European Health Cards and Travel Insurance

donnap83

Hello!

Looking for some advise. Me and my fiance are going to Portugal next month, and we applied for, and recieved our European health card thingy. Do we still need to take out travel insurance?

Whats the difference between the two?


Thanks! x

[Deleted User]

Hi Donna

Two completely different things I think.

European Health Card is a reciprocal agreement within EU countries that allows you get the same level of healthcare as you would in the UK, ie, free emergency treatment or doctors appointment if you get sick whilst in another EU country.

Travel insurance covers many things, lost passport, delayed flights, lost baggage, repatriation to UK, stolen money / passports / belongings.

Hope that helps.

donnap83

Thanks for replying!

So if i fell and broke my leg, would that be covered by the card, or not?

I think i'll take out insurance anyway. Seems fairly cheap. x

richardw

Small print of the insurance policy may say that you need an EHIC card anyway.

Best to have both.

spiro

donnap83 wrote: »

So if i fell and broke my leg, would that be covered by the card, or not?

EHIC card will get your leg in plaster, insurance will pay for flight home because you'll need more room if you can't bend your leg.

daveyjp

"EHIC card will get your leg in plaster"

Only if you have it on your person when you break your leg, so take it with you wherever you go.

Mands

goochie wrote: »

European Health Card is a reciprocal agreement within EU countries that allows you get the same level of healthcare as you would in the UK, ie, free emergency treatment or doctors appointment if you get sick whilst in another EU country.

No, that is incorrect; the EHIC gives you the same access to healthcare that a local would have.

So if someone in the country has to pay to see a doctor you would too. Not all EU countries have free emergency treatment, Portugal does but you'd probably have to pay the going rate for prescriptions rather than the UK flat rate.

Mands

Debbie_A_3

I would take out the insurance: European cover should not be expensive. I thought spiro's response was an excellent summary. The flight home with your leg in plaster is likely to cost more than having it set in plaster.

donnap83

Thanks for the replies.

I've looked online and insurance will be around £15 with a £60 excess so will arrange that.

martindow

I believe with some insurances if you have an EHIC card there is a reduced or zero excess on medical claims.