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MSE News: EHIC confusion: a third wrongly think it replaces travel insurance
Former_MSE_Helen
Posts: 2,382 Forumite
"Many aren't sure what the EHIC covers, new research has found. But if you're holidaying in Europe, get one now..."
Read the full story:
EHIC confusion: a third wrongly think it replaces travel insurance
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EHIC confusion: a third wrongly think it replaces travel insurance
Click reply below to discuss. If you haven’t already, join the forum to reply. If you aren’t sure how it all works, read our New to Forum? Intro Guide.
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Comments
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"Could invalidate your Travel Insurance."
It's now my own fault for leaving the EHIC card in the hotel when I have an accident.
Why don't they insist on tattooing the EHIC card on my forehead?
Why don't we make it law that the travel insurance company should issue a dog tag, with your EHIC information included, which you supply when you buy travel insurance.
When I show the dog tag, and the Belgian hospital orderly refuses to accept it, it is up to the travel insurance company to have a Belgian speaker to argue the case. 24 Hour Medical Emergency Hotline my rectum!0 -
Seems to be a brilliant opportunity to exercise some common sense here. Anyone carrying a European Union passport or driving license should automatically benefit from EHIC cover rather than this ridiculous system that is obviously confusing for consumers and ridiculously wasteful!Smile
, it makes people wonder what you have been up to.0 -
Seems to be a brilliant opportunity to exercise some common sense here. Anyone carrying a European Union passport or driving license should automatically benefit from EHIC cover rather than this ridiculous system that is obviously confusing for consumers and ridiculously wasteful!
What's confusing about going to a website and applying?
Anyway, what you propose wouldn't work. Most of Europe works on an insurance basis rather than universal coverage for healthcare, so a passport wouldn't prove anything.
For instance, in Poland, you only get an EHIC card for a maximum of 6 months. Our insurance coverage for state healthcare depends on who you are - for instance, retired people are insured by the state, workers pay through social insurance contributions at work, students are paid for by the university, etc. And yes, people are uninsured here, too.
Thanks, but if people can't read simple FAQ's on internet forums, then it's not our job to protect them.From Poland...with love.
They are (they're) sitting on the floor.
Their books are lying on the floor.
The books are sitting just there on the floor.0 -
"Could invalidate your Travel Insurance."
It's now my own fault for leaving the EHIC card in the hotel when I have an accident.
Why don't they insist on tattooing the EHIC card on my forehead?
Why don't we make it law that the travel insurance company should issue a dog tag, with your EHIC information included, which you supply when you buy travel insurance.
When I show the dog tag, and the Belgian hospital orderly refuses to accept it, it is up to the travel insurance company to have a Belgian speaker to argue the case. 24 Hour Medical Emergency Hotline my rectum!
Stick the card in your wallet - not difficult?0 -
In my opinion, travel insurance is not worth it.
From the health part (the only one I care about), the EHIC seems to have everything covered:
"The EHIC entitles you to free or discounted medical treatment at state-run hospitals and GPs in any European Union country"
Much better than having to argue with an insurance company that will do everything they can to avoid paying.
And this is perfectly OK to me, even if there is a small fee:
"You get treated the same way as a citizen of that country, so if it's free for them, it's free for you."
I believe that also includes emergency services, correct?
Health is the most important, I don't care about losing my baggage, etc. It's just stuff, and the airline will have to pay a certain amount too (plus, even with insurance, you need to have receipts of all the stuff you lost).
Personal belongings can be easily self-insured: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-insurance -- makes more sense since their replacement costs aren't that high.0 -
All I can say is get one for everyone you're travelling with, keep it in your wallet or purse at all times whilst on holiday. Just got back from Spain, and my girlfriend had a very serious asthma attack, it was so serious she couldn't talk, or walk to the ambulance. We called 112, ambulance came, showed the paramedics her card, they were extremely friendly, took us to the nearest emergency room with me following in the car. Gave her the necessary treatment which was entirely free and no waiting. Invaluable, it saved her life.0
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In my opinion, travel insurance is not worth it.
From the health part (the only one I care about), the EHIC seems to have everything covered:
"The EHIC entitles you to free or discounted medical treatment at state-run hospitals and GPs in any European Union country"
Much better than having to argue with an insurance company that will do everything they can to avoid paying.
And this is perfectly OK to me, even if there is a small fee:
"You get treated the same way as a citizen of that country, so if it's free for them, it's free for you."
I believe that also includes emergency services, correct?
Health is the most important, I don't care about losing my baggage, etc. It's just stuff, and the airline will have to pay a certain amount too (plus, even with insurance, you need to have receipts of all the stuff you lost).
Personal belongings can be easily self-insured: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-insurance -- makes more sense since their replacement costs aren't that high.
But does the EHIC have everything covered though?
I'm sure it doesn't cover repatriation if you are seriously ill and the cost of getting you home may put a serious dent into you or your family's finances.
But if you're aware of that and are happy to risk it, it's your choice.0 -
In my opinion, travel insurance is not worth it.
From the health part (the only one I care about), the EHIC seems to have everything covered:
"The EHIC entitles you to free or discounted medical treatment at state-run hospitals and GPs in any European Union country"
Much better than having to argue with an insurance company that will do everything they can to avoid paying.
And this is perfectly OK to me, even if there is a small fee:
"You get treated the same way as a citizen of that country, so if it's free for them, it's free for you."
I believe that also includes emergency services, correct?
Health is the most important, I don't care about losing my baggage, etc. It's just stuff, and the airline will have to pay a certain amount too (plus, even with insurance, you need to have receipts of all the stuff you lost).
Personal belongings can be easily self-insured: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-insurance -- makes more sense since their replacement costs aren't that high.
It covers many things yes (which is why European travel insurance is so cheap - you can get it from a tenner a year, or free with some free bank accounts) but not everything. As they said below, repatriation can be very expensive and not everything is free abroad either. Particularly if you aren't taken to a state hospital - and the EHIC is routinely (illegally) turned down in some countries like Spain anyway.0 -
Saw this on Martin's programme a few weeks ago, and now have one.
Some years back I was in France on business, and was extremely unwell- had to be taken to hospital by a colleague. To this day, I've no idea if I should've paid for that visit, as I didn't have any insurance documentation on me at the time!0 -
In my opinion, travel insurance is not worth it.
From the health part (the only one I care about), the EHIC seems to have everything covered:
"The EHIC entitles you to free or discounted medical treatment at state-run hospitals and GPs in any European Union country"
Much better than having to argue with an insurance company that will do everything they can to avoid paying.
And this is perfectly OK to me, even if there is a small fee:
"You get treated the same way as a citizen of that country, so if it's free for them, it's free for you."
I believe that also includes emergency services, correct?
Health is the most important, I don't care about losing my baggage, etc. It's just stuff, and the airline will have to pay a certain amount too (plus, even with insurance, you need to have receipts of all the stuff you lost).
Personal belongings can be easily self-insured: http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Self-insurance -- makes more sense since their replacement costs aren't that high.
But it often isn't the case that it's free for them. In France, for example, the EHIC covers you for 70% of medical expenses the same as it covers the French, except in the case of life saving treatment. Most medical treatment isn't life saving and 30% of treatment can be a substantial amount.0
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