cyprus.
- Buy travel insurance on the day you book the trip, and declare every condition you are asked about.
- Save the assistance number and the policy number on your phone.
- For a delay or cancellation, keep your boarding pass and ask for written reasons.
From the series “The questions you are afraid to ask”, part “Car, home, travel”: questions real people ask, with honest answers. Information only.
At a glance
- The EHIC covers necessary care that cannot wait, in the public system; not private care, rescue and repatriation, or planned treatment.
- The EHIC is not valid in the northern part of Cyprus (European Commission).
- GESY does not work as travel insurance; outside Cyprus only the EHIC counts, in the EU, the EEA and Switzerland.
- For a Schengen visa, travel medical insurance must cover at least €30,000.
- A delay of 3 hours or more or a cancellation: €250, €400 or €600 from the airline, depending on distance, except in extraordinary circumstances.
A holiday should not turn into your nightmare
A fever in Athens, a fall on a ski slope, a flight cancelled at eleven at night, a suitcase that goes missing. Many people travel thinking that “the European card covers everything”. It does not, but you are not unprotected either: EU law already gives you a lot. Here is what the card does, what the airline pays, and where travel insurance comes in.
What the EHIC does, and does not do
| Covers | Does not cover |
|---|---|
| Necessary care that cannot wait until you get home, in the public system, on the same terms as local insured people | Private healthcare |
| In Cyprus, for visitors: public health centres, A&E at state hospitals, and ambulance travel | Rescue and repatriation; in Cyprus, air ambulance |
| Across the EU, the EEA and Switzerland | Planned treatment; and it is not valid in the northern part of Cyprus |
Flights and luggage: what EU law already gives you
- Compensation: €250 for flights of 1,500 km or less, €400 for more than 1,500 km within the EU and for other flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km, €600 for more than 3,500 km. It applies if you arrive 3 hours or more late or the flight is cancelled, except in extraordinary circumstances (weather, air traffic decisions, security); most technical problems and staff strikes do not count as extraordinary. The delay table also shows a €300 tier for certain routes: check it.
- Luggage: the airline’s liability is “approximately €1,300”. Claim in writing within 7 days for lost or damaged bags and within 21 days for delayed bags.
- Where travel insurance comes in: medical costs in private hospitals, repatriation, cancellation for health reasons before you leave, and costs the airline does not pay, always under the policy’s terms.
For a Schengen visa, the Visa Code (Regulation 810/2009, Article 15) sets a minimum cover of €30,000, for emergency medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation, including in the event of death. Cyprus is not in the Schengen area; the rule concerns third-country residents of Cyprus travelling to Schengen states. If a claim is refused, see The travel insurer won’t pay: what do I do?, and for sports Sports, hobbies and travel.
What went wrong for others — and how to avoid it
- A condition was “not disclosed” (United Kingdom, not Cyprus). It is the leading cause of travel insurance complaints in the UK: people do not declare conditions they had recovered from. How to avoid it: declare every condition the form asks about, and keep a screenshot of your answers.
- The annual policy was bought after the trip was booked (United Kingdom, not Cyprus). There is no cancellation cover for the period before the policy started. How to avoid it: buy travel cover on the day you book.
- A private clinic abroad, and no call to the assistance line (United Kingdom, not Cyprus). There were disputes over treatment in private hospitals without telling the insurer. How to avoid it: save the assistance number before you leave and call before non-emergency treatment; in an emergency, treatment first and the call as soon as you can, and keep every receipt.
Your questions, one by one
I have the European Health Insurance Card. Do I still need travel insurance?
Yes. The EHIC covers only necessary care in the public system; not private care, rescue and repatriation, trip cancellation or luggage. The UK government says it plainly: the card “is not an alternative to travel insurance”.
How do I get a European Health Insurance Card in Cyprus?
In Cyprus it is issued by the Ministry of Health. The application guidance is in Greek only, according to the European Commission. Check the card’s expiry date too before you travel.
Is the European Health Insurance Card valid in the north of Cyprus?
No. The European Commission says the EHIC is not valid in the northern part of Cyprus, and strongly advises private health insurance before travelling there.
Does the EHIC pay for a flight home if I’m seriously ill abroad?
No. The EHIC does not cover rescue and repatriation. Travel insurance covers that, if it includes it; check the limit for medical costs and repatriation.
Does the EHIC work in private hospitals abroad?
No. The EHIC works in the country’s public system, on local terms; it does not cover private care. For private hospitals you need travel insurance that covers them.
Does GeSY cover me when I travel outside Cyprus?
No. GESY does not work as travel insurance. In the EU, the EEA and Switzerland you have the EHIC for necessary care in the public system; elsewhere, only what a travel or private policy covers.
What minimum travel insurance do I need for a Schengen visa?
Under the Visa Code (Regulation 810/2009, Article 15), the minimum cover is €30,000, for emergency medical care, hospitalisation and repatriation, including in the event of death. Cyprus is not in the Schengen area; the rule applies when you travel to a Schengen country.
My flight was cancelled. Is it the airline’s job or my travel insurer’s to pay?
The airline first: for a cancellation, EU law gives compensation of €250, €400 or €600 depending on distance, except in extraordinary circumstances. Travel insurance may cover costs the airline does not pay, under its terms. Ask the airline for its reasons in writing.
My suitcase arrived three days late. What can I claim and by when?
For a delayed bag, claim in writing to the airline within 21 days; for a lost or damaged one, within 7 days. The airline’s liability is approximately €1,300. Keep receipts for whatever you had to buy.
Is cancellation because I got sick before the trip covered by travel insurance?
Many travel policies cover cancellation for sudden illness, but exclude pre-existing conditions that were not declared, and do not cover the period before purchase. Get a medical certificate and notify at once.
Does travel insurance cover me for skiing or scuba diving?
Many policies exclude or limit skiing, diving and other sports, or cover them with an extension and conditions (depth, certification, off-piste). Check the list of activities before you go; see also Sports, hobbies and travel.
Is an annual multi-trip policy better than buying one for each trip?
It depends on how often you travel and on the terms: annual policies usually have a limit on days per trip and the same terms for every trip. Compare limits, excesses and exclusions, not only the cost.
The travel insurance that comes with my credit card: is it real cover?
It can be, but it often applies only if you paid for the trip with the card, with lower limits and more exclusions. Ask for the terms in writing and compare them with a normal policy.
Do I need to declare my diabetes or blood pressure when buying travel insurance?
Yes, if the form asks. Not declaring conditions is the leading cause of travel insurance complaints in the United Kingdom (not Cyprus). Declare whatever they ask and keep a screenshot of your answers.
How much compensation can I get if my flight is delayed more than three hours?
Under EU rules: €250 for flights of 1,500 km or less, €400 for more than 1,500 km within the EU and for other flights of 1,500 to 3,500 km, €600 for more than 3,500 km, if you arrive 3 hours or more late. It does not apply in extraordinary circumstances, such as weather or air traffic decisions. The table also shows a €300 tier for certain routes.
I’m pregnant. Does travel insurance cover problems with the pregnancy abroad?
Many policies cover unexpected complications up to a certain week of pregnancy and exclude a normal birth. Check the week limit and ask for written confirmation before you go.
Does travel insurance cover me if I’m older than 70?
Many policies set an age limit or ask medical questions after a certain age, and some limit trip length. Check the limit and answer honestly whatever they ask.
My child is studying in another EU country. Does the EHIC cover them there?
The EHIC covers necessary care during a temporary stay in another EU country, in the public system. How it applies to a stay for studies, ask the Ministry of Health. It does not cover private care or repatriation; see for students.
Are trips to the occupied areas covered by my normal travel insurance?
The EHIC is not valid in the northern part of Cyprus, and the European Commission strongly advises private health insurance before travelling there. Whether your own travel policy covers visits there is set by its territorial scope; ask for written confirmation.
If a travel agent goes bust before my holiday, does insurance help?
Some travel policies cover a supplier’s insolvency as an extension, many do not. If you booked a package, also ask the organiser what protection it has. Check the terms before you pay.
Do I need to call the insurer’s assistance line before going to a hospital abroad?
Many policies require you to call the assistance line before non-emergency treatment or a hospital stay. In an emergency, treatment first and the call as soon as you can. Save the number before you leave.
As a visitor to Cyprus with an EHIC, can I use GeSY doctors?
The European Commission says visitors with an EHIC use public providers: public health centres, A&E at state hospitals, prescriptions from state doctors at state pharmacies. Whether they can see GESY doctors we did not confirm; ask the Health Insurance Organisation.
Is an air ambulance from Cyprus covered by the EHIC?
No. According to the European Commission, in Cyprus the EHIC covers ambulance travel, but not air ambulance. Only a travel or private policy that includes it covers that.
I got sick on holiday in Greece and the public hospital was full. Will EHIC or insurance pay a private clinic?
The EHIC does not pay for a private clinic. Travel insurance may pay for it, under its terms, and often only if you called the assistance line when you could. Keep every receipt and medical report and notify at once.
Does travel insurance cover me if I travel against government travel advice?
Many policies exclude or limit cover when you travel to a country your government advises against travelling to. Check the terms before booking and keep a screenshot of the advice on that day.
What you can do from today
- Check that every family member’s EHIC has not expired.
- Buy travel insurance on the day you book, and declare every condition they ask about.
- Save the assistance number and the policy number on your phone.
- Check sports, age, pregnancy and territorial scope before you go.
- For a delay or cancellation, keep your boarding pass and ask for the reasons in writing.
- For luggage: a written claim within 7 days (lost or damaged) or 21 days (delayed).
Where to turn
- The European Health Insurance Card: the Ministry of Health.
- Visitors to Cyprus and GESY: the Health Insurance Organisation.
- Delay, cancellation, luggage: the airline first, in writing; then the national enforcement body that Your Europe lists for each country.
- A dispute with an insurer: first a written complaint to the company itself, which must reply within 45 days; then the Financial Ombudsman (fee €20, disputes up to €250,000) or the courts. The Insurance Companies Control Service supervises insurers, but it does not decide private disputes or award compensation.
General information, not advice (legal or insurance). Every policy has its own terms; for your own case, the law and what your policy says apply, and it is worth getting the answers from your insurer in writing. We give each figure with its source, country and year. AVRASTRO is not an insurer, does not sell general insurance and does not handle claims.
Sources
- Your Europe — Unplanned healthcare during a temporary stay (EHIC)
- European Commission — Cyprus: European Health Insurance Card
- GOV.UK — Cyprus travel advice: health
- EUR-Lex — Regulation (EC) 810/2009 (Visa Code), Article 15
- European Commission, Migration and Home Affairs — Applying for a Schengen visa
- Your Europe — Air passenger rights
- UK Financial Ombudsman Service — Travel insurance complaints at their highest since the pandemic (2023/24; UK, not Cyprus)
- UK Financial Ombudsman Service — Travel insurance: medical expenses and repatriation (UK, not Cyprus)
- Insurance Companies Control Service (ICCS), Ministry of Finance — Complaints
- Financial Ombudsman of the Republic of Cyprus — FAQs
Read also: The travel insurer won’t pay: what do I do? · Sports, hobbies and travel · With GESY, do I still need private health insurance? · Students and digital nomads: what insurance do I need? · British and living or retiring in Cyprus · I moved to Cyprus or may leave: what happens to my insurance? · Driving abroad, in the north, hire cars · All the questions you are afraid to ask
