Staying healthy

As an EU citizen you are entitled to healthcare services if you fall ill on your travels. Find out here how the European Health Insurance Card is making this simpler. Check out bathing water quality or ozone levels before you go and decide what suncreams to take.

Access to healthcare

As an EU national, if you are suddenly taken ill or have an accident during a temporary visit to any EU country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland, you are entitled to the same public healthcare services as the residents of the country you are visiting. Each country has its own rules for public medical provision. In some, treatment is free, in some you pay part of the cost, in others you have to pay the full cost and then claim a refund. So keep all your bills, prescriptions and receipts. Apply for reimbursement in the country you are visiting or, failing that, when you get home.

A European health insurance card simplifies procedures, cuts red tape and helps to speed up the reimbursement of costs. If you do not yet have a card, get it free from your local social security or sickness insurance office. Some countries incorporate the European card on the reverse side of a national card and others issue separate cards.

Find out more about how to access healthcare abroad

Travel insurance

The European health insurance card is not a substitute for travel insurance as it may not cover all health costs and it never covers repatriation costs or mountain rescue. So you may want to take out separate travel insurance to cover those risks.

Medicines

Take your prescription with you if you are carrying prescribed medicines. Do not exceed the quantities needed for your personal use during your trip, as large quantities of drugs can create suspicion.

Immunisation

There are, in general, no immunisation requirements when travelling in the EU. However, there are requirements or recommendations for certain of the EU’s overseas territories. Check with your doctor before you go or go to the World Health Organization website.

Bathing water

Strict standards are set for bathing water throughout the EU and the overall water quality remains high. An annual European Commission report gives useful water quality information for holiday-makers. You can also check on the bathing water quality of any one of 22 000 beaches, marinas or inland waters by using the interactive map or the viewer.

If you see a Blue Flag on a beach or at a marina, you can be assured that it has met specific standards on water quality, and has also reached standards on safety, services, environmental management and information. Over 2 960 beaches and marinas in the EU were awarded a Blue Flag in 2010/11. This voluntary scheme is run by the Foundation for Environmental Education.

The Surfrider Foundation Europe also provides general or local information on the coastal environment.

Sunscreen products

Choosing the appropriate sunscreen product to take on holiday is now easier as a result of EU requirements on clearer labelling. Choose something that protects against both UVB and UVA radiation. UVB radiation contributes to the risk of cancer and causes sunburn. The SPF factor, in numbers up to 50, indicates the level of protection against UVB radiation. UVA radiation results in skin ageing and interferes with the immune system and there is now a UVA logo to indicate the required UVA protection, based on a standardised testing method. Misleading terms such as 'total protection' or 'sun block' will disappear. Using sunscreen products is, of course, only one way of protecting against the harmful effects of the sun.

 

Description of protection	SPF	Logo to indicate required minimum UVA protection
Low	6
	10
Medium	15
	20
	25
High	30
	50
Very high	50+

Ozone levels

You may be interested in getting up to date information on ozone conditions across Europe before you travel, particularly if you suffer from asthma or other respiratory problems.

Smoking

Many EU countries have now taken action to restrict or ban smoking in workplaces or public places. The EU is also keen to help reduce smoking and to encourage smoke-free environments.

More information on EU action