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Over 5 million European Well being Insurance coverage Playing cards (EHICs) expired in 2022 and at the moment are changed by the World Well being Insurance coverage Card (GHIC). Right here is all you must know – together with why you continue to want journey insurance coverage!
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What’s a GHIC and the place can I take advantage of it?
It’s a World Well being Insurance coverage Card, and though it makes use of the phrase World, the GHIC is in actual fact solely legitimate in EU international locations (excluding a couple of*) and most often Switzerland too. It’s not going to be of any use wherever else on the planet.
Enjoyable reality: It’s all within the identify. The World a part of the identify signifies that the holder is just not from an EU nation. European Well being Insurance coverage Playing cards nonetheless exist – now referred to as UK EHICS – so named as a result of they’re to be used by residents which have rights beneath the withdrawal settlement to entry healthcare in EU international locations). The GHIC – formally often called a UK GHIC – is a medical health insurance card for UK residents, not a part of the EU, to entry therapy in EU international locations.
What does the UK World Well being Insurance coverage Card cowl?
Just about the identical because the EHIC, however not as complete in its cowl. As a rule it entitles the holder to free or lowered price state-provided healthcare the place medically essential. The wording right here is vital:
- State offered could or will not be free or lowered, the fees would be the similar as for a nationwide of that nation.
- Free or lowered healthcare will not be the identical issues which might be free on the NHS.
- Solely therapies deemed medically essential qualify for canopy – if it may wait till you get again out of your journey, or you’ve got travelled with a purpose to get therapy you then gained’t be entitled to particular charges.
Do I would like journey insurance coverage if I’ve a GHIC?
Sure! The above bullet factors are simply a number of the the reason why the .gov website states:
“Your UK GHIC is just not an alternative to journey insurance coverage. It’s best to take out non-public journey insurance coverage earlier than your journey. [The GHIC] could not cowl all well being prices and by no means covers being flown again to the UK (medical repatriation).” Discover out extra at gov.uk
Outdoors the UK many medical therapies don’t come without cost – even for residents of that nation. Extra fees could also be added to a hospital invoice that we aren’t used to seeing within the UK, together with fees for gear, provides, meals, medicines… and that may all add up.
GHICs additionally gained’t cowl issues like mountain rescue in case you are injured on a ski journey for instance, and the massive bills comparable to medical repatriation are additionally not coated.
Journey Insurance coverage additionally provides issues a medical insurance coverage card can’t – journey insurance coverage for current medical situations, assist in case your passport or belongings are misplaced or stolen, prices incurred from cancelled flights or bookings, and even when private circumstances imply that you’re not in a position to journey. Journey insurance coverage is a product that compliments a GHIC, offering cowl and peace of thoughts particularly for current well being situations and unexpected circumstances past falling ailing or being injured.
Can I nonetheless use my EHIC?
Whether it is nonetheless legitimate, then sure – the final EHICS had been issued in 2020 (the GHIC changed it in January 2021) and have been allowed to run as much as their 5 12 months expiry date. Nevertheless, all EHICs now fall beneath the restricted use of GHICs, so not legitimate in non-EU European international locations e.g. Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein. As acknowledged above, UK EHICS are additionally out there to those that have been allowed particular entry beneath the withdrawal settlement.
GHICs are free – so get one!
There are a couple of websites on the market which might be charging individuals a dealing with charge to get a GHIC, this isn’t essential – GHICS can be found immediately from by way of the NHS and they’re FREE – you may apply for GHIC on the NHS web site. When you apply you can be despatched an electronic mail with all the small print you want till your card arrives, ensure you take your card with you whereas on vacation – in case you discover that you just’ve misplaced it or left it behind you’ll want to use for a short lived certificates.
*The GHIC isn’t legitimate in Channel Islands, the Isle of Man, Monaco, San Marino and the Vatican. It is just not legitimate for therapy in Norway, Iceland or Liechtenstein both.
Don’t neglect your journey insurance coverage!
Journey insurance coverage is a product that compliments a GHIC, offering cowl and peace of thoughts particularly for current well being situations and unexpected circumstances past falling ailing or being injured.
Get your journey insurance coverage quote on-line as we speak.
This text was initially revealed in October 2022. The content material has been up to date.
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