European health card

[wendilla]

my daughter is going Bulgaria in Sept.Apart from Travel Insurance does she need to apply also for the European health Insurance card. Thanks

[Buenchico]

Yes.

Here's a possible scenario:
Your daughter is unfortunate enough to have an accident which requires hospital treatment. As a non-national, she's presented with a bill which must be paid before she's allowed to leave the hospital premises. If she shows her EHIC, she'll be entitled to the same free service that local residents receive and the bill will be waived. If she doesn't have it with her, she'll have to use all of her holiday cash (and possibly much more as well) to pay the bill and then try to recover it from her insurers. (Some, possibly most, insurance policies won't pay out in situations where the traveller wouldn't have received a bill if they'd carried an EHIC, so there's a possibility that she might be left out of pocket).

When travelling in countries where the EHIC is valid, it's important to carry it at all times. It ensures that the traveller will pay the same medical fees as local residents. (In most, but not all, cases that means free treatment). The medical element of travel insurance is really only required to cover expenses not met by the EHIC, such as the cost of an air ambulance to bring a severely injured traveller home.

I often travel in Europe without travel insurance but my EHIC resides permanently in my wallet. (I'm far more likely to, say, break my leg than to require an air ambulance home).

Chris

[wendilla]

Thanks for the info, I am sure she does not know about this as this is why I was asking first about it so I can tell her Thaks

[munchie63]

be careful with that.

the EHIC ONLY gives basic cover at a national hospital, not a private doctor, or clinic. In many places you won't find a national hospital in the vicinity.

The EHIc is free, and well worth taking, many insurance companies insist you have one before they pay out, but in no way does it replace holiday insurance.

Different scenario.....you need to see a doctor urgently as one of your kids is being violently sick.....no 'NHS' equivalent nearby, so you go to the nearest doctor. He treats you and charges you 100 Euro's. You then use your receipt to claim from your insurance company when you get home.

Please, always have travel insurance when travelling. You can get an annual policy for �50 so why take chances.

[munchie63]

from the gov. website:

The EHIC is normally valid for three to five years and covers any medical treatment that becomes necessary during your trip, because of either illness or an accident. The card gives access to state-provided medical treatment only, and you'll be treated on the same basis as an 'insured' person living in the country you're visiting. Remember, this might not cover all the things you'd expect to get free of charge from the NHS in the UK. You may have to make a contribution to the cost of your care.