My wife unluckily had to go to the Portimao A&E after an accident. They were good but would have charged quite a fee on the spot if she did not have her European Health Insuramce card that gives you free medical service. Many don't seem to have one so use this link:

http://www.applyehic.org/applynow.html? ... tAod8F8AJw

Its free and saves you paying out thenm claiming back from your travel insurance - which is still essential.

Remember too that the card runs out and its your job to renew it - use the same link.

It used to be free, but nearly sure you have to pay for it now.

Hi Sam,

I can't remember if it was this year or last that I renewed my one, but it didn't cost anything then.

Craig

Why apply through an unofficial website when you can apply direct from the NHS?

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcare ... -ehic.aspx

It is free and is valid fot 5 years.

To clarify, using the first link you will be charged as they are an agency, using the second NHS direct link you will be able to apply for renewal/first time card at no cost.

Any one see the report on TV where these cards are applied for with false details by or for non-uk residents. It would appear that basic checks are not done, the cards are sent out and then non-uk and even non-eu residents use them to get free health care abroad which the Uk government then pays for. Also, hospitals should check if people are Uk resident so they can charge them or their government for treatment. Seems most do not bother, especially if referred by a doctor. They filmed a doctor selling referrals and documentation - even at a cost of hundreds it is far cheaper than if they actually paid the NHS. Well, there are two areas that the government & NHS can save money. If I remember right they quizzed the government minister who just keep saying that they knew there were problems and they were going to have a review. Still it far easier to penalise the vulnerable and the tax payers than actually sort out massive mismanagement and fraud.

I have never possessed a EU Health Card as I always assumed that private travel insurance would take care of any unforseen event. I shall apply for it today as you can never be too over insured.

Having the card to produce on the spot would take any hassle of having to contact the insurance company.

This forum does produce gems of information when needed.

congerman wrote:My wife unluckily had to go to the Portimao A&E after an accident. They were good but would have charged quite a fee on the spot if she did not have her European Health Insuramce card that gives you free medical service. Many don't seem to have one so use this link:

http://www.applyehic.org/applynow.html? ... tAod8F8AJw

Its free and saves you paying out thenm claiming back from your travel insurance - which is still essential.

Remember too that the card runs out and its your job to renew it - use the same link.

Cheers mate your post reminded me of our cards,they both ran out last March have now renewed once again thanks!

My pal has a place in Spain. He and his wife and young son visit three or four times a year. Last summer his wife missed her footing on a high kerb. As she fell she cracked her hip on the edge of the kerb. An ambulance was called and she was taken to A&E. Almost the first thing they did was ask if they had a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). They had one, but explained that it was back at the apartment. Apart from giving her a painkiller, they didn't seem very intersted in taking any further action so my pal grabbed a taxi and returned with the card 20 minutes later. It was like a magic wand - everybody sprang into action, an X-ray was taken straight away and a broken hip was confirmed. She had an operation that night and had a metal pin inserted in the hip. After a few days she had recovered enough (using a wheelchair) to return to the UK. The airline managed to find a row of three seats for her to lie across, but the big surprise was that an NHS nurse was provided to accompany her back to the UK. The nurse confirmed that had they not had the EHI card things would not have gone so smoothly at the hospital and they would have had to pay up front before she left and then they would have had to go through all the rigmarole of claiming their money back in the UK.
As it happens we have always taken our EHIC cards with us. After this example of their value, we always will.

James Faro wrote:I have never possessed a EU Health Card as I always assumed that private travel insurance would take care of any unforseen event. I shall apply for it today as you can never be too over insured.

Having the card to produce on the spot would take any hassle of having to contact the insurance company.

This forum does produce gems of information when needed.

I'd check your insurance if i were you as most (if UK insurance) seem to insist on you having the EHIC as part of the cover

jeff

loonytoon wrote:I'd check your insurance if i were you as most (if UK insurance) seem to insist on you having the EHIC as part of the cover

jeff

Hi Jeff,

Many thanks for alerting me about that. I have tried to go on online and read the policy schedule but can't access it for some reason. I will call them in the morning but have already applied for the EHIC. What you mentioned was informative and alarming! The whole policy might well be null and void without the EHIC

Cheers - James

I had the bad experience of being admitted as an emergency to hospital in Crete some years ago; not an experience I would recommend. Production of the then paper version facilitated rapid treatment. I dread to think what delays in treatment would have resulted without being able to produce this. We now always carry our EHIC cards and copies of travel cover at all times when out and about; not left in the house or back home in the UK.

DaveK wrote:We now always carry our EHIC cards and copies of travel cover at all times when out and about; not left in the house or back home in the UK.

Ditto

The whole policy might well be null and void without the EHIC

I doubt it very much, but some insurance companies do waive the excess if you have an EHIC and get private treatment, I believe.

We also founf Portimao A&E very good a year or so ago when my wife had a dog bite : the EHIC card ensured prompt treatment, excellent daily follow-up care at CVO/Lagoa health centres and reduced prescription charges......after about a year, we were belatedly billed about 10€ by the hospital though : I have subsequently gathered this is a normal Portuguese custom for hospital visits.......see previous topic :
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