Free EHIC Discussion

cook0891

We have just come back from Menorca where my son had to go hospital. They charged 200 euros for it. My wife forgot to show EHIC card but when we returned and spoke to our insurers they said it wouldn't have been valid anyway in Spain? I haven't claimed through insurance as worked out same as excess but be interested to know for future use if what they said is true?

Grumpelstiltskin

Cook The vital thing you need to know is was the hospital a state hospital or a private one?


The EHIC is valid in Spain in a state hospital but nowhere is an EHIC valid in a private hospital.


Did you go to a hospital suggested by a tour rep.? They regularly point you towards a private hospital.

cook0891

Grumpelstiltskin wrote: »

Cook The vital thing you need to know is was the hospital a state hospital or a private one?


The EHIC is valid in Spain in a state hospital but nowhere is an EHIC valid in a private hospital.


Did you go to a hospital suggested by a tour rep.? They regularly point you towards a private hospital.

Thanks for the reply.

To be honest I don't know. My wife went with him. It was the one the doctor suggested but think think it is only one in Menorca anyway.

Grumpelstiltskin

This appears to be the public hospital.


http://www.menorcainfo.net/mahonhospital.html


There are private clinics on the island.


Did your wife offer them the EHIC before treatment?

cook0891

It was the one in ciutadella which looking quickly appears to be private one.

To answer your question, I don't know, would need check with the wife later. I suspect not.

I am more interested as to why my insurance company said the card wasn't valid in Spain/Baleric Islands.

I know too late for me now but more for other people and future reference.

If had to use again and had to pay up front and claim back do you do so through insurance company or another website? If insurance company do you still have pay excess?

Thanks again for replies.

gfplux

Hi cook,
Who exactly from the insurance company told you this. Frankly sounds like someone undertrained and under experienced. The card is valid throughout the EU.
I would suggest you call your insurance company again and ask to speak to a supervisor.
Please let us know what they say.
The EHIC card is not valid in the Channel Islands or the Isle of Man. Perhaps your insurance company think all islands are not covered!!!!

mirkle

I had no idea they ran out ! Thanks so much for this, I'm off to renew my card which is, I have just found out, a year and a half out of date.

Mark

mirkle

To Cook0891,

you can claim the cost back via the NHS. I sprained my ankle in Barcelona a few years back and had to pay for treatment, this was before I knew about the EHIC card, indeed it was how I found out about it. What i discovered was that the advantage of the card was that you wouldnt have to pay there and then, but that actually you were still entitled to the NHS covering you if you were in an EU country whether or not you had it. However, it was fiendishly difficult (apparently deliberately so) to find out how to go about claiming it back I recall, although now with gov.uk website it may be simpler.

mirkle

I just hope you kept the reciept!

mirkle

As the EHIC website tells you nothing about how to renew a card, I discovered by accident that there is an automated service to enable you to do this on the number they offer for enquiries:0300 330 1350