U.K. travellers are advised to take GHIC card before they fly

Friday, June 9, 2023

The U.K. travellers planning to fly to a country in the European Union or Switzerland are being urged not to forget an important document. The health insurance is an important thing to make sure you have and Brits are being told to make sure they have a GHIC card.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) was the old card Brits needed to ensure they had insurance and if it is still in date, you can continue to use it.

However, due to Brexit you now need a UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) instead of EHIC. You should also have travel insurance with healthcare cover, the UK Government recommends.

An EHIC or GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. Make sure you have both before you travel,” the Department of Health and Social Care advises on its website.

If you have a GHIC then you will be able to get medically necessary state healthcare in Europe at a reduced cost or sometimes for free. The cover is the same as residents in that country are eligible to receive, reports the Mirror.

The government has a list of what is covered in the different EU countries on its website, so make sure to check it before you go, especially if you’re planning to do something a little dangerous such as skiing.

If your EHIC – which was replaced by the GHIC – is still in date, you do not need to apply for a new GHIC before it expires. The EHIC is still accepted.

Each healthcare system is different, and in some countries you’ll need to pay to have treatment.

An EHIC or GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance – it does not cover everything, such as mountain rescue or being flown back to the UK as part of medical repatriation. You’ll need to pay in full for treatment if you do not have an EHIC, GHIC or provisional replacement certificate, so it is important to make sure you’ve got yours to hand when travelling.

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