EHIC - is anything replacing it?

[RainMoon]

So EHIC is going, what is replacing it or is nothing replacing it and is it health insurance or pay your own way now? No emergency cover?
For visiting an EU country.

[dementedpixie]

I'm sure I read there was something else similar to EHIC coming

[dementedpixie]

Its a GHIC

[Chersfrozenface]

My EHIC had expired, so I've applied for a GHIC - confusingly, it's still called an EHIC throughout the NHS application process.

If I remember, I will report back on progress.

[lovelyupnorth]

@Chersfrozenface

My EHIC had expired, so I've applied for a GHIC - confusingly, it's still called an EHIC throughout the NHS application process.

If I remember, I will report back on progress.

GHIC doesn't yet exist and won't for a few years.

EHIC cards are still valid till the runout.

[dementedpixie]

www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-ehic-european-health-insurance-card/

This says you would get a GHIC if applying for a new card

[Chersfrozenface]

My EHIC card ran out at the end of November 2020.

I have just applied here
www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-ehic-european-health-insurance-card/
and received registration and application confirmation emails.

The introductory page, linked above, says:
"If you apply for a card now, you'll get a new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) instead of an EHIC. These pages and the application portal will still refer to EHIC until 4 January 2021."

[RainMoon]

So the new GHIC is being rolled out and should cover people who’s EHIC has run out if they have to visit Europe? (When it’s possible....)

[lovelyupnorth]

Doesn’t start being rolled out till 2022 and should bring the operative word.

[Peregrina]

A silly question maybe, but do we know which countries the Government has negotiated with to make such a card valid?

[Chersfrozenface]

@Peregrina

A silly question maybe, but do we know which countries the Government has negotiated with to make such a card valid?

Not a silly question at all.

I'm hoping that when the website is updated to replace references to EHIC with GHIC, it will also become clear where I will be able to use the card, once I get it, and what it will cover.

Failing that, I'm hoping that the card will be accompanied by information on those things.

The UK already had reciprocal health care agreements with Anguilla, Australia, Bosnia and Herzegovina, the British Virgin Islands, the Falkland Islands, Gibraltar, the Isle of Man, Jersey and Kosovo, so I suppose those may have been rolled over. They all have conditions and caveats, of course.

Curiosity about the coverage to be provided by the GHIC was one of my motivations in applying, as travel looks unlikely in the immediate future.

[lovelyupnorth]

@Chersfrozenface

They might have reciprocal deals but you’re not covered if you visit the Isle of Man haven’t been for a few years.

[purpleleotard]

The only reliable replacement is for you to buy adequate holiday insurance.
The sunny uplands of Brexit. Ha

[Chersfrozenface]

[quote lovelyupnorth]@Chersfrozenface

They might have reciprocal deals but you’re not covered if you visit the Isle of Man haven’t been for a few years.[/quote]
The NHS site www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/healthcare-when-travelling-abroad/travelling-outside-the-european-economic-area-eea/ says about the Isle of Man:
"Essential documents - proof of residence
What's free - treatment is similar to that provided by the NHS
What you'll need to pay for - dental treatment and prescribed medicines"

Also the IoM government website says that under an agreement which came into force on 1 October 2010
www.gov.im/about-the-government/departments/health-and-social-care/reciprocal-healthcare-agreement/
"UK residents visiting the Isle of Man will receive free NHS treatment if they become ill whilst in the Isle of Man, apart from statutory charges which Isle of Man residents have to pay, such as prescription charges."

[Chersfrozenface]

@purpleleotard

The only reliable replacement is for you to buy adequate holiday insurance.
The sunny uplands of Brexit. Ha

I have always bought holiday insurance anyway, to cover things not covered by the EHIC.

But having an EHIC used to reduce your premiums.

I want to know whether the same will be true with the new GHIC.

[Mamamia456]

Purpleleotard - The EHIC and the new GHIC should never be used as an alternative to travel insurance.

[Chersfrozenface]

@Mamamia456

Purpleleotard - The EHIC and the new GHIC should never be used as an alternative to travel insurance.

Absolutely not.

But having an EHIC reduced your premiums - substantially if you had one or more pre-existing conditions.

It remains to be seen whether the GHIC will reduce do the same.

[XingMing]

Insurance!

[Peregrina]

Looking at that list where we have reciprocal arrangements, I have only been to one of the places on the list, whereas I have been to 19 of the EU countries.

[iVampire]

But having an EHIC reduced your premiums - substantially if you had one or more pre-existing conditions

Not for the Post Office. Which is both inexpensive and a good level of cover. If you had no EHIC, fine everything still covered but there was a small excess (surprisingly low, under £50). No excess if EHIC used.

We looked into this just over a year ago when DS was about to set off on a trip without realising his had expired.

[veeeeh]

Sorry now, but there have to be some restrictions for Brexit.

If nothing changes, everything stays the same.

Buy Travel Insurance.

[RainMoon]

Of course everyone should have travel insurance. But we have one person who has a lot of exclusions and that’s the thing they would require emergency care for, the th that travel insurance excludes, so currently with Ehic or its replacement thanks to brexit we can’t leave the country. Unless we budget £20k per day for hospital treatment if needed. We only want to go to France when it’s safe maybe end of next year

[veeeeh]

Brexit is where the blame lies now for OP. Sorry and all that.

Staycation.

[RainMoon]

@veeeeh oh I completely know where the blame lies, even told relatives this would be the case before they voted for it and they did so knowing this.

[Chersfrozenface]

Remember I noted that the NHS introductory page said:
"If you apply for a card now, you'll get a new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) instead of an EHIC. These pages and the application portal will still refer to EHIC until 4 January 2021."

Well it's the evening of 4 January 2021 and the page now says
"We will soon be replacing the EHIC with a new UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). These pages and the application portal will still refer to EHIC."

No date for rewording the site and application portal, you'll notice. Also, I wonder what the definition of "soon" is in this context.

[Chersfrozenface]

An update:

Below is a link to the official government statement on the GHIC, including mention of agreements with various countries on health cover and of medically necessary treatment for a pre-existing or chronic condition.

www.gov.uk/government/news/uk-launches-global-health-insurance-card

I applied for mine on 2 January, and the NHS site says cards should arrive within 10 days, but still no sign of it. Having said that, I'm sure no-one is rushing to get the cards out, knowing that travel is all but impossible anyway.