This article explains what travellers who use medical oxygen must check when arranging travel insurance, especially when relying on public healthcare schemes such as EHIC. It clarifies what EHIC does and does not cover, why oxygen delivery often fails despite insurance promises, and how OxygenWorldwide provides a specialist set up service to ensure oxygen is in place before arrival. Using real world scenarios, the article shows how delays, local medical rules, and language barriers can leave travellers without oxygen, and how early planning with OxygenWorldwide removes this risk and provides peace of mind.
You have booked the flight.
You have chosen the hotel.
You have your EHIC card in your wallet and your insurance confirmation printed out.
So everything is covered. Right?
This is where many oxygen users pause. Because somewhere between “I am insured” and “I have oxygen waiting for me”, there is a gap. And it is a gap that surprises people every year, often after they have already arrived at their holiday destination.
This article exists to close that gap. Calmly. Clearly. Without fear. Without jargon.
Because travel insurance, even public schemes like EHIC, is not the same thing as oxygen logistics. And understanding the difference early can save you days of stress, missed holidays, or worse, waiting without oxygen.
Let us walk through what actually matters.
What Travel Insurance Really Covers When You Use Oxygen
Travel insurance is about medical entitlement, not medical logistics.
That distinction is subtle, but crucial.
If you are travelling within the EU, plus Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, North Macedonia, or Australia, your EHIC card gives you access, in principle, to urgent and some chronic disease related medical treatment during a temporary stay. That can include doctor visits, hospital care, and in some cases follow up treatment.
But here is the part most people overlook.
- EHIC does not arrange oxygen delivery.
- EHIC does not guarantee equipment will be waiting at your hotel.
- EHIC does not bypass local medical rules.
And OxygenWorldwide, equally important to say, cannot arrange medical oxygen under the EHIC scheme.
These are not failures. They are simply how the systems are designed.
Why Oxygen Is Different From Other Medical Needs
Oxygen is equipment. It requires delivery, installation, power, access, timing, and confirmation.
In many countries, oxygen cannot be supplied until a local doctor and often a specialist has assessed you in person. This is due to national regulations and varies widely between countries.
What does that mean in practice?
It means that even if your insurer or home oxygen supplier has assured you that oxygen will be provided, you may still be asked to wait. Days. Sometimes weeks. Especially during busy seasons.
And this is precisely why OxygenWorldwide is so often called after travellers arrive, when it is already stressful.
Scenario A: When everything is approved but Nothing is there
This scenario is more common than people expect.
Your home supplier or insurer agrees to cover oxygen abroad. On paper, everything looks fine. But when you arrive, you are told that before oxygen can be delivered locally, you must visit a doctor. Then a specialist. Then wait for approval.
Local law. No exceptions.
We have seen travellers spend their first week of a two week holiday chasing appointments, sitting in waiting rooms, trying to explain their condition in another language, all while worrying about their oxygen needs.
This is where OxygenWorldwide’s initial set up service exists for one reason only: peace of mind.
Instead of waiting until after arrival, we can arrange oxygen before you travel, delivered one day prior to your arrival, so it is already in place.
- You submit an enquiry or email us.
- We provide a quotation.
- Once accepted and paid, we arrange the oxygen delivery.
After you arrive and attend the required doctor or specialist appointment locally, you send us the prescription by email. From that point, OxygenWorldwide passes delivery and invoicing to a local supplier. In most cases, you continue using the same equipment.
At that stage, part of the initial payment is refunded, minus the set up fee and any non reimbursable days.
This does not replace EHIC. It works alongside it. It removes waiting. It removes uncertainty. It gives you back your holiday.
Manual edit suggestion: you may wish to add a short real example here, such as a traveller who avoided a long delay thanks to the set up service.
Scenario B: When Language Becomes the Barrier
This scenario is quieter, but just as disruptive.
The oxygen was “arranged”.But between your home country and your destination, something was misunderstood. Different languages. Different assumptions. Different systems.
The supplier thinks the hotel will organise access. The hotel thinks the supplier will contact the guest. The guest assumes it is all done.
And suddenly, nothing is there.
This is where OxygenWorldwide’s multilingual coordination becomes critical. We operate in five languages, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. We step in, speak directly to local suppliers, hotels, clinics, and arrange oxygen as quickly as possible.
In this case, we charge your credit card for the supply. There is no refund, but you receive an invoice that you can later submit to your insurer or oxygen supplier at home to attempt reimbursement.
It is not ideal. But it works. And most importantly, it gets you oxygen when you need it.
If you call us from your destination, we can call you back on request, which avoids unnecessary phone costs.
The EHIC Card: Helpful, But Not a Safety Net for Oxygen
EHIC is valuable. Absolutely. Everyone travelling in Europe should carry it.
But it is not designed to manage oxygen delivery. It never was.
EHIC supports medical access, not equipment logistics. It does not override local medical processes. It does not guarantee timing. And it does not ensure coordination between suppliers, hotels, and healthcare providers.
This is why relying on EHIC alone for oxygen is risky, especially for short stays or time sensitive trips.
That is not a criticism. It is simply understanding how the system works.
What You Should Always Check Before You Travel
If you use medical oxygen and are planning a trip, especially in spring or summer, here is what truly matters.
- Confirm your medical clearance with your doctor
- Understand whether your oxygen needs are stable
- Know that EHIC does not arrange oxygen delivery
- Ask whether local laws require a doctor visit before oxygen can be supplied
- Decide whether you want oxygen guaranteed on arrival or are willing to wait
- Plan early, especially for popular destinations
That last point is key. Early planning removes most problems.
How OxygenWorldwide Fits Into This Picture
- OxygenWorldwide does not sell insurance.
- We do not replace EHIC.
- We do not make medical decisions.
What we do is coordinate oxygen logistics in the real world.
- We check availability.
- We arrange deliveries.
- We speak to hotels.
- We navigate local rules.
- We provide a safety net when systems fail to align.
And we have been doing it since 1993.
For many travellers, that coordination is the difference between staying home and travelling with confidence.
A Final Thought Before You Book
Most travellers who call us say the same thing.
“I thought I was covered.”
They were. Just not in the way they assumed.
Insurance and EHIC protect your access to care. OxygenWorldwide protects your access to oxygen.
When those two work together, travel becomes possible again.
If you are planning a trip and want to be sure your oxygen is in place when you arrive, fill in the travel enquiry form on our website or contact our team directly. We will explain your options clearly and help you decide whether an initial set up service is right for your journey.
Good preparation is the best form of reassurance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does EHIC cover oxygen delivery abroad?
No. EHIC covers access to medical care, not the logistics of oxygen delivery.
Can OxygenWorldwide arrange oxygen under EHIC?
No. OxygenWorldwide cannot arrange oxygen under the EHIC scheme, but we can provide an initial set up service to ensure oxygen is in place before arrival.
Why might I have to see a doctor locally before receiving oxygen?
Many countries require local medical assessment before oxygen can be supplied. This varies by country and can cause delays.
Can I claim OxygenWorldwide costs back from my insurer?
In some cases, yes. We provide invoices so you can attempt reimbursement, but this depends on your insurer.
Is the set up service refundable?
Partially. Once local supply takes over, OxygenWorldwide refunds the amount minus the set up fee and any non reimbursable days.
