'Using my EHIC card for the first time…' blog discussion 16 July 2008 at 1:36PM in Martin's blogs & appearances & MoneySavingExpert in the news 10 replies 5K views

Former_MSE_Lawrence

This is the discussion to link on the back of Martin's blog. Please read the blog first, as this discussion follows it.

Read Martin's 'Using my EHIC card for the first time…' Blog.

Click reply to discuss below.

kayewilliams

Nice to see that the EHIC worked Martin, hope u are now better & that sexy voice is back to normal!

infj

Remember to carry the card with you all the time.
Back when it was still the E111 I ended up in an Italian A&E on the last day of my holiday. I had to have an x-ray. Luckily when we went to pay I had the form in my bag and didn't have to pay anything. Who knows what an xray would have cost? And I could so easily have packed the form in my suitcase which was 30 miles away at the hotel.
It was a different matter getting the travel insurers to get us home as we'd missed the flight!! But that's another story.

OhDrat_2

I had to use mine 2 weeks ago in Spain, I was seen quickly, ended up having a Steroid injection and sent on my way with my prescription. I only paid for my prescription. Well worth the 10 minutes needed to fill it in.

iPlayher

My 1st post, so not sure if this is relevant.
Tried to access the EHIC page by googling it. The 1st page that came up (www.ehic.co.uk) looked all official, and had a phone number 08714349071 (which was different from the one Martin had on his travel insurance page - 08456062030)

Called it up and all it gave was recorded message instructing to call another premium rate number (09066353197 at £1.50 per min). Didn't do it but made me look at the webpage a bit closer and found that it provided no useful information whatsoever. This webpage appears to be just an advert for information, provided via a premium phoneline.

Beware...

Eventually got my online applictaion through via Martin's link to the proper page, and am awaiting card in 7 days. Whoo!

Darksun

On a recent trip to Prague my girlfriend took ill (turned out to be appendicitis :eek:) and she didn't have her EHIC. Because of this, she had to pay 2000CZK (about £70) cash upfront to be taken to hospital in the ambulance. Luckily, the rest of the treatment was covered by a provisional replacement certificate faxed to the hospital by the DWP. Just goes to show though, always make sure you take your EHIC with you.

Also, as iPlayher points out, the page https://www.ehic.co.uk is a scam - it's a premium rate 'information service'. Go to the first proper (not sponsored) link on Google (http://www.nhs.uk/Healthcareabroad/Pages/Healthcareabroad.aspx) for the real information - since it's hosted on the NHS domain it can be trusted.

davetrousers

iPlayher wrote: »

My 1st post, so not sure if this is relevant.
Tried to access the EHIC page by googling it. The 1st page that came up (www.ehic.co.uk) looked all official, and had a phone number 08714349071 (which was different from the one Martin had on his travel insurance page - 08456062030)

let's bombard this sponsored link

Catwarden

I tried to update my E111 to EHIC. This cannot be done at the moment so they suggest I telephone (0845 number) Also it costs over £9. is this correct-does anyone know. :mad:

Voyager2002

Catwarden wrote: »

I tried to update my E111 to EHIC. This cannot be done at the moment so they suggest I telephone (0845 number) Also it costs over £9. is this correct-does anyone know. :mad:

No, it is free. I think you have gone to one of the scam sites.

ManAtHome

And remember that they only last 5 years - expiry date is printed at the bottom of the card (another thing to forget...).

Edinburghlass_2

Direct link for applying online.

https://www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/home.do