The European Health Insurance Card or EHIC is a must have item for all UK resident travelling to anywhere in Europe. In the event that your holiday takes a turn for the worst, the card allows you access to state provided healthcare, similar to that provided by the NHS in the UK, in all countries designated as in the European Economic Area or EEA.
These countries are Austria, Belgium, Bulgaria, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Republic of Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Leichtenstein, Lithuania, Luxemburg, Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland Portugal, Romania, Slovenia, Slovakia, Spain, Sweden and the UK. Switzerland is a country also included in the scheme.
Not all countries' healthcare systems are the same, so you might not be covered for everything that would normally be free from the NHS in the UK. In many cases, you will be offered a choice of either private or state provided care. To avoid potentially costly private medical bills, always seek out state provided care and where possible present your EHIC before treatment.
There are certain rules that apply to using your European Health Insurance Card should you require medical treatment during your visit abroad. Most accidents are covered but you are not permitted to go abroad to use the card to receive specific medical care. However, maternity care, renal dialysis and looking after the symptoms of a pre-existing or chronic condition that crops up while you are abroad are all covered by the card.
Broadly speaking, you will receive the same treatment as a resident of the country you are visiting. That said, many overseas countries expect the patient to pay towards the cost of medical treatment anyway so even with the EHIC you may still be expected to pay. It is also worth bearing in mind that you may be able to recoup this cost when you return to the UK if you are not able to do so in the country you have visited. Always remember to keep receipts and paperwork as they may be needed to apply for reimbursement.
Applying for a European Health Insurance Card is free and is valid for five years. Finally, it should be pointed out that the card is not an alternative to travel insurance. It does not cover you for private medical care or the cost of such things as a rescue from a mountain in a ski resort. Neither, of course, does it cover lost or stolen property, repatriation to the UK or flight related problems. It is therefore essential that you have a travel insurance policy as well as your EHIC.
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