The Minster Practice, Lichfield
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Card EHIC formerly Form E111This E111 form was replaced by the common European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) from September 2005 in the UK (from June 1st 2004 in some EU countries). Apply by phone 0845 606 2030 or at www.dh.gov.uk/travellers . As Government websites do not maintain weblinks with automatic transfer to new locations you may have to search for EHIC on the Department of Health website which, in January 2006, is at www.dh.gov.uk. The EHIC is valid in Austria, Belgium, Cyprus (but not Northern Cyprus), Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Italy, Latvia, Liechtenstein, Lithuania, Luxembourg, Malta, Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Slovakia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden and Switzerland. Remember that this card NEVER replaces travel insurance but some travel insurers expect you to be carrying the card if you are visiting the listed countries.
Travel health insuranceThis is often not given the attention it deserves. Free and immediate emergency health care in this country make it easy to forget that an illness or accident can result in medical costs of thousands of pounds that needs to be paid as the expenditure is incurred. The price of travel insurance should only drive policy selection when the small print has been checked and adequate cover is confirmed. Ensure that there are no restrictions or obligations that will make claiming difficult or impossible. Do NOT just tick the box to take out a tour operator's insurance without first checking the conditions that apply. You may also need to inform your insurer about health matters affecting family members who are not travelling with you if their health may require cancellation or curtailment of your holiday. Try and select a policy that gives you 24 hour telephone access to a medical helpline run by a skilled medical assistance company - larger medical assistance companies in 2003 included Europ Assistance, AXA Assistance and Mondial. These companies keep records of reputable doctors, clinics and hospitals in all areas. If you find yourself in the hands of disreputable medical services, you may find it difficult to get home without making your own independent arrangements, as disreputable services have been known to withhold the vital "fit to fly" certificate. Your insurance company will need sight of this before it even starts to make arrangements for your flight home. It is practice policy not to discuss case histories of practice patients on this website but any consumer column will quote some of the pitfalls tripping up readers. We cannot advise you on the suitability of any insurance for your particular circumstances. Also any letter from us requested by your travel agent, insurance broker or travel insurance company may restrict your cover but will not guarantee your cover. Remember that during a period of annual travel insurance or at renewal, you may need to inform your company of changes to your health and the health of other family members or your insurance may be invalidated. You will rarely be covered for pre-existing medical conditions without extra premium and some will remain excluded. This can be an expensive risk on your part particularly if you are travelling outside the European Union or to a country with which the UK has no reciprocal health agreement. Within the EU the EHIC may provide basic medical cover but not repatriation etc. A good insurance broker will be able to find an insurance company that will cover special risks though the premium may far exceed the cost of your holiday! Note that claims arising directly or indirectly from acts of terrorism are being excluded by an increasing number of travel policies. For obvious reasons, ensure that this exclusion does NOT apply to emergency medical care. Even if you are covered for all normal circumstances, you could invalidate your cover in many ways:
Remember the general insurance rule that your insurance company needs to be told about anything that might affect the cover provided for you. If anything at all makes a claim possible, it is your responsibility to ensure the company knows in advance of making the claim. The company must always be aware of the risk it is covering or it may validly reject your claim.
Common exclusionsExclusions usually include motorcycle or moped driving or riding as a passenger, hang gliding, parachuting, mountaineering, potholing, caving, rock climbing requiring ropes or guides, horse riding, high diving, scuba diving, ocean going yachting, martial arts, off piste skiing, ski jumping, bobsleighing.
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Send mail to webmaster @minster.org.uk with questions or comments about our website. N.B. Website is for practice patients ONLY.
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