You can submit a claim for a refund if you have been charged for state-funded, medically necessary treatment whilst visiting:
- an EU country
- Norway
- Iceland
- Liechtenstein
- Switzerland
We'll assess your claim to decide whether you were charged for a treatment which should have been covered by your UK GHIC, UK EHIC, or existing EHIC. Any refund will be based on the exchange rate, provided by the EU, at the time of payment.
If you are visiting one of these countries, you should receive the healthcare treatment on the same terms as a permanent resident of that country. You may need to pay all or part of your bill upfront and claim a refund afterwards. This depends on the country you visit.
You may need to pay a contribution towards the cost of your healthcare in some countries. This means that you may need to pay for services which you would get for free in the NHS. This is known as a co-payment or patient contribution.
You can claim back the difference between the total bill and the co-payment. However, the co-payment is not refundable.
Keep all receipts and any paperwork. You or your insurance company may need them if you apply for a refund.
Claim a refund
Download and complete the Refund claim form (PDF: 708KB)
If you need help or have any questions about completing this form, contact us:
Telephone: 0191 218 1999
Telephone from outside the UK: +44 191 218 1999
Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm
Find out about call chargesIf English is not your first language, phone this number and we will provide an interpretation service over the phone.
What you’ll need to provide
To support your claim form, you’ll need to provide:
- all original invoices
- proof of any payments that you have made
You'll need to submit each individual treatment period on a separate claim form and include the signed and dated declaration.
We keep this information and documentation once your claim is settled.
Charges will be refunded according to the rules and rates of the country where the treatment was received. These are based on what a resident of that country would need to pay.