GHIC card for a child (with no adult alongside)

[Mumofteenandtween]

Ds’s EHIC card has expired so we need to apply for a GHIC card for him. We are all British citizens so should be easy peasy right?

Nope.

He is out of step with the rest of us (as I strangely didn’t time my birth giving to go alongside the running out of the EHIC cards) so we only need one for him.

But the application process requires an adult to do it for theirs and then add dependents alongside. We tried applying for dh’s but that said that he already has one (he does!)

I guess that we could declare one of them lost but that seems a bit silly when there is still 2 years left on them.

There must be a solution - anyone know? If so it will prove my “the hive mind of Mumsnet knows everything” announcement.

If he already has an EHIC can't you just renew it and get the new GHIC? Both my kids have their own ones without either parent on them. We just had to complete the forms for them and gave our details on there.

I'm sure I've managed to order one for just DD2 in the past, but she needed a new one last year, so put in my own details as confirmation of who she was (!) and lo and behold, I got a new GHIC too. That didn't happen last time, but at least she was allowed one.

It won’t let me just apply for him…..

• There is a problemYou’ve told us you’re under 16 years of age. People under 16 must be added to the application of a parent or guardian who they live with.

And when we try to apply for us it tells us we already have one. (It doesn’t say “you muppet” but I can hear it!)

Isn't there an option to add your existing card number for the child or if needing an adult, for the adult?

We got our kids ones last year, so maybe it's all changed again. I don't remember it being this hard. Are you definitely on the right government site which is free?

This the correct website. Others charge for the card.

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

I'm sure I found how to do it but you need to search through lots of info. I'll go investigate again

If you've already completed your application and want to add additional family members contact NHS Overseas Healthcare Services. You'll need to give us your reference number, name, date of birth and address so we can access your record.

The OP hasn't been on the government website. There are lots of other websites that charge a fee for the card. When in fact, it is completely free on the nhs.

OP was on the correct website. It doesn't let you apply for one just for a child. You need to add them on by contacting them

I had this - here is my thread and it worked for me:
https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/general_health/4997048-anyone-understand-how-applications-for-a-ghic-card-for-travel-work?reply=132650866

That's the one I found the contact info for as well 😁

This looks like it might just work! Thanks.

faq-ohs.nhsbsa.nhs.uk/contact-us/

This is to add children

Just to warn anyone trying to do this at the moment, I emailed today and got this line in the reply:

We are currently receiving large volumes of correspondence which we are working through as quickly as possible. We are currently working on emails from the 30/04/2024.