If you intend travelling in Europe make sure you’ve got a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) as well as travel insurance. An (ETIC) is free, and it could save you a lot of money – and hassle – if you need medical help while you’re away. The EHIC is the replacement for the E111 form which stopped being issued on 31^st August 2005, although they remained valid 31^st December 2005

The EHIC is valid in the following:

Austria, Belgium, Cyprus, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg Malta, The Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden & Switzerland.

Having an EHIC card means you can get reduced cost, sometimes free, medical treatment if it becomes necessary while you’re in any of the European countries listed here. It also covers you for treatment for chronic illnesses (like diabetes), maternity care, and things like kidney dialysis and oxygen therapy (by prior arrangement).

By itself, your travel insurance might not be enough to cover your medical care while you’re away; and some travel insurance policies aren’t valid without an EHIC. Your EHIC can also save you money when the cost of the treatment is below the excess on the insurance policy. If you do have to claim on your insurance, some companies will waive the excess if an EHIC has been used, bit it’s still advisable to have both: travel insurance covers some things the EHIC doesn’t cover such as repatriation to the UK.

The quickest way to apply for an EHIC is online at this link  www.dh.gov.uk/travellers

Your card will be delivered in seven days.

Alternatively, you can apply