The European Traveller's Money-Saving Secret

23-Apr-2010

The chaos caused when the Icelandic volcano Eyjafjallajokull erupted is a stark reminder of the inconveniences that may occur when travelling. The volcanic ash cloud that ensued grounded planes in Europe for six days, leaving thousands of people stranded abroad and many with health problems resulting from breathing in the toxic air. What to do when you need medical assistance in a foreign country?

A free and rather unknown way of getting healthcare abroad is by using the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). Although the EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance when travelling in Europe, it is a useful tool to help you receive medical assistance and reduced cover should you need healthcare whilst in another country.

What exactly is the EHIC?

The EHIC enables the cardholder to access state-provided healthcare services such as pharmacies and hospitals and other healthcare centres under the same terms as the nationals of the country that you are travelling to.

The card ensures that people travelling in the European Union's 27 member states and Iceland, Lichtenstein, Norway and Switzerland can be allowed to continue their stay in those countries should they encounter health problems. This means you don't have to return to your own country to obtain medical care, and therefore can avoid the hassle of all those additional charges if you are on a business trip, studying abroad or on holiday.

Where can I get the EHIC?

Applying for the EHIC is free and the card is valid for up to five years. You can apply online on the NHS website for delivery within 7 days, by telephone (0845 606 2030) for delivery within 10 days and via the Post Office for delivery within 21 days.  

How do you use the EHIC?

Since every country in the European Economic Area (EEA) has different legislation on how each healthcare system is run, having the EHIC will not necessarily mean that medical services in the country you travel to will be free.

Some countries, such as Germany, do not offer free healthcare and expect their citizens to have an insurance plan to cover their medical expenses. However, the EHIC does ensure a reduced medical cost in prescription medicine and other treatments there.

For example, if you needed to see a doctor whilst in Germany, the German Krankenkasse would charge you a 10 Euro fixed fee for this service, a fee that has to be paid up front. When you returned to the UK, under the rules of the EHIC, you could then seek reimbursement for the treatment. This type of claim must be made to the NHS Overseas Healthcare Team at the following telephone number: 0191 218 1999 (Mon-Fri, 8am-5pm).

The EHIC also includes free treatment of a chronic or preexisting medical condition that you have to receive treatment for during the trip a reduced cost or in most cases, free. This also applies to the provision of oxygen, renal dialysis and routine medical care if the condition is judged to be severe enough to require immediate treatment. Finally, maternity care is also included in the coverage of the EHIC - however, if your reason for visiting the country was specifically to give birth, these rights would be taken away.

What isn;t covered by the EHIC?

Travel expenses that are linked to a medical condition will not be covered by the card. In the same way, some countries have private ambulance carriers that may charge for the journey to the hospital or health care centre, and these charges are not covered by the EHIC nor are they eligible for reimbursement back in the UK.  Also, residents of the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man are not eligible to get an EHIC.

As would be expected, private medical insurance services aren't covered by the EHIC as these are not a part of the member state's healthcare system. The card is also not a replacement for travel insurance, as the EHIC and a travel insurance policy cover different aspects of medical care. In fact, some travel insurance providers will insist on you having an EHIC as a prerequisite of covering you whilst you're travelling within the EEA.

Get a great value travel insurance quote here, and apply for an EHIC today at this website.