Has Your EHIC expired?Expired EHICS leave Brits abroad at risk By TTM on 19 October 2008 in News |
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Expired EHICs leaving nearly 1.5 million Brits at risk while travelling abroad in Europe The Department of Health are urging all British tourists travelling in Europe this month to check the expiry date of their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) as millions have already expired. Currently 28 million Britons have an EHIC, however three million expire between September 2008 and March 2009. By the end of October, nearly 1.5 million EHICs will have expired. Anyone travelling with an out-of-date EHIC is putting themselves at risk when travelling in Europe as they will not be covered for basic medical care. The EHIC, which replaced the E111 form three years ago, entitles you to reduced cost or free state-provided healthcare in most European countries if you fall ill or have an accident whilst abroad, but only if it is in date. Recent research by the Department of Health worryingly revealed that over 52%[1] of Brits were not even aware that the EHIC has a shelf life. Paul Siddell, Overseas Healthcare Programme Manager at the Department of Health says: “Many Brits are putting themselves at unnecessary risk by not checking their EHIC expiry date. If you're travelling in Europe it's vital that you carry an EHIC, as well as comprehensive travel insurance. If you find your EHIC is out-of-date, it is very easy to renew it online or over the phone and it will be delivered within ten days. Card holders can renew up to six months in advance of expiry so we are urging people to check their EHICs now.” To renew or obtain an EHIC, log on to www.nhs.uk/healthcareabroad or call 0845 606 2030. For further information call the EHIC enquiries line on 0845 605 0707. CommentsHelen, Connah's Quay I have just realised that our EHIC cards have expired and our son is travelling with family tomorrow. Will he still be able to use this card for this trip, I have applied for new ones. 22 August, 2012 MaryG, South West My EHIC has an expiry date on it of 24/01/2011 - but when I went online and filled in all my details to renew it - the response from Site was that I still hold a valid card - thats not what the card says - it clearly says expiry dat 24/01/2011???? 31 May, 2012 michelle punt, essex I only just realised I should take the EHIC card with me and applied today. I travel tomorrow, am I still covered? 27 November, 2011 Nigel, Rotherham If you renew online or over the phone you are covered on an expired card, your new card will come in the post while you are away but you are still covered as the PIN is checked and this remains the same on a renewal. 12 October, 2011 gw, uk what's the point of (such a short) expiry date? 23 September, 2011 Annie, Ealing I only just realised I should take the EHIC card with me and applied today. I travel tomorrow, am I still covered? 17 February, 2011 Claire, Wrexham I have only just applied today for my EHIC as I do not travel abroad. My son travels tomorrow to Europe with a friend and his family and his card will not have arrived. Is there anything that I can do prior to him travelling? 13 August, 2010 AndyB, West Mids Just to stop the panic. If you find (as I did) that your card expires on the day of departure then you can easily renew on line or over the phone. The EHIC PIN stays the same on the new card so when the validity of the card is checked overseas it will come up as valid, even though it has an expired date (this was confirmed by an EHI call centre operative I spoke to). 5 July, 2010 POL, WORCESTER WHAT HAPPENS IF YOU DO NOT HAVE TIME TO WAIT FOR EHIC TO ARRIVE BUT HAVE APPLIED FOR RENEWAL BEFORE YOU GO, HAS YOU ONLY NOTICED IT 6 March, 2010 Add Your CommentPlease note: all comments will be manually verified by our staff before appearing on the site. Please do not try and spam and do not use offending language. If you want to be notified when your post has been published, add your email address below. Related ItemsBrits Risk Travel Trauma in 2009£1 Passenger Levy on Flights Virus on Marco Polo cruise ship Eritrea : We did not do this UK Airport Scanners May Violate Human Rights Civil Aviation Authority offers Atol Protection for holidaymakers Mexican Swine Flu epidemic Malaysia deals with bird flu Kenya Update Minimise Rape Overseas BA Sidesteps Paying Compensation UK airports face chaos and delays over Easter holidays BA/Virgin Price-Fixing Settlement: Holiday offers too good to be true Faroe Islands helping hand in Jakarta News Archives |
