Slobodna Bosna: The European health insurance card, which celebrates its fifth birthday, is currently being possessed by 180 million of Europeans.
Citizens from 31 European countries can use this card in order to receive needed health assistance if they get sick or get in accidence in each Member State, which participates in the initiative (EU, Norway, Lichtenstein, Iceland and Switzerland).
Around 35% of Europeans currently possesses this card, which makes the procedure easier and reduces administrative burden for medical services during temporary residence abroad. The EHIC covers all health protection needed during the residence in one of the countries, whether it is because of the travel, work or studies.
The card has been introduced systematically between June 2004 and December 2005, but there are still differences between the countries: In Italy, Austria, Czech Republic and Switzerland almost everyone has it, while in Bulgaria, Romania, Greece, Poland and Spain this card is being possessed by less than 5% of population.