Why the EHIC is no replacement for travel insurance

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by: bythesea
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Word Count: 429
Date: Wed, 26 Jan 2011 Time: 7:13 PM
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There's a degree of confusion surrounding the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) and how it affects UK holidaymakers' need for travel insurance when travelling in Europe. Many wrongly assume that because they are in possession of an EHIC that they have no need to take out holiday insurance but the fact is that while the card can be used to gain certain medical care, not all costs will necessarily be covered.

The EHIC can be used for low-cost or free state-provided emergency medical care following an accident or illness while abroad. It can also cover urgent treatment of a pre-existing or chronic condition that needs attention during the trip, or for routine maternity care. However, depending on your circumstances, you could still be left out of pocket even when using the card so it's important to do your research before you head off on holiday.

The best way to ensure that you're fully covered is to take out an appropriate travel insurance policy that covers your specific needs. One of the main benefits of having a good travel insurance policy in place when you go away is that it will provide cover for repatriation, enabling you to be brought back to the UK for treatment if you fall ill or have an accident - an option not afforded by the European Health Insurance Card, which could leave you stranded in a foreign hospital.

Other benefits offered by holiday insurance can include reimbursement for lost or delayed luggage or misplaced passports, cash or valuables. It can also offer cancellation cover, meaning that if you find yourself in the unfortunate situation of having to cancel your holiday due to illness or redundancy, for example, you can make a claim to recoup the cost.

The important thing to remember, though, is that not all travel insurance policies offer the same level of cover - so don't make the mistake of choosing the cheapest cover you can find only to find out later on that you're not covered for everything you expected. Take the time to read the fine print; it only takes a few minutes and it will ensure you can set off on holiday with true peace of mind.

Don't take the risk of travelling with only your EHIC; the more comprehensive cover offered by the average travel insurance policy easily outweighs the small financial outlay you'll be making, so find the right insurance for you and get ready for a genuinely relaxing trip.

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Before going on your holiday, make sure to look into some cheap holiday insurance.