- Aug 18, 2011
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No one asked me about health insurance when I arrived in Santander in June.BUSBY.You are covered for emergency treatment. It is not a get you home provision, which the EU now requires so you are not a burden on their health services. get you home can be extremely expensive without insurance.
Though the UK advise insurance, France, the gateway to most for the rest of Europe, requires it. I have not checked other port entry requirements .
‘If you are planning a holiday in a country in the European Union (EU), you might be wondering whether your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will still be valid.
As part of the deal announced on 24 December 2020, the UK and the EU agreed that the cards can still be used until their expiry dates.
After that, the government will issue a new Global Heath Insurance Card (GHIC) which will replace the EHIC for the majority of UK citizens.
What is an EHIC?
The EHIC currently entitles you to state-provided medical treatment if you fall ill or have an accident in any EU country, or in Switzerland, Norway, Iceland and Liechtenstein, where the scheme also applies. The same applies to EU citizens who are in the UK.
The cards cover pre-existing medical conditions and routine maternity care, as well as emergency care. Individuals with chronic illnesses, for example those who require dialysis, can travel knowing they will receive treatment on the same terms as the citizens of the country they are visiting.
The UK has issued 27 million EHIC cards.
The cards are valid until they expire. They last five years and the expiry date is printed on the front.
You can no longer apply for a new EHIC.
What is a GHIC?
If your EHIC has expired (or is about to), you should apply for its replacement - the new UK GHIC.
It will cover chronic or existing illnesses and routine maternity care as well as emergencies, but treatments such as dialysis or chemotherapy will have to be pre-arranged to ensure they are available at your destination.
The GHIC will not be valid in Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein or Switzerland.
The government website says that the GHIC is not an alternative to travel insurance.
It advises that you should also buy travel insurance which includes health cover as the GHIC - like the EHIC - does not cover any private medical healthcare such as mountain rescue in ski resorts or being flown back to the UK.’ BBC news website source.