Millions of holidaymakers could face avoidable medical bills abroad because they don't have a free GHIC card, a travel expert has warned
Almost half of Brits are risking costly medical bills on holiday thanks to one simple mistake, a finance expert has warned. Falling ill or having an accident abroad could not only ruin your trip but put you and your family under significant financial strain.
The NHS doesn't routinely cover your medical expenses overseas so insurance is vital to ensuring you don't have to foot the bill. But sometimes policies don't pay out or can't cover the costs of particular services or incidents so Go Compare's Rhys Jones is warning about the importance of a free GHIC.
GHIC stands for Global Health Insurance Card and it allows you to receive state-provided medical treatment in Europe and some other nations either for free or at the local cost. Rhys explains it can cover emergency treatment, treatment for pre-existing medical conditions, routine maternity care, and emergency care for accidents or illnesses that occur during a trip. After Brexit it replaced the European Health Insurance Card , which is still valid until its expiry date.
Despite the GHIC's importance, Go Compare Travel Insurance's research has revealed 42% of Brits don't have a GHIC card, with 9% not even knowing what one is. The survey of 2,000 UK adults also uncovered that 16% thought having travel insurance meant they didn't need one the cards and 26% didn't realise they'd need to apply in advance of an issue.
Rhys warns the GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance as it doesn't offer things like repatriation to the UK, private medical treatment or travel disruption. Travellers can apply for a free GHIC for free on the official NHS website and it's valid for up to five years. Rhys is encouraging all travellers to check they have valid travel insurance and an in-date GHIC before heading on holiday.
Rhys said: "Many travellers are still unaware of what the GHIC card is or mistakenly believe that travel insurance alone is enough. While travel insurance is essential, the GHIC can provide valuable access to state healthcare across many European destinations and could help reduce out-of-pocket medical costs if you become ill or injured abroad.
"Applying for a GHIC is free and relatively straightforward, but it's important to do it before you travel. Having both a valid GHIC and comprehensive travel insurance in place can help ensure you are properly protected while away.
" List of territories where GHIC is accepted
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