EHIC - not an alternative to travel insurance

27 August 2010 14:43:29

Visitors to Europe should take travel insurance and an EHIC.

The importance of good holiday protection has been highlighted in recent days by the plight of newlywed Carrie-Anne Dudbridge, who fell 30ft from a balcony in Corfu and fractured her spine in three places. The 27-year-old and her husband had decided not to compare travel insurance offers before going on their honeymoon, as they were under the impression that their free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) would provide all the cover they needed. Here, we look at the cover provided by an EHIC and at why travel insurance is still important, even when visiting countries in Europe.

What is an EHIC?
An EHIC entitles the cardholder to treatment provided by the relevant state healthcare scheme while visiting countries in the European Economic Area or Switzerland. Anyone who usually lives in the UK is eligible for an EHIC, which is available free of charge by visiting the NHS website Ehic.org.uk. Applicants must be over the age of 16, but can include their children as their dependants.

What does it cover?
The EHIC covers any medical treatment that becomes necessary while travelling in participating countries, either because of illness or an accident. Holidaymakers who carry an EHIC can expect reduced-cost or free medical treatment from state healthcare providers in the country they are visiting.

Patients with a long-term or pre-existing medical condition will be entitled to treatment that becomes necessary while they are on holiday. The EHIC also entitles the cardholder to maternity care, as well as the provision of oxygen, kidney dialysis and other routine medical care.

What doesn't it cover?
The EHIC does not cover some costs, such as repatriation, and should therefore not be regarded as a substitute for travel insurance. As the Dudbridges found to their dismay while honeymooning in Corfu, the card does not cover the cost of an air ambulance to return seriously injured Britons to the UK. It also does not entitle the cardholder to private healthcare or any services that are not routinely offered as part of the state healthcare system in the country being visited. This means that in some regions where there is no state-provided healthcare, the EHIC will be of no use.

Why should I get travel insurance?
Britons are advised to perform a travel insurance comparison before leaving the UK and take both travel insurance and an EHIC card when visiting Europe. According to the NHS, holidaymakers "should always take out an appropriate private policy" as well as carrying their EHIC. Travel insurance provides cover for costs such as repatriation, which the EHIC does not. In addition, some travel insurance providers require policyholders to have an EHIC in order for their cover to be valid.

Be aware of sites that charge
Holidaymakers should be aware that, if they do not apply for an EHIC via the official NHS website, Ehic.org.uk, they may have to pay an application charge. EHICs are available free of charge from the official site, but a number of other websites charge applicants for a 'review and forward' service. The Office of Fair Trading (OFT) recently took action against four online traders that were charging consumers, without making it clear that they were not the official NHS site.

Heather Clayton, senior director of the OFT's consumer group, said that traders who charge for a reviewing and forwarding service should make this clear and not "trick consumers into parting with money for services they don't want". She advised: "People seeking to obtain government-funded services such as an EHIC should check carefully that they are using an official government website." 

‹ Back

All news articles

All Travel insurance News
All News Stories

Product Offers
Please ensure that you fully read the terms & conditions of any product or policy before you decide to proceed and are fully aware of the total costs and the benefits and any exclusions or limitations applicable to the product or plan.

Please note that the product links will take you direct to the Issuer or Insurer's site direct and we cannot be held responsible for the information which they provide within their own sites. On some comparison tables we use a star rating which rates products by visitor popularity.