To ask about E111

[hiddeneverything]

Hi

I'm travelling soon with young children, one of whom isn't well at the moment. Two people have told me to get an e111, but I've never had one before - what is it, what should it cost and do all of you travelling need one? And why didn't I know this before now?
Tia

There is no E111 anymore you need to apply for an EHIC and each person has to have their own. Apply via the NHS Business Centre website - be careful to apply via the official website as some websites will charge you and it’s actually free.

You can do it online via .gov website foc and they arrive shortly after. It covers a percentage of the medical costs but rarely all. Research where you are going and the e111 coverage. Spanish countries are notoriously bad for overcharging! Arm yourself with the info if you have to attend a clinic.

Should have said, as things currently stand, most insurers ask you to carry one as it entitled you to reciprocal healthcare entitlement as residents in EU countries are entitled to in their countries. By using it you minimise the loses to the insurers!!

As others have said its ehic and apply from .gov website. Its free

It allows for free heath care in the EU as far as you are concerned.You can apply on the goverment site and it's straight forward and all the info you need will be on there.
It is not replacement for proper insurance though.

Thank you - I was about to pay £32.99  EACH

Where and when are you travelling? Don't think they will be valid post Brexit.

Make sure you have ravel insurance as well, although might not cover pre-existing conditions

I ordered mine last week online and it arrived in about 5 days. You need NHS number or NI number to apply for yourself, then you can add children or spouse.

As someone else said you need to go to a public hospital, if you are ill, not a private one, some taxi drivers can get a commission from private hospitals.

Take out some travel insurance as well, then use the EHIC card covers you for the excess. Travel insurance also helps you to get home in an emergency, even travelling with a broken leg would be difficult flying with EasyJet or Ryanair. I don’t travel with them by choice but they’re the only airline that fly direct to my destination, sadly.

Yeah, it's not been E111 for ages, it's the EHIC card now. And make sure you get it through an official .gov.uk website.

It's more important than ever to have proper travel insurance, since a no-deal Brexit will invalidate the EHIC for UK citizens. (Even if you plan on returning before the 29th March, illness or injury or other events could delay you traveling back!)

Thanks everyone. Got them sorted (for free) and already have travel insurance. Can't believe I didn't know any of this

"It allows for free heath care in the EU as far as you are concerned"

Not exactly. It entitles you to treatment, and that treatment must be allows you to be treated on the same basis as a national of that country - which is not necessarily free.

You need travel insurance as well - some things are not covered, such as medivac return, or any additional costs if your stay is prolonged because you are not fit to travel. That is the case regardless of whether the EHIC system can be used by British residents at all post-Brexit

The question of whether they will still be valid post Bexit is one of the many (many, many) still to be resolved....