Latest news with #EuropeanHealthInsuranceCard
Local Spain
21-05-2025
- Health
- Local Spain
What Brits in Spain need to know about the GHIC health card
GHIC stands for UK Global Health Insurance Card, it enables those who are usually resident in the UK to get necessary healthcare in the European Economic Area, including Spain. This is not be confused with the EHIC which is the European Health Insurance Card for citizens or residents in the EU. If you have residence in Spain and are covered for public health here, you can apply for this instead and use this when you travel to other countries participating in the scheme. Who is GHIC for? It's designed to be used for UK nationals on holiday or who are temporarily in Spain. It could also be used during your first three months of living in Spain before you get issued residency permit or visa such as before you apply for the digital nomad visa. It cannot be used if you live here full time and have residency. In this case you will either have access to the public healthcare system if you pay into the social security regime or you will have to get private health insurance. What type of healthcare does the card cover? It's important to remember that it is not a replacement for travel insurance and the UK government still recommends that you don't travel without some type of health insurance. This is because the card does not cover: Repatriation or flights back to the UK for treatment Treatment in a private medical facility Ski or mountain rescue It's also not designed to be used for regular visits to the doctor for minor health complaints like a GP appointment. It should instead be used for emergency healthcare. It specifically covers: Emergency treatment and visits to the emergency room Treatment for routine medical care for long-term or pre-existing medical conditions Routine maternity care, but not if you're deliberately coming to Spain to give birth If you do need treatment for ongoing pre-existing conditions such as kidney dialysis for example, you will have to organise this in advance of your trip, you can't just turn up to a hospital in Spain and expect to be treated. The same applies for maternity care, unless you feel like there's a problem, in which case you can go to the emergency room. How to apply for the card A UK GHIC can be applied for through the NHS website and every member of your family needs their own card. It is completely free if applied for through the official channel and lasts for up to 5 years. According to the website, you must include the following data: full name address date of birth National Insurance number Health and Care number (if you're from Northern Ireland) After you've submitted your application, you will be e-mailed within 24 hours to say whether it has been approved or not. Once it has been approved, you will receive your card in the post within 15 working days. If your card has expired, you can apply for a new card up to nine months before your current card runs out. If you are already in Spain and you need emergency treatment, but haven't applied for your GHIC card or forgot it, you can request a Provisional Replacement Certificate or PRC from the Overseas Healthcare Team. You or the hospital can request one by emailing: Remember, when getting treated you will need to show your card along with your passport. How to claim a refund if you've been charged incorrectly If you have been charged for treatment in Spain even though you have GHIC or PRC, the NHS says that you should ask for a copy of your invoice and make sure you get a receipt. To claim a refund for healthcare that is supposed to be covered, you can download the form here and send it to NHS Overseas Healthcare Services. You need to attach your receipts and any other necessary documents from the hospital. You may need to include information such as: The NHS Overseas Healthcare Services will then decide whether or not you are eligible for refund.
Yahoo
20-05-2025
- Yahoo
What is a GHIC, which countries accept it and how do you apply? What to know
While packing to go on holiday means you'll be getting organised and gathering all the boarding passes and passports for your trip, having a GHIC with you could help with travel costs should you need it. Currently, some passengers may still be using an EHIC, but what is it and what are they used for? Here's everything you need to know about EHICs and GHICs. The Post Office website explains: "If you fall ill or are injured on a temporary visit to an EU country, a valid GHIC or EHIC will entitle you to the same emergency or necessary state healthcare as its local citizens. Nothing to see here, just casually working preparing my graphics for tonight's LIVE summer special (ITV 8pm)... Oh, in front of Concorde! — Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) May 20, 2025 "This often means healthcare would be provided for free or at a much lower cost than they'd be without a valid card." You might already have a UK European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), and you can continue to use this until the expiry date printed on the card is reached. It's important to note that EHICs and GHICs do not replace travel insurance – you still need to organise insurance before your trip. You can use an EHIC in a country in the European Economic Area (EEA) and Switzerland. If you're visiting the following places, you can use a GHIC, according to the NHS: A country in the European Economic Area (EEA) Montenegro Australia Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man St Helena, Tristan and Ascension If one of the following applies to you, you can use a GHIC in Switzerland: You're a British national You're a Swiss national You're an EU citizen You're a refugee You're a stateless person You're a family member of someone who holds one of the above nationalities or statuses The UK government wants to add more countries to the list where GHICs can be used, so check before you travel. Don't risk your travel plans! These quick checks will help you #GetTravelReady 1️⃣ Expiry date - is it valid for your destination? 2️⃣ Damage check - any tears, stains, or loose pages? 3️⃣ Enough blank pages for visa stamps? Need to renew? — His Majesty's Passport Office (@HM_Passport) May 14, 2025 If you need to apply for a GHIC, you can head to the NHS website. Applying for a GHIC is free, and you should avoid using unofficial websites that could charge you. When applying for a GHIC, which lasts up to five years, you will need to provide your full name, address, date of birth and national insurance number. Recommended reading: Travel expert issues 'crucial' passport warning ahead of holiday season Can you still use a red passport for travelling in 2025? Rules to follow 2025 hand luggage sizes for Ryanair, EasyJet, Jet2 and other airlines You can apply for a new EHIC if: "You're living in the EEA or Switzerland and have been since before 1 January 2021 with a registered S1, E121, E106 or E109 form issued by the UK "You're living in the EEA or Switzerland since before 1 January 2021 with an A1 issued by the UK "You're a national of the EEA or Switzerland who has legally resided in the UK since before 1 January 2021 and are covered under the Withdrawal Agreement – you may not be covered if you are also a UK national or if you were born in the UK "You're a family member or dependent of an entitled individual already listed". You can find out more about travelling abroad via the government website.
Wales Online
08-05-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
Foreign Office urge UK tourists in Spain to claim 'necessary' health item
Our community members are treated to special offers, promotions and adverts from us and our partners. You can check out at any time. More info The Foreign Office and Department of Health and Social Care have issued a warning to UK tourists heading to Spain about a "necessary" medical card. Under the 'Healthcare for UK nationals visiting Spain' section, the official bodies have urged travellers to obtain a UK-issued Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) or European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). It is important to take this abroad with you because if an accident is to occur while abroad, you will be able to have access to state healthcare for free or at a reduced cost while in Spain. However, the government stated it is imperative to understand the GHIC (or EHIC) card is not a replacement for health insurance, and it is key to have both of these items before travelling to the country. READ MORE: UK tourists send 'luck' to Tenerife and Majorca as they cancel holidays The website states: "With a GHIC or EHIC, you can get medically necessary treatment in Spain on the same basis as a Spanish citizen. This means that you'll get healthcare services for free or at a reduced cost. "A GHIC or EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance - it does not cover everything, such as mountain rescue or being flown back to the UK (medical repatriation). Make sure you have both before you travel to Spain. "You may need to pay in full for treatment if you do not have a GHIC, EHIC or Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC)." If you were to fall ill abroad, the card must be shown to a state hospital practitioner or a doctor, and if you have either lost it, or it has been stolen, you must apply for a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC). GHIC cards can last up to five years and can be applied for on the NHS website, it comes in place of the EHIC card, but they both do the same function. Those who still have an EHIC card should not worry as the GHIC card has been introduced, as UK residents can still use the old EHIC card until it has expired. READ MORE: Jet2 boss warns UK tourists in Spain over anti-tourism fears The NHS describes the EHIC/GHIC card as: "The UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) lets you get necessary state healthcare in the European Economic Area (EEA), and some other countries, on the same basis as a resident of that country. "This may be free or it may require a payment equivalent to that which a local resident would pay. 'The UK GHIC has replaced the existing European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). If you have an existing EHIC, you can continue to use it until the expiry date on the card. Once it expires, you'll need to apply for a UK GHIC to replace it. "You can apply for a new card up to nine months before your current card expires.'
Irish Times
05-05-2025
- Irish Times
Travel insurance and car hire for your holiday: An essential guide
Not long now until the summer and many people will have their overseas holidays booked and paid for already. But even if the financial heavy lifting might be done, there are still ways to save – and to waste – money on the cost of summer jaunts, particularly when it comes to the finer detail such as car hire and travel insurance. That is where we come in. Here are some things you might need know to make sure you save rather than waste in the weeks ahead. Travel insurance Do I really need to bother with travel insurance? I am only going to Spain and it seems like an unnecessary add-on You absolutely do need it. We can't even begin to tell you how many queries we get from Pricewatch readers involving travel, with many of them focusing on cancellations and delays as a result of unforeseen circumstances: from illnesses and deaths to computer meltdowns, weather events and industrial actions. READ MORE We heave a deep sigh when many of the queries land because we know the difficulties might not have arisen had people taken out travel insurance. Even though it is comparatively cheap – not something we can say about all insurance products – about half of people who travel overseas don't bother with it. And too often they end up paying dearly for that. How dearly? If you have a mild heart attack in the US you might be out of pocket by at least €250,000, depending on where you are treated and for how long, while if you need an air ambulance home from somewhere in EU, it might set you back €20,000. A holiday cancelled at the last minute might see you €3,000 in the red, while even a lost couple of low-fare flights to Spain will probably cost you more than an annual cost of a multitrip policy for a family of four. But if I have to cancel because of an illness or death, surely any decent airline will give me my money back? They might – and to be honest most airlines do tend to be sympathetic when it comes to bereavements or a diagnosis of a very serious illness. But their tickets are sold on a strictly no-refund basis so they don't have to offer any comfort if a planned holiday is cancelled or cut short. They certainly won't if the reason for a cancellation is considered comparatively minor. It is much the same story when it comes to tour operators, hotels and campsites. My private health insurance offers me cover while I am overseas, so I am grand, right? While health insurance should see the cost of a travel insurance premium fall, it won't cover cancellation or curtailment. Nor will it help you if you are the victim of a crime overseas. And some private hospitals overseas will ask for your travel insurance policy details in the first instance, and having one in place can save you a lot of grief. Another point worth making is that if you get sick while travelling in the EU, you will be treated in that country's health system as if you were a citizen of that country – and it helps to have a European Health Insurance Card (Ehic) with you. But again, EU rules won't help you if a misfortune other than illness befalls you. [ The speed at which the travel insurance safety net disappears is shocking Opens in new window ] Okay, fine. How much do I have to spend? Probably less than you think. We priced the cost of a year-long multitrip policy for a family of four with an online broker, and the cost ranged from just under €70 to almost €115. So I'd go with the cheapest one, right? Not necessarily. Not all policies are equal. When it comes to choosing the right policy, you should look at more than the top-line figures. Companies will boast about offering millions of euro of medical cover but, for most people, the level of cancellation or curtailment cover is equally important. The cheapest of the policies we priced offered us cancellation cover worth €1,000 – which wouldn't make much of a dent in a family holiday overseas – while the cancellation cover for the most expensive of those policies was €6,000. That's a hefty difference for the sake of less than €50 a year. Should I take out a policy sold by my airline or tour operator? You can, but they are not always the best value for money. And it is a good idea to wait until the last minute to take out my policy is it? It is actually a terrible idea. If you don't have an annual multitrip policy, always take out cover as soon as you book your holiday. Close to 50 per cent of all claims are made before travel, with illness and death the most likely reasons for cancelled holidays. What if I have a condition? Do I need to tell the insurance provider about it? You do. If you don't, the chances are your claim will be denied if it has anything to do with your pre-existing condition. Some travel insurance companies do go out of their way to reject claims and some will show you the door if a cancellation or curtailment is down to a pre-existing condition you or even a family member who is not travelling has even if the condition has endured for years. So always be upfront with them. An absurdity that we have come across sees travel insurance companies deny claims because family members not travelling die having suffered from a significant illness for many years. Much of this stuff is hidden in the small print. [ Want an airport upgrade? Getting business class seats or valet parking doesn't have to break the bank Opens in new window ] Ah here, I don't have to read the small print, do I? You have to read at least some of it. As we said, insurance companies don't get rich by being generous with their payout, and they do place all sorts of hurdles in the way of consumers making claims, and many of them are buried in small print that can sometimes run to more than 20,000 words. Few people are going to read all of that but you could do a search of the terms and conditions of words and phrases such as 'excess', 'excluded', 'not covered', 'passport', 'phone' and any other words you think might be important. In some cases, phones are not covered while valuables may not be covered if they're not with you at all times. And if your passport is stolen from your hotel room and wasn't in a safe you might be in trouble. Are there any other exclusions I should know about? If you're going skiing or doing sone adventure sports the standard policies will not cover you so you will need add-ons to take care of medical evacuations, repatriation, and 24-7 worldwide assistance. And are strikes or natural disasters covered? Not necessarily, and the lower-level plans can exclude travel rearrangement expenses, accommodation and cancellations relating to 'natural disasters' other than weather disruption. Travel disruption cover is what you are looking for, and it is easily found and added to a policy for not much more than €20. Okay, so if I need to make a claim, what should I know? Always inform your insurer as soon as you realise there is a problem and you can't go on the trip or need to cut it short or have been mugged. If you are the victim of a crime you absolutely must report it to the police quickly. If you leave a police report for longer than 24 hours, an insurance company might reject your claim. Make sure you get a clear and unambiguous report from the local authorities as it will be crucial to any claim being made. And a travel insurance policy can't be denied to me, can it? Unfortunately it can. Ageism is rife in the sector and can see someone who is 66 paying double what someone aged 65 pays. Someone who hits 70 or 75 can often be simply denied insurance altogether, even if they have no known medical issues. We had a look around and offers cover with no upper age limit. Companies such as and offer cover for people until they are in their mid-80s while the likes of and have a cut-off age of 79 for single trip policies. Car hire Some car hire firms will sneakily try and make you pay for an upgrade. Photograph: iStock Okay so, I probably need a car for my holidays, when should I book? Yesterday. Car hire is one of those things that you are better off booking early but if you haven't got it sorted yet, don't panic – you still have time – particularly if you're going to one of the well-travelled destinations well served by car-hire companies. What do I need to think about before starting my search? The first thing to consider is if you actually need a car at all. While prices have come down from their dizzying post-Covid highs, you can still spend €1,000 or more for a two-week period – that is €71 a day. If you are using the car a lot – or if it is essential to get from A to B when you are away – it might be money well spent but if the car sits idle in your hotel car park for days while you frolic by a poolside bar, it is a complete waste of money. But how do I get around without a car? Check the public transport options in your destination and, remember, with the advent of taxi booking apps and Uber and the like, it has never been easier to move around without hiring a car. Even if you spend €40 a day on cabs wherever you go, you will find it is still significantly cheaper than renting a car. Using public transport can also be part of the adventure – as long as it is readily accessible and frequent. We are not going to suggest for a second that standing by a dusty road in the heel of Italy for 90 minutes waiting for a bus that may or may not come is time well spent. A quick visit to will help you find out virtually everything you need to know about the transport options in your destination. And where should I look? There are the big car hire companies as well as smaller companies and online brokers that will help you find the best deal. Aggregators such as or are probably your best bet as they can search dozens of car-hire companies as well as brokers and travel agents and allow you to filter the search results based on fuel policy, air conditioning, transmission, pick-up, car size and a lot more. Take care with the Ts&Cs, and tot up how much extras – booster seats, additional drivers and so on – will cost. Always google the car-hire companies you are considering to see how they rate when it comes to customer service. Two minutes researching could save you endless heartache if it allows you to avoid a company with an appalling record. Once I have the car sorted, I just need to rock up and collect it, right? Well, there are a couple of other things you should do before you leave home. The first, and most important, is to make sure the car hire company has your flight details. And make sure you let them know if your flight is delayed and you are going to miss your pick-up time. We have heard on more than one occasion of people losing their booking entirely because their flight was delayed. Many companies have a six-hour window for you to collect, and if you don't do it in that time frame and don't let them know, you are going to be taking the risk that they simply cancel your booking and keep your cash. You need to check the car inside and out for any damage. It might be no harm to film the inside and outside of the car I have been offered an upgrade. That's good news, right? It can be but some car hire firms will sneakily try to make you pay for an upgrade if they can't provide you with the car you have paid for. To make sure this does not happen, read all the documentation put in front of you in the airport before signing anything. And what about insurance at the desk? Companies will try to sell you super-collision-damage-waiver insurance when you are picking up the car. We are in two minds about this. It can be very bad value for money and will add hundreds of euro to the typical cost of car rental. On the other hand, having it will save you money if you drive into a bollard or have a puncture, and it does mean the hire company won't freeze a fairly heft deposit on your credit or debit card. Whether or not you have the extra insurance, you should make sure you get the number you need for breakdown assistance – put it into your phone. It is much easier to get all these details when you are in the airport than at on a deserted roadside in the midday sun. Once I have all that I am good to go, right? No. You need to check the car inside and out for any damage. It might be no harm to film the inside and outside of the car and mail the footage to yourself so you have incontrovertible proof of the state of the car at pick-up. If you spot some damage and choose to ignore it, there is little you will be able to do to stop the car-hire company blaming you for the damage after the fact and taking the money from your credit card. What do I need to know about fuel? Putting petrol in a diesel car or vice versa will do untold damage to an engine, and no amount of insurance is likely to cover you for that. And remember: companies that make you pay for a full tank of petrol and return the car empty are chancers. Not only will they charge you twice the price of petrol at garages nearby, you will almost never get to use the fuel you pay for. What you want is a company that offers a full-to-full policy: that way you only pay for what you use. And what happens if I return the car late? Try hard not to do that and do your best to return the car when the hire company is open and make sure you have the car inspected by an employee and get the fact that the car is being returned in good working order in writing and signed by a rep from the company. If you must return the car outside working hours or are in a mad dash to make your flight, take pictures of the car when it has been parked in the designated area and use your phone to record a 90-second video. Mail the pictures and the footage to yourself. And then I am done? No. Some car-hire companies have an annoying tendency to add charges to your credit card weeks – even months – after you get home, so you will need to be vigilant to make sure fuel payments and excess charges and the like are returned.
Western Telegraph
03-05-2025
- Health
- Western Telegraph
Parents close to deadline for GHIC cards warn experts
The UK GHIC is a key benefit that lets Brits get necessary state healthcare in the European Economic Area (EEA), and some other countries, on the same basis as a resident of that country. This may be free or it may require a payment equivalent to that which a local resident would pay. It replaced the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). If you have an existing EHIC you can continue to use it until the expiry date on the card. Once it expires, you'll need to apply for a UK GHIC to replace it. You can apply for a new card up to 9 months before your current card expires. Alicia Hempsted, travel insurance expert at MoneySuperMarket, says: 'With schools in the UK breaking up for summer as early as Wednesday June 25, some parents now have just 20 working days left to apply for their Global Health Insurance Cards (GHIC) to ensure they arrive in time. 'Free to apply for and lasting for up to five years, applying for a GHIC card couldn't be simpler. Visit the NHS website, provide the appropriate details and then wait 24 hours for your application to be approved. All you need to know about the new free Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) #MartinLewis — Martin Lewis (@MartinSLewis) January 7, 2021 "It is important to note that each family member requires a GHIC card, so parents will need to complete one for each child. Once approved, your card will be sent to your address and should arrive within 15 working days.' You can apply for a UK GHIC if you're a resident in the UK. You can also add your family members to your application when you apply. You'll need to provide your: full name address date of birth National Insurance number Health and Care number (if you're from Northern Ireland) If I have a UK GHIC do I also need travel insurance? UK GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. You also need travel and medical insurance for the duration of your trip. Alicia says: 'While a GHIC card will cover treatment for emergencies, it is not a direct replacement for travel insurance. Having the appropriate travel insurance before your holiday is vital, as there are several things that GHIC doesn't cover, such as medical repatriation or treatment in a private health facility should you need it. 'Wherever you're planning to travel this summer, it's vital to have the right travel insurance in place for you and your family so you can enjoy your trip worry-free.' You should also check FCDO travel advice on for the country you're visiting. Recommended reading: What is a GHIC card, and which countries are covered? 'In the event of a medical emergency, a GHIC card allows travellers to access state healthcare on the same basis as a resident in the country that you are visiting," says Alicia. 'GHIC covers emergency healthcare in any country within the European Economic Area (EEA), and other countries such as Montenegro, Australia and Jersey. "A full list of countries is available on the NHS website.'
