EHIC In Estonia

If you are planning a trip to the Baltic state of Estonia for business or to have a holiday off the beaten track, it’s human nature not to want to think about illness or having an accident. As Estonia is part of the European Union, you can apply online for EHIC cover which will allow you to access Estonian state healthcare if you need to.

What Does EHIC Cover?

Unlike private medical insurance, which typically does not cover you for pre-existing conditions, you can use EHIC to get treatment for conditions such as asthma or diabetes while in Estonia. You can also use EHIC to access routine maternity care, as long as you have not gone to Estonia just to give birth. EHIC cover varies from country to country, and it is wrong to assume that just because certain things are free in the UK under the NHS that the same applies overseas. EHIC never covers private treatment though, so while in Estonia make sure you are using doctors contracted to the public sector, known as Eesti Haigekassa. There is information on their website about the Estonian healthcare system in English. If you need urgent medical attention, call 112. Some doctors in the main towns and cities will speak English, but in rural areas a native speaker or phrase book will be hugely beneficial.

Costs for Treatment

If you need to go and see a GP in Estonia for a minor injury or illness, you will not be charged for the visit as long as you show your EHIC paperwork and make it clear that you want to be treated as a state health patient. If you call the doctor out to see you, a fee of 5 euros applies. If you are referred to a hospital specialist, you may be charged up to 5 euros, and if you have to stay in hospital overnight, a charge of 2.50 euros applies. Children over the age of 2 also have to pay these fees. As these fees are identical to the fees charged to Estonian nationals, they cannot be reclaimed from the Estonian government, or from the NHS.

Dental and Prescriptions

Most dental treatment is chargeable, and if a lengthy or complex course of treatment is needed, the costs can quickly mount up. Only emergency dentistry such as the lancing of an abscess or the extraction of a tooth is covered under the health service and is free to EHIC holders. People under the age of 19 do not pay for dental treatment. There is also a charge for prescriptions, and the amount you will pay depends on the type of medication you have been prescribed. Patients pay a standard price of 1.25 euros, and then a varying percentage based on the retail price of the medicine. Children and people aged over 63 receive a greater rebate on any medication. Check with a pharmacist about the cost of any prescription medication and always ask for receipt, even though you will not be able to claim back any of these costs.