Travel Insurance A Must In Addition To EHIC

We all know that when we go on holiday it is wise to also get insurance to cover our trip. However, some people are relying on the E111 form to cover any medical costs and not taking out travel insurance. This is a misguided approach it seems.

Travel insurance firms have warned holidaymakers not to assume that the impressive sounding European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will keep them covered on holiday.

The EHIC replaces the outgoing EU healthcare form, the E111. The EHIC allows you to access state-provided healthcare in all European Economic Area countries and Switzerland at a reduced cost or sometimes free of charge.

Travel insurance firms say that the card will not cover all the eventualities provided for under a decent holiday policy however.

In particular they point to the clause stating that carriers will receive free or "reduced cost" care while in the EU, with none of the other benefits of a travel insurance policy.

As almost a third of all travel insurance claims are related to medical expenses some might say this is worth the risk. However, there are many other things that can go wrong while you are away that the EHIC does not cover. For example what if you wallet or other valuable item is stolen, no one has been injured so only travel insurance would help in this situation.

"This card should not be carried as a substitute for travel insurance," warns a travel insurance manager. "It is a great shame that the word insurance has been included in the name of this new card.

"Anyone having a serious accident abroad would discover at the worst time possible that this EHIC card would not pay for repatriation to Britain, or for the cost of a relative to join and remain with the injured party abroad - costs that good travel insurance will pay out on," she added.

If you would like to know more about travel insurance why not ask AnswerBank Insurance.