 Poster: A snowHead
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Warning! 3m EHIC cards have expired. Check & get it FREE if you're travelling to Europe this year. Updated Guide
The EHIC card is a govt scheme giving the cardholder free or discounted treatment in state-run hospitals in the EU or Switzerland. Why they've expired? EHIC replaced the E111 card in Sept 05, and until March 06 it issued some 3yr and some 5yr cards to spread expiry dates. Now nearly 3million have run out and only 250,000 have been renewed. Is it worth it? Yes! It's important for emergency treatment, works regardless of age & means you get identical treatment and billing to that country's citizens. Does it replace travel insurance? No, as you may still need pay, it only works in state hospitals and doesn't cover baggage, delay etc. How to get one: Go to EHIC applications. |
Did you know they had a expiry date?
I did not until I checked, it's been dead a while, I've just renewed online very painless. https://www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/home.do
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The free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) replaced the E111 form in 2005 and entitles the holder to free or discounted medical treatment in state run hospitals in any EU country and Switzerland. If you’re travelling to Europe you should ensure you’ve got a valid one as it means you’re treated like a citizen of that country, which is extremely useful in emergencies.
It’s completely free to get one, go to the EHIC website, any Post Office or call 0845 606 2030.
Does it make treatments free?
No. Effectively it means you get treated the same way as a citizen of that country. So if they get free medical treatment you do too; if they pay, you pay the same rates. This is a reciprocal agreement across Europe, so EU citizens can use the NHS in the same way.
Yet do ensure you’ve got the card with you at all times, as rather absurdly the terms stipulate that you won't be covered if you haven’t got it (so take it to the beach if you have to too).
Can it be used as a substitute for travel insurance?
No. While very useful, it’s only about medical cover. It doesn’t cover baggage, holiday cancellation, repatriation if you’re dead or any of the other things you might take cover out for. Plus you’ve only got access to state run hospitals which, depending on where you travel to, can be few or far between, and more limited.
What’s more, you may have to pay for treatment even with an EHIC card (though it’ll usually be discounted). You’d be covered for this extra expense with travel insurance but having the EHIC too may mean you needn’t pay the excess.
Check it hasn't expired.
EHIC cards expire after three or five years, and the expiry date is listed on the bottom right of the plastic. It’s thought up to three million people are carrying now expired cards, so it’s crucial to ensure yours is valid and sort one before going away. You can apply for a new card up to six months before the current one ends.
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thanks to http://www.moneysavingexpert.com for the reminder and info
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Dwarf Vader, We've had this before - boredsurfing put it up last year I think, so yes I knnew they expired , and mind hasn't. good reminder though
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Glad we had ours with us at New Year. It has since expired and they are now renewed.
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Helen Beaumont, How did it help? so it's not an empty euro promise?
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Dwarf Vader, thanks to you and fordprefect for this reminder - I had no idea they expired, checked and mine ran out 1st March 
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Dwarf Vader, presenting the EHIC card means you are treated like a citizen of the country you are in, so although there were charges,they were only what a French citizen would have paid. I think there was a total of about 250€ which our insurers have paid. We were asked if we had a card by both hospitals, so without it we may have been asked to guarantee that we would pay.
However, they were very much ' treat first and sort out the money later' , even the private ambulance service would have billed us rather than make us pay immediately. I called the insurers, who spoke to the ambulance staff and they dealt with it all over the phone.
Using the EHIC card also meant we paid no excess on our insurance claim.
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| Yoda wrote: |
| .............I had no idea they expired.............. |
Stay on the ball with snowHeads - we're here to help 
I agree the reminder is timely, though.
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Dwarf Vader, iirc many years ago when I dislocated a shoulder (in the days of yearly EHIC) the insurers would not pay the part of the bill which would have been covered by the EHIC, as by not having one you were not acting as a "prudent uninsured" and therefore didn't deserve the payment. I had the document so was OK, although it wasn't a huge amount (the fancy sling that I bought from a pharmacy cost more than the doctor's bill  )
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Helen Beaumont, that's reassuring to know particularly about the ambulance after reading horror stories about people not been taken to hospital unless they paid first.
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I didn't know they expired, mine had, good job I didn't need to use it then.
Also everyone may not know that the photocard driving licences expire after 10 years
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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Dwarf Vader, I was thinking of those horror stories while julesb was waiting for the ambulance to take him to Grenoble.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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| elgrego wrote: |
| Also everyone may not know that the photocard driving licences expire after 10 years |
At least with a EHIC you don't have to pay for a replacement. My old paper driving license is extremely tatty - but it does last until I'm 70.
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elgrego, if you were to move into a friend/relatives house for a short while DVLA should do you a change of address free of charge. If you were to move back a few weeks later........
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You know it makes sense.
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Based on two recent incidents involving trying to use EHIC's, I think they're quite a good metaphor for our current government. There's a very slick IT system for ordering/renewing a card, the accompanying blurb makes it out to be a shining example of European cooperation but when you actually need it in an emergency..... less use than the proverbial chocolate teapot.
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Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
Otherwise you'll just go on seeing the one name:
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Clive, Completely contrary to the experience of one of our party in the Sud-Tirol. Was taken to "Krankenhaus Brixen" with a leg broken in three places - handed over EHIC, then when I showed them his passport and asked for the hospital contact details for his insurance company the response was "Why do you need insurance - with the (EHIC) card it's all free anyway"
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Poster: A snowHead
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Hi Robin, my experiences involved a broken collar bone + head injury in Greece and torn knee ligaments in Italy. Neither hospital were the slightest bit impressed by my EHIC plastic but noticeably perked up when I flashed insurance docs and a Visa card.
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Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
Obviously A snowHead isn't a real person
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Clive, You have to remember, the EHIC card only gves you the same cover in any of the applicable countries as the locals get under their equivalent of the NHS.
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Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
Well, the person's real but it's just a made up name, see?
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Clive, certainly much better than a chocolate teapot when we had cause to use it recently. Like alex_heney, says it depends on the country. You should be treated exactly the same as a citizen of the country you are visiting. Did you try to reclaim any of this from the NHS?
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You need to Login to know who's really who.
You need to Login to know who's really who.
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Dwarf Vader, Thanks just went and looked at ours and they have expired last month
New ones now applyed for
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Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
Anyway, snowHeads is much more fun if you do.
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Garfield, I got mine through the post on Friday so it took less than a week to arrive.
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You'll need to Register first of course.
You'll need to Register first of course.
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Dwarf Vader, mine came today, so I can now journey to the dark side once more 
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| Clive wrote: |
| Hi Robin, my experiences involved a broken collar bone + head injury in Greece and torn knee ligaments in Italy. Neither hospital were the slightest bit impressed by my EHIC plastic but noticeably perked up when I flashed insurance docs and a Visa card. |
impressive.. would you allow me to take life insurance on you 
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| FenlandSkier wrote: |
| elgrego, if you were to move into a friend/relatives house for a short while DVLA should do you a change of address free of charge. If you were to move back a few weeks later........ |
...... very interesting fenlandskier
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You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
You'll get to see more forums and be part of the best ski club on the net.
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Late starter, Scottish guy in the next room to my hubby in Grenoble hospital did not have an EHIC card. Their insurers phoned the DWP on their behalf with his National Insurance number and organised the EHIC card.
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snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
snowHeads are a friendly bunch.
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And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
And love to help out and answer questions and of course, read each other's snow reports.
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BernardC, fingers crossed that you don't. 
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FAQ
) - you may find the following helpful. I rang the telephone number listed on the website on the Saturday morning and even tho their computers were down I was able to leave all the details and was given an emergency phone number in case we needed to use medical services while away. No idea if it would have worked - fortunately - but was reassuring to think at least there seemed to be a system. Returned today to find the new cards had arrived. 
Again a 5 year validity so will need to keep an eye on them 
