Free EHIC Discussion

misuel1955

All web sites charging a fee should be taken down as they are making money from people when there is no need to as the EHIC (formerly E111) is free (no idea what'll happen after 31st October 2019

Pollycat

misuel1955 wrote: »

All web sites charging a fee should be taken as they are making money from people when there is no need to as the E111 is free (no idea what'll happen after 29th March though)

There is no E111 - it's been the EHIC for a number of years, it was introduced in 2006.

I don't like to see these websites either - but people do have a responsibility to be vigilant when purchasing stuff from the internet.

If everyone was careful before clicking 'pay', these websites would die a natural death.

Zeers

My card arrived in 2 days after application. I have 2 coastal cruises booked for Norway and Croatia but when I checked on EHIC website to see if I would get free treatment or have to pay the same price as the locals it says if you are on a cruise you cannot be treated.
I didn’t know this and not seen it mentioned before so I thought I should share this information.

Pollycat

Zeers wrote: »

My card arrived in 2 days after application. I have 2 coastal cruises booked for Norway and Croatia but when I checked on EHIC website to see if I would get free treatment or have to pay the same price as the locals it says if you are on a cruise you cannot be treated.
I didn’t know this and not seen it mentioned before so I thought I should share this information.

Just to point out that EHIC gives you treatment at the same cost as to a local i.e. not free to you if locals have to pay.

Interesting point about not being valid on cruises - good heads-up about that.

But your travel insurance should cover any issues you may have.

maman

I've never relied on EHIC, just seen it as 'belt and braces'.

Anyhow, soon it may be an irrelevant discussion.:(

zagfles

maman wrote: »

I've never relied on EHIC, just seen it as 'belt and braces'.

Anyhow, soon it may be an irrelevant discussion.:(

Not for a long time by the looks of it

maman

zagfles wrote: »

Not for a long time by the looks of it

😁😁😁😁

Well said!

dj1471

maman wrote: »

Anyhow, soon it may be an irrelevant discussion.:(

Not necessarily, reciprocal healthcare arrangements could well be part of whatever "deal" we end up with.

In any case it was never a replacement for travel insurance, so long as you've got some you'll be fine whatever happens.

zagfles

dj1471 wrote: »

Not necessarily, reciprocal healthcare arrangements could well be part of whatever "deal" we end up with.

Hopefully. That's if we actually leave

In any case it was never a replacement for travel insurance, so long as you've got some you'll be fine whatever happens.

Unless you have a pre existing medical condition which makes cover for that condition prohibitively expensive to insure. Like someone I knew who was terminally ill and wanted a final holiday abroad...

dj1471

zagfles wrote: »

Unless you have a pre existing medical condition which makes cover for that condition prohibitively expensive to insure. Like someone I knew who was terminally ill and wanted a final holiday abroad...

That's all the more reason to buy travel insurance - the EHIC won't cover repatriation to the UK in the event of death or serious illness. This can be hideously expensive and isn't something most people can afford to self-insure for.