When traveling, it’s essential to invest in appropriately chosen insurance. But do you have to pay to get medical treatment abroad? Check what you should bring and what has changed with Brexit in the context of access to healthcare.
The accidents happen – particularly on holiday when we’re much more careless and relaxed. Prevention matters, but it’s also worth securing your situation in case something happens while being abroad. The health insurance is a must – but do you really have to pay for it additionally? And which medical services does it cover? Does it also include the repatriation ambulance services? There are many questions regarding travel health insurance – we’ll try to address the most common ones below.
The European Health Card system – how does it work?
The citizens of the European Union eligible for public healthcare in their home countries have access to medical services abroad if only they have a valid EHIC card with them. That includes emergency medical services, including basic life support and advanced life support, as well as life-saving surgeries and other operations. In addition, with the EHIC card, patients with chronic diseases can access adequate medical services just like in their home countries.
Note, however, that a lot depends on the health system in the particular country. In some – like, for example, in Portugal – public healthcare is not entirely free. With an EHIC card, you fall under the same rules as any citizen of the visited country that belongs to the public health system.
Can UK citizens use the EHIC card?
The UK citizens can continue using the cards that are still valid. Once they expire, they will need to request a new card that falls under a different system. Due to Brexit, the EHIC card is no longer issued in the UK.
Is there an alternative for EHIC?
Yes, there is – it’s a UK Global Health Insurance card known as GHIC. It works in a very similar way to the EHIC card. When traveling with it, the patient can count on the coverage of emergencies as well as the treatment of chronic or existing illnesses. Just as the UK EHIC, it’s not valid in European countries such as Norway, Liechtenstein, Switzerland, and Iceland.
Do the EHIC and GHIC cover repatriation ambulance services?
Unfortunately not. Even though the cards guarantee you access to emergency medical services in the foreign country and the necessary treatments, they don’t cover repatriation. Thus, it’s recommended to buy additional insurance to prevent the costly consequences of using the EMS ambulance services. How much do they cost? For pricing, check https://ems-ambulance.com/.