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health care

Posted: Wed Apr 14, 2021 8:22pm
2 replies73 views2 members subscribed
SAFC

Posts: 12

1 helpful points

Location: Totana

Joined: 17 Mar 2021

Hi, does anyone  on here have a holiday home here and if so could you give me any advice on what's the best thing to do about health care as we would be coming out for 2 x 90 days per year.

Any advice would be greatly appreciated thanks

RichT

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 12:28pm

RichT

Super helpful member

Posts: 1134

1259 helpful points

Location: Lorca

Joined: 13 Sep 2019

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 12:28pm

Even though the UK is not out of the EU, deals were made that ensure that you are still covered by your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), which is valid until it expires and then it will be replaced by a GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card).

Taken from another website...

The new GHIC and the EHIC are both free and do essentially the same thing:

If you're a UK national living in the UK, they entitle the holder to the same medical treatment as a local citizen at state-run hospitals and GPs in any European Union country – extremely useful in emergencies.

That means if a local citizen gets free medical treatment then you do too – but if they pay, you pay the same rates. As this is a reciprocal agreement, it also means EU citizens can use the NHS in the same way.

However, you should really also ensure that you have travel insurance as well. The GHIC & EHIC give you access to state-run hospitals which, depending on where you travel to, can be few or far between, and more limited.

Travel insurance has a much wider level of cover than a GHIC and EHIC. For example:

  • A GHIC or EHIC doesn't always mean free treatment – where it doesn't, travel insurance usually covers it. Even in a state hospital using a GHIC or EHIC, you may still have to pay a substantial amount in some countries. Travel insurance should cover this, though using a GHIC or EHIC may mean you won't need to pay the excess.

  • State hospitals might not be available. In the UK, emergency treatment tends to be on the NHS, but don't assume this type of coverage will always be available. You may be taken to a private hospital.

However, there are many things which may be excluded under a travel insurance policy that won't be excluded with a GHIC or EHIC.

For example, if you injure yourself on an activity that would be excluded from your travel insurance, or through your own fault - e.g. falling over when drunk; then you’ll still be treated and they still work if you have a pre-existing condition, which travel insurance wouldn't cover unless you have specified it (though 'medical tourism' – going abroad to get treatment – is not included).

Hope this helps!


SAFC

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 4:59pm

SAFC

Original Poster

Posts: 12

1 helpful points

Location: Totana

Joined: 17 Mar 2021

Posted: Thu Apr 15, 2021 4:59pm

RichT wrote on Thu Apr 15, 2021 12:28pm:

Even though the UK is not out of the EU, deals were made that ensure that you are still covered by your EHIC (European Health Insurance Card), which is valid until it expires and then it will be replaced by a GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card).

Taken from another website...

The new GHIC and the EHIC are both free and do essentially the same thing:

If you're a UK national living in the UK, they entitle the holder to the same medical treatment as a local citizen at state-run hospitals and GPs in any European Union country – extremely useful in emergencies.

That means if a local citizen gets free medical treatment then you do too – but if they pay, you pay the same rates. As this is a reciprocal agreement, it also means EU citizens can use the NHS in the same way.

However, you should really also ensure that you have travel insurance as well. The GHIC & EHIC give you access to state-run hospitals which, depending on where you travel to, can be few or far between, and more limited.

Travel insurance has a much wider level of cover than a GHIC and EHIC. For example:

A GHIC or EHIC doesn't always mean free treatment – where it doesn't, travel insurance usually covers it. Even in a state hospital using a GHIC or EHIC, you may still have to pay a substantial amount in some countries. Travel insurance should cover this, though using a GHIC or EHIC may mean you won't need to pay the excess.

State hospitals might not be available. In the UK, emergency treatment tends to be on the NHS, but don't assume this type of coverage will always be available. You may be taken to a private hospital.

However, there are many things which may be excluded under a travel insurance policy that won't be excluded with a GHIC or EHIC.

For example, if you injure yourself on an activity that would be excluded from your travel insurance, or through your own fault - e.g. falling over when drunk; then you’ll still be treated and they still work if you have a pre-existing condition, which travel insurance wouldn't cover unless you have specified it (though 'medical tourism' – going abroad to get treatment – is not included).

Hope this helps!


Thanks for the info.

Very helpful 

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