TL;DR:
- 1.96 million EHIC and GHIC cards are expiring in 2025, with more following in early 2026.
- That’s around 5,300 cards expiring every day through December and into the new year.
- GHIC covers emergency state healthcare in the EU, but it doesn’t cover repatriation, mountain rescue, or cruise emergencies.
- Renewal is free via the NHS website and takes about 10 working days.
- Clients heading to Europe this winter and spring are worth a quick reminder.
As December winds down and you’re scanning those 2026 bookings, there’s a quiet conversation happening in households across the UK that’s worth knowing about.
Nearly two million people are about to lose their European health cover without realising it. The culprit? Expired EHIC and GHIC cards sitting in the “drawer of important documents” and never being thought of again.
For agents with clients heading to Europe, the Alps, or the Mediterranean this winter and spring, this is useful context.
The Numbers Worth Knowing
According to data from Holidaysafe and the NHS Business Services Authority, 1.96 million EHIC and GHIC cards are set to expire during 2025, with the wave continuing into early 2026.
The UK’s active health card population has declined from 38 million in 2020 to around 21 million in 2025, as older EHIC cards reach their five-year expiry dates.
The scale is notable: approximately 5,300 cards are expiring every single day throughout December and into the new year. Many of these cardholders won’t realise they’re unprotected until they need medical care while travelling.
Many of these expiring cards belong to frequent European travellers. Families planning Easter trips to Spain, skiers booking January half-term in the Alps, and cruise passengers departing this winter are all potentially affected.
How the EHIC-to-GHIC Transition Works
The shift from EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) to GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card) happened following Brexit, with existing EHICs remaining valid until their expiry dates.
If a client’s card expired before January 2021: They should have already switched to a GHIC. If they haven’t, they’re currently unprotected.
If a client’s card is expiring in late 2025 or early 2026: They can apply for a GHIC now via the NHS website. It’s free and takes about 10 working days.
If a client already has a GHIC: This is where agents add genuine value, by clarifying what GHIC does and what it doesn’t cover.
What GHIC Covers (And What It Doesn’t)
A GHIC provides access to emergency and medically necessary state healthcare in EU and EEA countries on the same basis as local residents. That means free or subsidised care for emergency medical treatment, pre-existing conditions (if medically necessary), routine GP visits and hospital treatment, emergency dental care, and routine maternity care.
But here’s the part clients often miss: a GHIC is not travel insurance, and it leaves significant gaps.
The card does not cover private medical facilities, medical repatriation or air ambulance, mountain rescue (important for ski holidays), cruise-related medical emergencies, travel cancellation or holiday disruption, or lost luggage and possessions.
For context on costs: an air ambulance from within the EU can run to £35,000 or more. A fall requiring emergency repatriation from Spain has been recorded at £124,000. Ski accidents with helicopter rescue can range from £15,000 to £50,000.
These are the kinds of figures that make travel insurance conversations worthwhile.
Countries With Special Considerations
GHIC works across all 27 EU member states, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway (EEA countries), Montenegro, Australia, Jersey, Guernsey, Isle of Man, and a few others.
However, there are some exceptions worth flagging:
Switzerland: GHIC coverage applies only to British nationals, Swiss nationals, EU citizens, refugees, or stateless persons.
Norway, Iceland, and Liechtenstein: These are EEA countries, but coverage can be limited. Full travel insurance is recommended.
Outside EU/EEA: No GHIC coverage at all.
For clients heading to Norway for winter activities, Switzerland for skiing, or Iceland for adventure breaks, travel insurance becomes particularly important.
What This Means in Real Life
For agents, this is a practical opportunity to add value. A simple pre-departure email can include a reminder to check GHIC/EHIC expiry dates, a note that renewal is free via the NHS website, and a gentle prompt about comprehensive travel insurance.
Ski holidays, cruise bookings, and adventure travel (hiking, climbing, diving) are especially worth flagging for proactive insurance conversations.
Amber Moon, Brand Manager at Holidaysafe, put it clearly: “Renewing your GHIC is free and takes just minutes via the official NHS website, but it needs to happen before you travel.”
The NHS advises that GHIC renewal takes 10 working days and can be completed entirely online. They also explicitly recommend having private travel and medical insurance for the duration of any trip.
Practical Timing Notes
If a client’s GHIC expires mid-2026 (June to August): They can apply for a new GHIC now. The NHS allows applications up to 9 months before expiry.
If a client is travelling in the next 4 weeks: They should check their card today. If it’s expiring soon, they can apply for a Provisional Replacement Certificate by calling NHS Overseas Healthcare Services on +44 191 218 1999.
For ski holidays (December 2025 to March 2026): These clients are worth a quick check-in. GHIC status, mountain rescue cover, and comprehensive travel insurance are all part of the picture.
For Easter and summer bookings: The new year is a natural moment for GHIC renewal conversations.
Agent Advantage Insight
A quick GHIC reminder email to clients with upcoming European travel is a small gesture that strengthens client relationships. It positions you as genuinely helpful, and opens the door to travel insurance conversations that protect clients and add value to bookings.
