What is the EHIC and where can it be used?

How does the EHIC protect me when I travel in Europe?

If you are insured with TK and living in Germany, you can use your European Health Insurance Card to get medical treatment in most European countries. Take a look at the

list of countries where the EHIC can be used

to find out whether this also applies at your destination. This is what the European Health Insurance Card looks like:

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is located on the back of your TK eHealth card.

Supplementary insurance to cover your treatment costs abroad You will need supplementary, private travel medical insurance in virtually every country outside Europe because TK is unable to cover any medical expenses incurred there.Private cover is also recommended when travelling within Europe. This is because statutory health insurance funds are not permitted to pay for certain services such as return transport to Germany. You can find supplementary insurance that suits your needs on online comparison sites for example.

Which medical treatments are covered by the EHIC?

If you need to see a doctor, dentist, go to a hospital or obtain medicines from a pharmacy during your trip, your EHIC covers all medically necessary treatments that cannot wait until you return to Germany.

In North Macedonia, Montenegro and Serbia, the EHIC is only valid for emergency treatment.

The exact scope and duration of treatment are based on the legal rules in the country you are visiting - just as if you were insured there.

What can I do if my EHIC is not accepted when I am abroad?

Sometimes a doctor or hospital may not accept your EHIC and ask you to pay the bill yourself. If this happens:

ask for a detailed invoice listing all treatments and services

keep all receipts and prescriptions

If you prefer, you can also contact the local health insurance provider in your destination country while you are still abroad. Present your EHIC together with the invoice and ask whether they can reimburse your costs directly there.

How can I have my treatment costs reimbursed by TK?

To reimburse your costs, you need to submit your documents after your trip to us. Your expenses will then be reimbursed at the statutory rates valid in Germany or your destination country. You can send us your invoices in different ways:

Quick and easy online:

Join our "Meine TK" members’ area to submit your invoice for reimbursement online. To use this online service, you first need to register for "Meine TK".

The easiest way to do this is in English is via the TK-App. Simply download the App to use this and many other online services. You can also the online

Reimbursement for treatment abroad

service. Please note, however, that this service is currently only available in German.

By post:

Fill out the German-language form

TK-Antrag auf Erstattung von Behandlungen im Ausland ( PDF, 936 kB)

(application for reimbursement of treatment abroad) and return this together with the following documents to the address below:

the original invoices and receipts for the treatment costs

original prescriptions for medication, treatments and similar

if the total invoice amount exceeds 500 EUR, proof of payment such as invoice receipts, till receipts or bank statements

Techniker Krankenkasse
20905 Hamburg

Please note that entitlements to social benefits expire 4 years after the end of the calendar year in which they arose. This means that invoices for treatment abroad from 2022 may no longer be reimbursed after 31 December 2026.