European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) Application

The Client

The European Commission’s Directorate General of Employment, Social Affairs & Inclusion (DG EMPL) is in charge of contributing to the development of a modern, innovative and sustainable European Social Model with more and better jobs in an inclusive society based on equal opportunities. It is, among others, in charge of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) which allows European citizens to enjoy state-provided healthcare in any EU or EFTA country (Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway, and Switzerland).

The Challenge

The European Commission recognized that while EU citizens have the right to enjoy state-provided healthcare, certain bureaucratic, procedural, and linguistic obstacles stand in their way. It was looking for a solution that would assist euro-travelers while on the go.
DG EMPL hired Emakina to produce a mobile app which would assist travelers when in need of information on health services. The app needed to be highly user-friendly, adaptive to various smartphone models, and most importantly multi-lingual – in order to serve the vast population of Europe.

The Solution

The new "European Health Insurance Card" application developed by Emakina, gives information on local health care in case of illness or an accident during a stay abroad. The new practical mobile tool is launched in time for the summer holiday season, and in anticipation of the European Football Championships and the 2012 Summer Olympics. The app can be easily downloaded on most smartphones (iOS, Android and Windows Phone), and allows Europeans to travel across Europe with added security.
Using the EHIC app, patients and service providers can now understand each other more easily, by referring the application to ensure correct terminology and procedures. The app offers further information on reimbursement, processing and renewal of the card in the case of loss or theft. The EHIC app is also multi-lingual, allowing the user to choose among 24 European languages.
The mobile project is supported by an offline communication campaign, also designed by the agency. The campaign aims to promote the application and to encourage downloads among citizens traveling around the EU in the coming months. The ad campaign includes QR codes to allow an immediate and facilitated download.
The digital native agency has once again demonstrated its expertise and know-how by making this application readily available on multiple smartphone platforms such as iOS, Android and for the first time on the Windows Phone 7.