Erasmus: are university insurance and the EHIC enough for your stay?

Existing protection can meet the programme requirement

The Erasmus+ Guide requires protection for mobility risks and makes organisers responsible for choosing an appropriate solution. No additional policy is necessary if organisers’ existing policies already cover the participant.

The guide identifies liability, professional where needed; accidents and serious illness including disability; and death, with repatriation for projects abroad. Travel and baggage apply where relevant. Check the actual scope of the certificate received.

Sources: European Commission — Erasmus+ Programme Guide, participant protection; accessed 29 October 2026 ↗

What the EHIC does not settle

The European Commission explains that the EHIC gives access to medically necessary public-system healthcare during a temporary stay, on the terms and at the cost applicable to people covered in that country. It does not guarantee free care or replace travel insurance. Private care, travel back home and lost or stolen belongings are not covered.

Sources: European Commission — European Health Insurance Card, scope and limits; accessed 29 October 2026 ↗

Check one situation at a time

Editorial method: create a row for necessary healthcare, an accident causing disability, harm to a third party, repatriation and baggage where relevant. Add the responsible contact, the document answering the question, the dates and how to obtain help. Keep a question mark wherever confirmation is missing.

Fictional example: a student receives a certificate identifying only the institution and teaching dates. They travel two days earlier and stay an extra week. The next step is to ask about those dates rather than treating the certificate as proof of protection for the entire trip. This example determines no real university’s cover.

Include placements and changes of plan

Describe whether the mobility involves classes, laboratories, a placement, fieldwork or another activity. Ask the institution what documents and confirmations it needs before the start. Do not reuse an answer about classroom attendance for a different task without clarification.

If the destination, activity or dates change, update your sheet and request a review of the answers. Keep assistance contacts and instructions available outside your email inbox. Share identity or medical documents only through the indicated channel, never in social-media comments.

Compare before buying a second policy

Keep institutional terms and answers and identify the actual gap before requesting another proposal. Different policy names do not establish complementary cover; similar documents do not establish complete duplication either.

In the RMACHADO request, choose Other insurance and describe the Erasmus mobility, country, dates and outstanding question. Request review of existing cover through the appropriate channel. A quote request confirms neither acceptance nor cover and does not replace the institution’s validation of project requirements.