European Health Insurance Cards (EHIC), which many travellers within the European Union rely on to receive free or reduced-price healthcare while they are abroad, have a five-year shelf life, and as they were introduced in 2006, many of the people who initially applied for the cards and received them in that year risk carrying invalid cards on their summer holidays this year.
Bob Atkinson of insurance comparison site Moneysupermarket said: “Brits hitting Europe this summer without an EHIC could end up facing a hefty bill if they need medical care while thery’re on vacation.” He warned that there are still plenty of consumers who do not understand how the EHIC works, and more who think that they still need to obtain the E111 form, which the EHIC replaced.
According to research from Moneysupermarket, 58 per cent of Britons surveyed are unaware of the benefits offered by the EHIC, but Atkinson warned that it is still no substitute for taking out comprehensive travel insurance. He told customers: “The EHIC only offers relatively low level access to medical treatment. Holidaymakers shouldn’t view it as a replacement for travel insurance, and travellers should also be aware that any non-essential care or treatment can cost extra.”
Tuesday, August 2, 2011
EHIC validity highlighted
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