European Health Insurance
European Health Insurance
The European Health Insurance Card and travel insurance
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) entitles citizens of EU nations to receive free or discount medical care whilst travelling within the EU. But what a lot of people don’t realise is that it is no substitute for travel insurance. The EHIC isn’t something that is going to fully protect your wallet from the costs of treatment abroad, and definitely does not cover things like replacement flights.
We in the Britain are lucky to have a great and free healthcare service, but elsewhere in the EU this is not always the case. Some courses of treatment, operations, or other services will need to be partially subsidised by the patient. The EHIC is bound by the conditions of the hospitals country, not by the home country of the patient, and so might surprise you when it comes to payment.
To use one common example, we have the French health service. If you don’t buy travel insurance and really solely on your EHIC, the following problems would occur should you need to seek medical attention:
Prescription subsidy – It is a fact that drugs are getting more expensive and whilst some prescriptions will only be partially subsidised, others will not be subsidised at all. If you had travel insurance in this situation then the full cost of any prescription needed would be returned to you, either instantly or at a later date.
Doctors consultation – Quite a common occurrence, which might include everyday maladies such as stomach upsets. We in the UK are used to being able to see a GP free whenever we want, but in France if you don’t have travel insurance then you will be liable for 30% of the consultation fee. This can become a real burden should you need to call on the doctor out-of-hours, when the price would be quite high.
Hospital charges – French hospitals charge a fixed-amount daily fee to patients staying there. This is another thing not covered by the EHIC. It is unlikely that a long stay will be necessary but under certain conditions, say you have broken a leg and should not be moved, this daily charge could mount up.
It is a simple fact that travel insurance would have covered all these eventualities. Not to mention all the things covered besides medical bills, and then only in the EU. An EHIC will not pay for another flight should you miss one due to illness, or pay for lost luggage, or cover you for personal accidents whilst overseas. Travel insurance is simply indispensable. The EHIC has its uses but should not be relied on solely.
Spain, Switzerland and Portugal are further examples of places that will leave you with a large liability for medical costs if you travel with an EHIC but without travel insurance. For this reason as well as numerous other reasons, having travel insurance is an essential part of travelling that should not be ignored.
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Can I legally put my Canadian wife onto my E111 European health care application?
We have been married for 6 years. I was born in England and resident there all my life. My wife has a Residence Permit which allows her to live and work in the UK and entitles her to free health care here. She has been resident in the UK for over 7 years but has, not yet, completed the “LIfe in the UK” exam which will allow her to become a British Citizen so currently holds a Canadian passport.
As she has a UK national insurance number and lives and works here is she covered under the E111 conditions.
She is entitled to get an E111; however you need to check what type of health services she would be entitled overseas based on her non-EU/EEA citizenship. The E111 in general only entitles the minimum required treatment, things like emergency repatriation are not covered. Some countries like Hungary, Liechtenstein, Norway, Slovenia, and Switzerland only provide health service to E111 holders who are citizen of a EU/EEA country. Cyprus and Iceland only provide free medical
treatment in emergency cases, Denmark only if involved in an accident.
Most British people overestimate the E111 thinking they’ll get the same treatment like at home but that is not the case. You only get the same free treatment which is granted to local nationals and you’ll be disappointed to see what you will have to pay overseas if getting ill.
It is therefore recommended to get a sick/travel insurance which covers all that what is not covered by the E111. It will only be about £32.00 for three weeks overseas travel.
Source(s):
http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/Applyingandrenewing.aspx ..
http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/EEAcountries.aspx ..
http://www.axa-schengen.com/en/price-travel-insurance ..
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