GHIC (almost) replaces EHIC for UK residents

[Jeff Crawley]

When EHIC cards expire UK residents can replace them with the new UK Global Health Insurance Cards - please see

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-ehic-european-health-insurance-card/

Note that a few countries that were included in the EHIC are not covered by the GHIC - you should still get travel insurance anyway

and make sure you apply through the UK government site!

 

[MickMac]

Not quite British card will honour treatment if your pregnant or receiving ongoing treatment for serious desease or illness. Be careful not equivalent to EHIC.

"Note" Irish government will let all people born on Island of Ireland retain EHIC card for use within E. U.

 

[Deleted member 76633]

Just check the validity on mine. It has always travelled with me for just-in-case use.

Valid until - 01/09/2009. May need to renew.

 

[Kathar1na]

Folks, it's early days. There will be a brand new GHIC card for UK residents. And only for them. The GHIC card will provide similar benefits to the EHIC card. But if you clicked on the link that @Jeff Crawley provided you may have noticed that it says "If you apply for a card now, you'll get a new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) instead of an EHIC. These pages and the application portal will still refer to EHIC until 4 January 2021." And if you were as adventurous as I am (not a UK resident but with close family members who are) and clicked on Apply for your GHIC now you landed on a page that talked only about the EHIC card ...

Give them some time ... this was something that was in the works for a long time but it was agreed only less than two weeks ago. The good news is that you, as a UK resident, can still use your old EHIC until the expiration date in 2021 and possibly beyond, contrary to what many websites, including official government websites, and newspaper articles had been telling you for months, namely that your EHIC card will expire on 31 December 2020.

 

[Tincatinker]

Not quite British card will honour treatment if your pregnant or receiving ongoing treatment for serious desease or illness. Be careful not equivalent to EHIC.

"Note" Irish government will let all people born on Island of Ireland retain EHIC card for use within E. U.

& not quite that either. The new card appears to provide the same cover as the old one, subject to the previously published restrictions (and as amended). There are some 862 published pages of guidance plus several supplemental links. Obviously it makes sense to employ an EU based specialist advisor on community reciprocity rather than squander money on Travel Insurance.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Just check the validity on mine. It has always travelled with me for just-in-case use.

Valid until - 01/09/2009. May need to renew.

Better late than never! A friend I walked with in 2011 was treated at Santiago hospital - they simple photocopied her card.
It was only when she looked at it on her return home that she realised it had expired 6 months earlier!
Wasn't charges at the hospital and never heard about again.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

Not quite British card will honour treatment if your pregnant or receiving ongoing treatment for serious desease or illness. Be careful not equivalent to EHIC.

"Note" Irish government will let all people born on Island of Ireland retain EHIC card for use within E. U.

Sadly my child bearing days are over

 

[MickMac]

Just check the validity on mine. It has always travelled with me for just-in-case use.

Valid until - 01/09/2009. May need to renew.

If your Irish living in Ireland all good.

 

[Kathar1na]

There's another positive aspect of this new GHIC card for UK residents. I'm just copying from a recent article in a UK broadsheet because I vaguely remember that this aspect was brought up in a recent thread:

Will I need travel insurance?​

​

It is not a legal requirement that a traveller buys insurance when visiting the EU, but for the vast majority of people it would be daft not to, with scores of annual multitrip policies costing less than £50 a year available for travel to Europe for next year. There have been widespread concerns about the cost of travel insurance post Brexit as the Ehic is withdrawn – particularly for those with pre-existing conditions – but that has been somewhat allayed by the last-minute introduction of the GHIC. (Source)​

​

None of this is of any relevance for anyone who does not live in the UK and is not covered by the NHS as a UK resident.

 

[MickMac]

The deal on the future relationship between the EU and the UK was announced on 24 December. It says that all EHIC cards issued before the end of 2020 will be valid until their expiry date.

 

[Tincatinker]

I've remarked previously on the late, lamented, Terry Pratchett's explanation of "Insurance": "You bet the Book-maker that your house will burn down and they refuse to pay out when it does".

As someone with sufficient pre-existing conditions, I always seem to get surrounded by medical students every time I have one of those back-less gowns on, I am unable to secure travel insurance without remortgaging my house and co-signing my grand-children into bondage unto the 7th generation. Nevertheless I have "Do not resuscitate" and "Cremate where found" tattooed on my chest in all known languages (except Dolphin) and feel that that provides for my needs

 

[henrythedog]

I've remarked previously on the late, lamented, Terry Pratchett's explanation of "Insurance": "You bet the Book-maker that your house will burn down and they refuse to pay out when it does".

As someone with sufficient pre-existing conditions, I always seem to get surrounded by medical students every time I have one of those back-less gowns on, I am unable to secure travel insurance without remortgaging my house and co-signing my grand-children into bondage unto the 7th generation. Nevertheless I have "Do not resuscitate" and "Cremate where found" tattooed on my chest in all known languages (except Dolphin) and feel that that provides for my needs

My wife and I live in Cumbria, midway between two (somewhat distant) A&E hospitals, one with a dire reputation. Rather than have DNR tattooed we’re considered ‘take me to Lancaster Royal Infirmary’

 

[Mournes]

If your Irish living in Ireland all good.

Both North and South.

 

[Jeff Crawley]

The deal on the future relationship between the EU and the UK was announced on 24 December. It says that all EHIC cards issued before the end of 2020 will be valid until their expiry date.

That's understood - we're talking about what happens once they've expired.

 

[Deleted member 61803]

By the time mine has expired then they should have the application procedure for the new GHIC sorted out.

Due to our varied pre existing conditions we decided years ago to take free travel insurance through our bank account, we got a covering letter for our conditions. The bank has stopped all new entrants into the scheme. BUT some banks are still offering free insurance, I believe. We also get free RAC Europe wide car cover. It's so free, we only pay £16.00 per month for the use if our bank account . But we have peace of mind and that level of car cover was going to cost nearly £10.00 a month anyway.

 

[Henry B]

Keep in mind that technically your EHIC (and it's replacement) only gives you the same medical expenses cover as nationals in the host country. SOME countries will just treat you on the EHIC whatever the local rules may be but others, and I have experienced this in France will invoice you for any excess. France covers 80percent and you have to meet the remaining 20, for that is what French nationals have to do. That's why they AND we would be wise to have top-up (or travel) cover.

 

[Former member 95219]

Keep in mind that technically your EHIC (and it's replacement) only gives you the same medical expenses cover as nationals in the host country. SOME countries will just treat you on the EHIC whatever the local rules may be but others, and I have experienced this in France will invoice you for any excess. France covers 80percent and you have to meet the remaining 20, for that is what French nationals have to do. That's why they AND we would be wise to have top-up (or travel) cover.

The government website has been updated re EHIC/GHIC and it’s very good. It also contains a link to the EU website which includes an excellent summary of care in EU countries (by country) using a drop down menu!

 

[Deleted member 61803]

Keep in mind that technically your EHIC (and it's replacement) only gives you the same medical expenses cover as nationals in the host country. SOME countries will just treat you on the EHIC whatever the local rules may be but others, and I have experienced this in France will invoice you for any excess. France covers 80percent and you have to meet the remaining 20, for that is what French nationals have to do. That's why they AND we would be wise to have top-up (or travel) cover.

Just a word of warning, the go ernment website states the following,

"Before you consult a doctor or go to a hospital, make sure that they are part of the public healthcare system, meaning they will accept your European Health Insurance Card." "Show your EHIC or GHIC when you visit any state hospital or doctor. You cannot use either card for private healthcare."

As we, UK nationals, are so used to using the NHS, be aware that not all medical centres in Spain are part of their public health system, so be careful.