European Health Card.

[Snowy Owl]

We are going on a cruise up the coast of Norway in July. We have travel insurance though the tour company (Saga). Do we need a European Health Card too?

[Buenchico]

The EHIC is valid across the European Economic Area, which includes Norway (even though it's outside the EU).

You should take your EHIC cards and remember to carry then with you. lf you require treatment in a Norwegian hospital, you might be presented with a bill, which you would have to pay before you're allowed to leave.

If you've got the EHIC, you just show this and the bill is waived. If you've only got travel insurance, you'll have to pay the bill (which,depending upon the treatment, could be for a very large amount) and then try to reclaim the money from the insurance company when you get home. The insurance company might refuse to pay out because you should have taken an EHIC with you.

Basically, think of the EHIC as covering the costs of treatment. The health element of the travel insurance really only covers things such as repatriation expenses (if, say, you had to be flown home in an air ambulance). As I've indicated, many insurance companies will not pay out in respect of a bill which you've only received because you didn't have an EHIC.

Chris

[Snowy Owl]

Thanks Buenchico, that has explained in a nutshell what I couldn't work out from the website. I shall get it sotred immediately.

[ojread2]

Don't automatically expect free treatment like you get in the UK
This card entitles you to, and I quote, "reduced cost and sometimes free medical treatment"

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Policyandguidance/Heal thadvicefortravellers/Gettingtreatmentaroundth eworld/EEAandSwitzerland/DH_4114793

hth
OJx

[Snowy Owl]

Thanks OJ...I saw that bit on the website and understand that we might have to pay something at the time. It's like all insurance isn't it....you hope that you don't need it, but be prepared in case you do.