Free EHIC Discussion

kenyan

Hello All,

I'm not sure if this is the right place to post this so apologies if it's not.

I am not a UK national and I wanted to apply for an EHIC card. I followed the instructions on the EHIC website which said to phone them. The person I spoke to said I had to send an original proof of residency with my application. I asked if it had to be an original and he said yes, photocopies are not allowed.

I therefore set the original letter confirming my residency from the UKBA Home Office with my application. I also included a self-addressed stamped envelope with a note requesting the return of my letter (I should have made a copy for myself, silly me).

I then received a letter from the NHS stating that I am required to supply evidence of my entitlement to reside in the UK. My application form was also returned to me but the letter from the Home Office was not in the envelope.

I called and emailed them and they finally responded asking about the method of delivery etc. Many emails back and forth including emails from myself asking why they're not responding to me and they finally said they don't have the letter and copies are accepted. To which I responded I can't give them a copy of the letter they have lost!

I also said "considering all phone calls are recorded can you please check who I spoke to when I called from my number xxxxxx on 19/02/14 at 12:47. If you listen to the recording you will hear the person I am speaking to say that I need to send an original document and not a photocopy. I even asked again if a photocopy will suffice and he said 'no, it must be an original visa or letter from the Home Office' (I am so glad I did not send my visa in!). Can you please confirm this?"

They responded with "I can confirm that we have now listened to the call. I would like to sincerely apologise for the incorrect information that has been given to you by the advisor, and the inconvenience caused to you as a result of this. Feedback is being given to the advisor responsible to improve our service going forward."

I now have to send them the application form again (using my 3rd postage stamp) and photocopies of my passport and visa. I'm not sure if the Home Office letter is important considering I have my visa as proof of residency.

My question is where do I stand considering they have admitted that they have done 3 things wrong:

1. The advisor misinformed me regarding original vs. copy
2. They lost my letter
3. They sent the application form back to me asking for proof of residence

Can I claim anything from them?

I have travel insurance, should I even bother with this EHIC card?

Sorry for the long message and thank you in advance.

gfplux

The "compensation culture" is alive and well

EssexBoy51

We are now in 2014, and nothing has changed. I wanted to renew a EHC card; I searched for renew E111 on Google, and the first site listed seemed suitable. It looked 'official' and part of the British state. It charged £24-99, but I assumed the Chancellor had introduced a charge to help pay for the NHS.

Immediately after doing this, someone said this 'deceit' had been publicized in the press; and that you can obtain the card free from the NHS (naively I thought I had applied to a NHS affiliate).

Fortunately I am a retired lawyer. I know I have a right to cancel under the Distance Selling regulations. Of course the site had not given me notice of my rights, as it is bound to do by law. I sent an e-mail to the site saying I am cancelling under the distance selling regulations and otherwise. We shall see what happens ext.

Pollycat

EssexBoy51 wrote: »

Fortunately I am a retired lawyer. I know I have a right to cancel under the Distance Selling regulations. Of course the site had not given me notice of my rights, as it is bound to do by law. I sent an e-mail to the site saying I am cancelling under the distance selling regulations and otherwise. We shall see what happens ext.

Please do keep us informed.

Puffin74

I nearly got caught out googling EHIC, visited a website that then said they charged for the card but a friend advised that they were free. These websites should make it clear that the card is free but it's their service you are paying for!

mew

No offence to anybody who has been caught out by dubious websites but why did you chose one of these these 'iffy' websites?

I needed to renew my cards a couple of weeks ago, so I googled 'E11 Cards' The top two results were the same as the same search gives today (below). I can understand people maybe unsure of the first but surly people who use this website should trust the second link?

Apply for a free EHIC card - Healthcare abroad - NHS Choices
www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/.../about-the-ehic.asp...
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) replaced the old E111 in 2006. It lets you get free or reduced-cost healthcare in Europe. Apply free online here.
‎Country-by-country guide - ‎Travel insurance - ‎Giving birth

EHIC: How to get a free EHIC card - Money Saving Expert
www.moneysavingexpert.com › Travel and Transport
How to get a FREE EHIC card (European Health Insurance Card), valid in any EU country. Use the official link to ensure it's free - see Money Saving Expert.


Personally I am pleased to say that unlike the current problems at the Passport Service, the NHS were extremely quick in renewing/replacing my cards and they were delivered to my new address within a week of applying online (Now if only the NHS could be so expedient in A&E :think: )

carolinen

Hi
I just got back from Palma Majorca where I got charged privately for medical care with an EHIC. I had been feeling tightness in my chest and difficulty breathing so I asked the hotel to call me a doctor. I stated I had an EHIC at every stage. The Dr arrived and examined me and suggested that my symptoms including high blood pressure suggested heart failure ( I was a bit suspicious because he was mending the blood pressure monitor when he saw me) He called an ambulance and wrote me a bill for 130 Euros and I paid in cash because he was called out and it is not covered under the public system.
In all honesty I could have easily got a taxi because other than the tightness and wheezy chest I felt ok. The ambulance took me to hospital and my friend was taken to another room to fill out a form for me. I since think this was where my friend signed for private care but I had not seen the form at any time.
The hospital Dr said it might be bronchitis or asthma but not heart failure. She gave me steroids and a nebuliser and said to get my self checked out at home. I asked at reception for a taxi and was presented with a further bill for 433.95 Euros I showed my EHIC card she said the clinic was private when I said I did not have the money the receptionist was angry and made me sign a document that said if I did not pay within 28 days they will take legal proceedings. She said the hospital would phone me the next day for my credit card number.
When I got back to the hotel I phoned my travel insurance CEGA through AVIVA who were absolutely brilliant they contacted the hospital for me and settled the bill and took the stress of the experience away from me. When I got home I phoned the travel insurance in the UK who refunded me the Dr fee less the £50 excess.
I have learned a valuable lesson that getting good travel insurance is invaluable and that I need to be really careful in the future.
carolinen

bldrjms

I am on holiday in Portugal. I slipped on a very shiny floor in the apartment and fell heavily into the sharp pointed corner of an extremely heavy rectangular shaped occasional table which was sent sideways by the force of my fall. I sustained a deep wound on my head and a wound and bruising on my right arm. My right arm is very painful and difficult to move. I was unconscious. I was rushed to hospital in an ambulance to the major public hospital in the area at Portimao and checked in with my EHIC card.

I was given stitches and a brain scan and told to go to the local Medical Centre for dressings every 2 days. When I tried to book in there they told me the Portimao hospital should have given me a paper describing my treatment and the results of the brain scan which they needed to treat me. I asked my hotel to ring Portimao and obtain it for me. I was surprised to be told that the hospital had said that payment had to be made and they would not release the results of the brain scan until payment had been made. This is outrageous when I may have a brain and/or skull injury and Portugal is listed as a country that makes no charges for hospital and dental treatment under the EHIC reciprocal arrangements within the EU. The local Medical Centre treated me anyway.

Can anyone tell me what to do please?

bldrjms

Pollycat

What did your travel insurer say when you contacted them?

From FCO website:

If you need emergency medical assistance during your trip, dial 112 and ask for an ambulance. If you are referred to a medical facility for treatment you should contact your insurance/medical assistance company immediately.

If the local medical centre treated you anyway, what advice are you looking for?

zagfles

bldrjms wrote: »

I am on holiday in Portugal. I slipped on a very shiny floor in the apartment and fell heavily into the sharp pointed corner of an extremely heavy rectangular shaped occasional table which was sent sideways by the force of my fall. I sustained a deep wound on my head and a wound and bruising on my right arm. My right arm is very painful and difficult to move. I was unconscious. I was rushed to hospital in an ambulance to the major public hospital in the area at Portimao and checked in with my EHIC card.

I was given stitches and a brain scan and told to go to the local Medical Centre for dressings every 2 days. When I tried to book in there they told me the Portimao hospital should have given me a paper describing my treatment and the results of the brain scan which they needed to treat me. I asked my hotel to ring Portimao and obtain it for me. I was surprised to be told that the hospital had said that payment had to be made and they would not release the results of the brain scan until payment had been made. This is outrageous when I may have a brain and/or skull injury and Portugal is listed as a country that makes no charges for hospital and dental treatment under the EHIC reciprocal arrangements within the EU. The local Medical Centre treated me anyway.

Can anyone tell me what to do please?

bldrjms

You might get a bill from the hospital when you get home - if you do just write to the hospital asking why they're billing you when you had and showed your EHIC card, and ask them to release your records. Assuming it was definitely a state hospital (as per above there is a tendancy to con tourists into using private facilities). If you need the records now see if the local medical centre can talk sense into the hospital.