Do you journey with a GHIC Card? Travelling to and from the EU has modified post-Brexit. Nevertheless, travelling with a GHIC and appropriate journey insurance coverage ought to offer you peace of thoughts.
Whether or not your EHIC remains to be in date, otherwise you now have a GHIC, (which changed the EHIC) we wished to share some up-to-date journey recommendation and guidelines round this merchandise in your journey package listing.
What’s the distinction between the EHIC and the GHIC?
Though GHIC playing cards have been obtainable for the reason that UK left the European Union, no healthcare association existed for anybody travelling to Norway, Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Switzerland from the UK. This was true if the traveller held both a present EHIC, or GHIC.
Spin ahead to January 1st, 2024 and this all modified.
The UK Authorities now has Reciprocal Healthcare Preparations with European Financial Space (EEA) European Free Commerce Affiliation (EFTA) States. These states are Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
Keep in mind, that the UK can nonetheless negotiate with extra nations to create reciprocal healthcare agreements. The UK Authorities web site offers an up-to-date listing which incorporates The Channel Islands and Isle of Man.
Are EHIC playing cards nonetheless legitimate?
Sure, so long as yours has time left earlier than the expiry date. They final for 5 years however over 4 million are resulting from expire in 2024.
The European Well being Insurance coverage Card (EHIC) continues to be phased out following the Brexit deal. You possibly can nonetheless use an EHIC whether it is in date. As soon as it expires you’ll want to exchange it with the GHIC Card.
The GHIC card continues to be free for UK residents and UK Nationals. There are solely a handful of nations the place it is not going to work. The GHIC can be utilized in a majority of worldwide nations.
What else do I must find out about GHIC playing cards?
Make your utility for a GHIC Card on the official GHIC web site. Beware any unofficial ones you might come throughout or any that ask for fee; the GHIC is at all times free to UK residents.
What does GHIC imply?
GHIC stands for International Well being Insurance coverage Card. Presumably chosen as a result of it might develop to incorporate different nations outdoors the European Financial Space (EEA) post-Brexit.
The place can I exploit my GHIC Card in the present day?
- Nations within the European Financial Space
- Montenegro
- Australia (the place you may declare Medicare
- Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man
- St Helena, Tristan and Ascension
- In European Free Commerce Affiliation (EFTA) States – Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.
Do I would like a GHIC card?
The GHIC shouldn’t be obligatory for journey or UK scholar journey. Nevertheless, some journey insurance coverage insurance policies might state that you need to have one in case you’re dwelling within the UK.
Whereas you don’t want to have one, a GHIC provides you with a point of certainty, safety, and peace of thoughts. You’ll obtain extra safety when you journey, must you want it corresponding to free or discounted medical care in state-run hospitals.
What’s extra, GHIC stays free, together with supply, and includes a quite simple utility course of. Upon getting utilized you’ll obtain a fast choice and will probably be in your arms inside two weeks. It appears a no brainer to have it in your pocket if you journey to any collaborating nation.
What does it give me?
A GHIC card can cowl you if you end up in collaborating nations for:
- emergency remedy, together with visits to accident & emergency departments
- remedy for long-term and pre-existing medical circumstances.
- routine medical remedy for pre-existing circumstances that want monitoring.
- routine maternity care, so long as there isn’t a intention to provide beginning whereas overseas.
- oxygen and kidney dialysis, though any such remedy might have to be organized with the healthcare supplier earlier than journey.
In brief, the GHIC covers state-provided healthcare if you can’t fairly wait till you’re again within the UK to obtain it. Nevertheless, the healthcare offered is at a decreased value – not free of charge.
That point out of state-provided is essential to notice and applies to present EHIC playing cards too. Personal healthcare shouldn’t be included. It’s a good suggestion to familiarise your self with healthcare suppliers within the neighborhood if you journey.
In fact, if you end up in a scenario the place solely non-public amenities can be found, your journey insurance coverage shall be invaluable. Extra about that later.
What gained’t a GHIC or EHIC cowl me for?
- Therapy that’s not offered in a state hospital. Concentrate on this if utilizing a non-public healthcare setting.
- In the event you’re going overseas particularly to get remedy neither of those playing cards shall be of any use.
- A GHIC/EHIC is a medical coverage. Cancellation, delay, repatriation, baggage loss and theft is not going to be coated by a GHIC/EHIC.
A journey insurance coverage coverage can even not cowl you the place an appropriate public facility can be utilized as an alternative.
How do I apply for a GHIC?
This half is sweet and easy. Navigate to the NHS web site, the place you may study extra. Then apply in your GHIC card.
Ensure you give your self loads of time to order a GHIC card earlier than departing.
Bear in mind, in case you nonetheless have a sound EHIC with time left till it expires, that is nonetheless legitimate. It is just when the EHIC card expires that you’ll have to change it with a GHIC.
Who can apply?
EHIC and GHIC playing cards can be found to all UK residents. Every member of your travelling get together will want their very own – they’re issued per particular person. Additionally, mother and father might want to make functions on behalf of beneath 16s.
How lengthy does it take to get a GHIC Card?
In the event you apply in the present day, it’s going to take between 10 – 15 days to acquire a Medical insurance card. Nevertheless, it’s at all times clever to use nicely upfront of your departure date. In the event you go away house with out an in-date GHIC/EHIC for any purpose, and require remedy you may apply for a ‘provisional alternative certificates‘ (PRC) for short-term cowl.
Do I would like journey insurance coverage when I’ve a GHIC card?
Journey insurance coverage remains to be strongly advisable by the federal government. Whereas the UK EHIC/GHIC will present healthcare in numerous eventualities, you’ll nonetheless require sufficient journey insurance coverage to make sure you are absolutely coated.
For instance, the GHIC/EHIC is not going to cowl non-public healthcare provision. So, in case you’re taken to a non-public facility the place a public facility shouldn’t be viable or obtainable, you’ll foot the invoice. In some areas of Europe – particularly distant or mountain-based places the place (particularly apt for winter sports activities fanatics) solely non-public amenities could also be obtainable.
A journey insurance coverage coverage can even not cowl remedy at a non-public facility the place a medically succesful public facility exists. So it’s essential that you just contact the emergency help staff in your journey insurance coverage coverage earlier than receiving remedy to be sure to are being handled on the most fitted facility.
What was the hyperlink once more?
Functions will be made on the NHS web site. Preserve a observe of this for when your EHIC runs out.
Journey, with confidence with a GHIC Card
All the time verify the expiry date in your EHIC/GHIC earlier than reserving a break. Additionally, guarantee your passport shall be beneath 10 years outdated – on the day you enter the nation. Failing to make sure each these paperwork are in date might result in a declare not being paid out if you take out a journey insurance coverage coverage.
With an in-date EHIC/GHIC in place and your Free Spirit coverage, you’ll have the liberty to journey, with confidence. Additionally, at all times assessment journey recommendation and suggestions earlier than leaving house for peace of thoughts.
