Using your EHIC as an EU student in Lithuania
This guide is general information, not legal advice. Rules and fees change — confirm anything important with the official source linked below and your university's international office.
Your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) lets you get medically necessary state healthcare in Lithuania on the same terms as an insured local — but only at contracted institutions, and it is not the same as full insurance.
This guide is for EU/EEA and Swiss students on a short or temporary stay. If you're a non-EU student, the EHIC doesn't apply to you — you'll rely on private health insurance and, once resident, possibly PSD. Erasmus and exchange students from the EU can use their home-country EHIC for the duration of their stay.
What the EHIC covers in Lithuania
With a valid EHIC and your passport or ID, you can receive medically necessary care — treatment that can't wait until you go home, including care for a chronic condition, pregnancy and childbirth. In practice this means:
- GP (family doctor / šeimos gydytojas) and specialist consultations
- Hospital treatment, including emergency departments
- Subsidised prescription medicines for outpatient care
- Ambulance transport (free of charge)
You are treated on the same terms as an insured resident, so there is no co-payment for the healthcare service itself.
It must be a contracted institution
The EHIC only works at clinics and hospitals that have an agreement with a Territorial Health Insurance Fund (Teritorinė ligonių kasa, THIF). Treatment at a private doctor without such an agreement is not covered and you pay the full price.
How to use it: step by step
- Carry your EHIC and photo ID (passport or national ID) together — you'll need both.
- Go to a contracted institution. For a non-emergency, register with a contracted GP first. Emergency departments accept walk-ins.
- Show both documents at reception before treatment.
- For specialist or non-emergency hospital care, get a referral from a doctor first. Without a referral for planned hospital treatment, you can be charged the full cost (as of 2026 — confirm on the European Commission's Lithuania EHIC page).
- At the pharmacy, pay your share of any subsidised medicine (see below).
If you're unsure whether a clinic is contracted, ask before treatment, or check with the National Health Insurance Fund (VLK) on +370 5 232 2222 / info@vlk.lt.
What you'll pay
| Item | Who pays |
|---|---|
| GP / specialist consultation (contracted, with referral where needed) | Covered — no co-payment |
| Emergency hospital treatment | Covered |
| Ambulance | Covered (free) |
| Subsidised prescription medicines | You pay part of the cost |
| Private clinic / non-contracted doctor | You pay in full |
| Most dental work (private) | You pay in full |
For subsidised medicines, you pay a co-payment. The European Commission states this should not exceed €5.87 or 25% of the reference price of the medicine (as of 2026 — confirm on the European Commission's Lithuania EHIC page). Some published figures differ, so treat the exact cap as something to verify rather than rely on.
What the EHIC does NOT cover
- Repatriation (transport home if you're seriously ill or injured)
- Planned treatment — care that's the reason for your trip, or that could wait until you return home
- Private healthcare and non-contracted doctors
- Most dental treatment — around 80% of dentists are private; even contracted ones charge separately for materials like fillings
- Lost or stolen belongings, search and rescue
The EHIC is not full insurance
The EHIC is not a substitute for travel or private health insurance. It does not cover repatriation, private treatment, or planned care. If your university or visa route requires proof of insurance, the EHIC alone may not satisfy it — keep a separate policy and confirm requirements with your international office.
When the EHIC stops being enough
The EHIC is built for temporary stays, not for settling in Lithuania. If you take up residence or start working here, your situation can change:
- A student with a temporary residence permit generally cannot be insured under PSD (Lithuania's compulsory health insurance) unless they are employed, or have worked here for six months and registered with the Employment Services afterwards (as of 2026 — confirm with VLK and your university).
- If you start a job, you (or your employer) will be contributing to PSD, which then becomes your main cover.
Check your status early
Don't assume your EHIC covers a multi-year degree. Ask your university's international office and VLK how your residence and work status affect your health cover, and sort it out before you actually need care.
If you're charged when you shouldn't be
Pay and keep every receipt and document. Charges paid in Lithuania are generally not refundable in Lithuania — instead, contact your home country's health insurance fund after you return to ask about reimbursement under EU rules.
Frequently asked
Does the EHIC make healthcare completely free in Lithuania?+
Not entirely. State medical care at contracted institutions is provided on the same terms as for insured Lithuanians, with no co-payment for the service itself, but you pay part of the cost of prescribed medicines, and private clinics are not covered.
Can I use my EHIC at any clinic?+
No. It only works at institutions that have a contract with a Territorial Health Insurance Fund (Teritorinė ligonių kasa). Most private clinics — and roughly 80% of dentists — are not contracted, so you would pay the full price there.
Is the EHIC enough for my whole degree?+
It is designed for temporary stays and necessary care, not for living in Lithuania long-term. If you take up residence or start working, you may need to register with PSD (Lithuania's compulsory health insurance). Check your status with VLK and your university's international office.
Do I still need travel or private insurance?+
The EHIC does not cover repatriation home, private treatment, most dental work, or lost belongings. Many students keep a travel or private health policy alongside it.
What if a clinic charges me anyway?+
Pay and keep every receipt. Charges paid in Lithuania are generally not refundable in Lithuania — contact your home country's health insurance fund after you return to ask about reimbursement.