What exactly are the European Health Card rules?
I posted an article a few weeks ago explaining how people’s confusion about the EHIC card could end up costing them money when they go abroad.
Many people mis understand its purpose and it can easily be confused with travel insurance so I have highlighted some of the main facts to help make sure your holidays run as smoothly as possible.
– An EHIC allows Britons to charge the NHS for the cost of any urgent medical treatment they might need while overseas within Europe.
– It is free to apply for and offers access to state-provided healthcare in European Economic Area (EEA) countries, including Switzerland, at a reduced cost, or sometimes for free.
-The cards – which are valid for five years – also cover treatment of pre-existing medical conditions and routine maternity care, providing the reason for the foreign trip is not specifically to give birth.
– You can’t be reimbursed for co-payments (payments required by individual countries that charge citizens).
– It’s not an alternative to travel insurance and does not cover any private medical healthcare or costs such as mountain rescue in ski resorts, flight costs back to the UK, or lost or stolen property.
Travel insurance is still an essential for any holiday alongside your EHIC card, not instead of!
