Quizzes & Puzzles19 mins ago
European Health Insurance Card (EHIC)
Hi there
we are off to Malta on sunday and have the usual travel insurance. However I was told that I really do need an EHIC. Which I have applied for - however it can take up to 10 days to get to me.
So my question is : What is the main advantages of having an EHIC as well as travel insurance?
Cheers
Ali
x
we are off to Malta on sunday and have the usual travel insurance. However I was told that I really do need an EHIC. Which I have applied for - however it can take up to 10 days to get to me.
So my question is : What is the main advantages of having an EHIC as well as travel insurance?
Cheers
Ali
x
Answers
Best Answer
No best answer has yet been selected by Maggoty. Once a best answer has been selected, it will be shown here.
For more on marking an answer as the "Best Answer", please visit our FAQ.If you`ve got insurance with good medical cover, I can`t really see the point in both. I suppose if you needed emergency care in europe you could use the EHIC and avoid claiming on your insurance, thus avoiding paying the excess. I have year round insurance and I wouldn`t bother with an ETIC if I was going to Europe. Having said that, are they free? No harm in it if they are, I suppose.
pink-kittens
"and once you have it, you will automatically get a new one"
Not true ,just before I went on holiday I happened to notice mine had expired a month earlier.I rang up to renew and they gave me a phone number to ring in case of emergenct treatment ,fortunately I didnt need any and my new card was waiting for me when I got home.
"and once you have it, you will automatically get a new one"
Not true ,just before I went on holiday I happened to notice mine had expired a month earlier.I rang up to renew and they gave me a phone number to ring in case of emergenct treatment ,fortunately I didnt need any and my new card was waiting for me when I got home.
Reason 1 for having an EHIC:
Many insurance policies only cover treatment which is not available under the EHIC provisions. e.g. the insurance might cover you for repatriation to the UK (if required) but not cover you for treatment for your broken leg. (Insurers quite reasonably expect travellers to make sure that they've got the free - or reduced rate - cover which their EU citizenship entitles them too).
Reason 2 for having an EHIC:
It provides IMMEDIATE cover. For example, if you're taken to hospital with a broken leg, you'll be given a bill which you must pay before you leave. If you produce your EHIC that bill will automatically be waived (assuming that the locals get free treatment). Otherwise you must pay the bill and then try to claim the money back from your insurer when you return to the UK. (That could leave you having to find hundreds, or thousands, of pounds to pay for your treatment. As above, the insurer might then refuse to refund the money on the grounds that you should have had your EHIC with you).
I would never consider travelling within the EU without my EHIC (which never leaves my wallet) but I hardly ever bother with insurance.
Chris
Many insurance policies only cover treatment which is not available under the EHIC provisions. e.g. the insurance might cover you for repatriation to the UK (if required) but not cover you for treatment for your broken leg. (Insurers quite reasonably expect travellers to make sure that they've got the free - or reduced rate - cover which their EU citizenship entitles them too).
Reason 2 for having an EHIC:
It provides IMMEDIATE cover. For example, if you're taken to hospital with a broken leg, you'll be given a bill which you must pay before you leave. If you produce your EHIC that bill will automatically be waived (assuming that the locals get free treatment). Otherwise you must pay the bill and then try to claim the money back from your insurer when you return to the UK. (That could leave you having to find hundreds, or thousands, of pounds to pay for your treatment. As above, the insurer might then refuse to refund the money on the grounds that you should have had your EHIC with you).
I would never consider travelling within the EU without my EHIC (which never leaves my wallet) but I hardly ever bother with insurance.
Chris