Medical cover and insurance you need on holiday
Holidaying in Europe your medical rights
EHIC/GHIC
In the EU you should have an EHIC You’ll either pay nothing for medical assistance, or at least reduce the level of upfront costs that you have to claim back later. Or if you don’t have one or it has expired get the new GHIC.
Showing the card can reduce red tape and can help save time and hassle when trying to claim money back. Some insurance policies expect you to have the EHIC/GHIC and won’t pay for any expenses that the card would have covered. Sometimes the insurer will waive the excess if you have used your card.
The EHIC/GHIC covers required treatment for a pre-existing or chronic medical condition such as asthma or diabetes. Many insurers will not cover this and there are only a few companies/policies that will cover existing conditions.
If you receive medically necessary treatment from a state healthcare provider in an EU country without presenting your UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), or a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC), you may be eligible to claim a refund for the costs incurred. Pay up front for the treatment and make sure you keep all the documentation as your evidence which is essential to get a refund.
Download and complete the Refund claim form on the NHS website then submit it with the necessary documentation to the NHS Overseas Healthcare Services. The refund will cover the cost of state-provided, medically necessary treatment, excluding any co-payments or patient contributions, which are standard charges for residents in some countries and are not refundable.
Why you need travel insurance as well as EHIC/GHIC
You should always take out travel insurance when going abroad. Use a comparison website and check the cover very carefully. You do still need it in addition to the EHIC/GHIC because the EHIC/GHIC is usually only accepted at state-funded hospitals and if you need assistance urgently and can only get to a private clinic, you will not be able to use the EHIC/GHIC. This article on the Gov.uk website provides good reasons why you should always take out holiday insurance regarding health, even more reason than the EHIC does not cover mountain rescue! Where the state-funded treatment is not entirely free, insurers will usually pay the outstanding costs.
The EHIC only covers medical costs so you need your insurance for any extra accommodation costs and repatriation.
If any state funded medical establishment refuse the card it is in breach of European rules. Should your EHIC be refused, try to get proof that you presented it at the time, as this could be key to getting the excess waived by your insurer. If you believe you’ve been incorrectly charged, contact the Department for Work and Pensions which may provide some reimbursement.
The bare minimum cover you need is for cancellation, curtailing of the holiday for a variety of reasons, illness/death at home or abroad, damage to home, called as a witness for court etc. You should also get property cover. You will want to be covered by delayed departure and/or luggage. Although in some circumstances you will want to claim from the airline directly. Always read the small print as to what is covered and what isn’t before purchasing!
Take out your travel insurance at the same time as booking your holiday! There usually is more time in the run up to your holiday when things can go wrong than the length of your holiday!
Travel insurance
Medical costs abroad
Your credit card accident cover, home insurance, (EHIC) or private health cover is not necessarily adequate. An emergency abroad can be enormously costly! For example if you need to be returned to the UK it could cost you thousands of pounds without sufficient insurance, e.g:
- Spain / Portugal → UK: £8,000 – £16,000
- Greece / Cyprus → UK: £14,000 – £22,000
- Canary Islands → UK: £18,000 – £25,000
- USA / Canada → UK: £80,000 – £200,000
- Middle East (UAE, Qatar) → UK: £60,000 – £150,000
It is usually cheaper to buy travel insurance yourself rather than using the site where you are booking your holiday. (Use one of the many comparison websites). Remember that it is now illegal for any site to automatically add any additional payments which appear as a default option. Drip pricing is also now illegal.
Brexit and medical care in the EU
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. Apply for this on the NHS website.
EHIC covers Norway/Iceland/Liechtenstein (GHIC doesn’t); otherwise identical EU coverage. Existing EHICs remain valid until expiry and then switch to GHIC
Lost card?
If you have lost your EHIC or GHIC card or its expired and you need emergency healthcare in an EU country you can get a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC). This gives you the same cover as an EHIC or GHIC until you get home.
To apply for a PRC, call the Overseas Healthcare Services on +44 (0)191 218 1999, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. You’ll need to have details like your national insurance number and where you’re being treated handy when you call. Someone else can also call on your behalf.
If you don’t have an EHIC, GHIC or PRC, you’ll need to pay for your treatment in full.reatment
Claiming for medical cover in the EU
Notify the insurance company as soon as possible of your wish to claim. If you are dissatisfied with the offer or rejection follow the Top 20 tips for effective complaining and outline your reasoning. If you remain dissatisfied contact the Financial Ombudsman.
Travel insurance for other things
Travel insurance will also cover you for if you cancel your holiday as well as lost items etc. Compare travel insurance well and don’t always go with the cheapest as it might provide the cover you want.
Make sure you don’t invalidate your travel insurance
@thecomplainingcow How to choose travel insurance and had to complain about travel insurance. #Insurance #traveltipsandhacks #TravelInsurance #MoneyTipsAndTricks #Holidays
More help with complaining effectively about travel
And for everything else to complain about effectively GET THE BOOK! How To Complain: The ESSENTIAL Consumer Guide to Getting REFUNDS, Redress and RESULTS!
Want to get better at complaining? See 101 Habits of an Effective Complainer.
Save yourself time and effort finding the laws and wording a letter of complaint. Download a template, fill in your details and get that redress
Purchase downloadable templates to gain redress.
How to book and complain about holidays/flights/travel
