Don’t forget your EHIC and travel insurance

If you’re off on holiday to Europe don’t forget your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) and your travel insurance.

The EHIC replaced the E111 in 2006 – amazingly though over 40% of Brits don’t realise this and even more worrying, according to moneysupermarket.com, over 50% don’t know the benefits of the EHIC.

The EHIC entitles UK citizens to free or reduced medical health treatment across EU countries.

It doesn’t though replace travel insurance. It only provides a basic level of medical cover and doesn’t cover for such as holiday cancellation, lost or stolen possessions or personal liability but which are covered by travel insurance.

Some travel insurance providers will waive the medical expenses excess if you use an EHIC.

It may help to compare travel insurance using a comparison website, such as moneysupermarket.com or Gocompare.com, to assess the different cover on offer so that you can select the best for your needs at the best price.

Maxine Banker, travel insurance manager at moneysupermarket.com, said ‘Like the E111 before, the EHIC only offers relatively low level financial reimbursement for basic medical bills.

Holidaymakers shouldn’t view it as a replacement for travel insurance. As well as offering much more comprehensive medical treatment cover, travel insurance protects you for lost or stolen possessions, holiday cancellation, personal liability and a range of other costly possibilities.

For this reason it is important to have both an EHIC and a valid private travel insurance policy.’

You can apply for the EHIC free. Each member of the family must have their own card.