A valid EHIC card is vital if you’re going abroad to an EU country this summer – but holidaymakers are being reminded that it cannot replace adequate travel insurance

EVERY citizen of an EU country is entitled to a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), giving them the same free treatment in public hospitals as residents of the country visited. But James Pritchard, of Teesside firm Macks Solicitors, says many travellers every year find out the hard way that while the card is invaluable, it doesn’t provide the same level of cover as a good insurance policy.

“British people are so used to just turning up at an NHS hospital and getting all the treatment they need that they often don’t realise that isn’t how the system works everywhere else,” he said. “Most European countries’ public health systems don’t provide the same level of care as the NHS and their public hospitals are often pretty basic.

“I had a client some years ago who didn’t have holiday insurance and collapsed with a serious illness while on holiday in Spain. He was rushed to hospital by ambulance but was too ill to specify which hospital he wanted to go to, so they just took him to the private one. He stayed there for four weeks before returning home to find a bill for more than £20,000 waiting on his doormat. At no point during his treatment did he realise it was a private hospital who were treating him. He didn’t speak the language and was used to the NHS, where if you’re unwell you go to hospital and if you need care, you get it.”

James was able to get the British government to pay something towards the bill, covering the level of treatment he could have expected in an NHS hospital.

“I had another client recently who had an accident abroad and fractured her femur. She was taken to a public hospital where they wanted to place a metal rod in the leg just to stabilise it until she got home. Fortunately, she had travel cover. She contacted her insurance company, who said the treatment the hospital proposed was barbaric and sent her to a private hospital instead.”

Travel insurance can also assist with other costs, such as flying you home to the UK if you are injured or unwell.

“People might think they’re young or fit and healthy, but you don’t know what’s going to happen to you,” says James. “We’re talking about a relatively small expense against what could be an enormous bill. I’ve got an annual policy that cost about £30 and for that outlay I know that whatever happens I’m going to be covered. It’s not a lot of money and is a good investment, even if just for the peace of mind it gives you.”

All the usual insurance comparison sites can help you find the cheapest policy, while some of the bigger holiday websites also offer their own online comparison services.

“The level of medical cover is usual pretty high, even with the cheaper policies, but you need to look at what else is covered,” says James. “The differences are often how much excess you might have to pay and the level of cover for your cash, personal possessions and baggage.”

If you have a premium bank account, it’s worth checking whether it includes travel insurance among the benefits you pay for. “Remember to take a copy of your insurance policy with you, and keep the emergency contact number in your phone,” says James. “Show the card on arrival at the hospital and before you receive treatment if you are well enough to do so. If you go to the United States or anywhere else outside Europe, the EHIC card is useless, so it’s even more important to have adequate cover in place.”

But travellers should bear in mind that they have to be careful if they go out partying that they don’t get so drunk it invalidates the insurance. “You’re on holiday so you can have a drink and enjoy yourself, but you shouldn’t get so drunk you’re not in control of your actions, or you might find that your insurance will refuse to pay out,” says James.

The EHIC card is valid for five years and you can renew up to six months before the expiry date. You are covered from the date of application. As well as all EU nations, it is also valid in Switzerland, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. While things may change in the future, the Brexit vote does not currently affect EHIC cards.

To apply, visit ehic.org.uk or call 0300-330-1350, allowing seven to ten days for your application to be processed.

Travel checklist…

1. Carry an EHIC card and make sure it’s valid

2. Present the card before getting treatment

3. Everyone needs their own card, including children

4. Take out adequate travel insurance for your needs and keep details of the policy with you.