If you are a citizen in the European Union's 27 Member States as well as Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, you can access health care services during temporary visits abroad with the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). The EHIC allows you to access state-provided healthcare at a doctor, a pharmacy, a hospital or a health care center in all participating countries at a reduced cost or sometimes free of charge. If the country you are visiting charges for health care, you may be reimbursed immediately or later when you return to your home country. The EHIC is available free through your local health authority. Be alert to scams -- some Web sites have been trying to scam people by charging for the EHIC. Also know that the EHIC card does not cover your health care costs while abroad if you are traveling in order to obtain treatment for an illness or for injury that you had before traveling. Nor does the card cover you for private sector health care providers, and it is not an alternative to travel insurance. More information on the EHIC is available from the EU.