Holiday in Europe

It is good to also consider health-related questions when planning a holiday. You can use the tips and links on this page for holiday preparations, or if you fall ill or have an accident on your trip.


Before the trip

Apply for a free European Health Insurance Card well in advance of your holiday

Print out the prescriptions for the medications you need from the My Kanta service

Check the coverage of your travel insurance

What to take with you

In addition to passports and travel documents, things that you should remember to take with you on holiday include

  1. European Health Insurance Card
  2. Medications and their prescriptions
  3. Travel insurance, especially if your holiday destination is not an EU or EEA country
  4. Small amount of cash stored in a place other than your wallet
  5. Phone with the contact information of your next of kin stored under the acronym ICE (In Case of Emergency)

If you fall ill on holiday

With the European Health Insurance Card, you will receive medically necessary care, i.e. care that cannot wait for your return home, in EU and EEA countries, the United Kingdom and in Switzerland. In addition to receiving treatment for a sudden illness or accident, you will also receive care if your chronic condition worsens, or for pregnancy or childbirth.

The European Health Insurance Card can be used in the public health care of EU and EEA countries, the United Kingdom and Switzerland, and in places with an agreement with public health care. Ask the treatment provider whether they accept the card.

By presenting the card, you will receive medical treatment on the same terms and at the same price as the local residents. You will pay the local customer fee for the treatment. You can receive treatment in an emergency even without the card, but you may then have to pay the full costs of treatment yourself. You can apply for reimbursement for them from Kela retrospectively.

Take out travel insurance for additional coverage for your trip. Travel insurance may also cover the costs if you have to take an ambulance flight home, for example.

Read more

Are you going on holiday abroad? Read the stories of Eveliina and Joona.

Eveliina’s stomach flu on holiday in the Canaries
– Falling ill on holiday in Europe

Joona’s scooter crash in Thailand
– Accident on holiday outside Europe