A it of information, from a travel insurance company, reference the EHIC and the GHIC.
What is EHIC and Will It Still Be Valid After Brexit?
The EHIC card enables UK citizens travelling to a country within the EU to seek emergency treatment or necessary medical care for the same cost as a resident in the visiting country before returning home.
Following Brexit, on the 24th December 2020, the UK and the EU reached a
trade deal.
It says that all EHIC cards issued before the end of 2020 will be valid until their expiry date. Once an EHIC card has expired or is cancelled, it will be replaced in the form of a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC).
However, before going on holiday, the
Government website advises that you should buy travel insurance with healthcare cover. It warns that it is “particularly important” to get the right cover if you have a pre-existing medical condition.
The UK launches Global Health Insurance Card
As of the 11th January 2021, UK residents will now be able to apply for a UK Global Health Insurance Card.
The
new agreement ensures the rights of UK residents to access emergency medical care when travelling in the EU.
The GHIC will cover chronic or existing illnesses and routine maternity care as well as emergencies just like the EHIC. GHIC is free via the
official website. Any website charging a fee or that is not the official website may be a scam.
One key difference since that trade agreement, is that neither the EHIC nor the new GHIC now provides cover in four countries that used to offer reciprocal arrangements for British travellers: Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway and Switzerland, which are in the EEA, but not the EU. Healthcare in Norway and Switzerland, in particular, can be very expensive, so it’s vital to make sure you are properly insured when you travel there.
The UK is also in talks with countries that are part of the EEA regarding further ongoing co-operation with non-EU states. cover under the GHIC arrangements. During office hours you can call them on
0191 218 1999.
Why Medical Travel Insurance is Essential
Over 20% of ALL holidaymakers have needed at some stage to seek medical treatment when abroad. And of course, the likelihood of this can rise if you have a
pre-existing medical condition. So the risks of travelling without comprehensive
travel insurance are very real…
Although the EHIC card will remain valid until it expires or is cancelled if you choose to travel without travel insurance you could still be facing huge medical expenses should the worse happen. To give you an example of a claim, surgery in Greece which needs your repatriation back to the UK, could result in a
bill of up to £25,000.
According to ‘
Which?’, UK holidaymakers travelling in the EU could face hospital bills of £2,000 for food poisoning or £14,000 for a heart attack, if they travel without insurance.
An estimated one in five UK holidaymakers doesn’t take out travel insurance before going abroad, according to ABTA research from 2019, meaning millions of people are at risk of having to pay these medical fees out of their own pockets.
Buying the right level of cover can also protect you from medical emergencies and cancellations related to COVID-19.
