Check the expiry date on EHIC cards before your holiday!

[ChippyMinton]

Just dug out the family's European Health Insurance cards (replaced the old E111) for our summer trip to France, to find they expired last month. It's easy to renew online here

And never ever pay for them!

Ours came through quite quickly - about a week after I applied online.

thanks for this, just checked ours and they ran out feb 2010 !! We diligently took them abroad last aug which would have been a complete waste of time.

thanks for reminding me - all renewed now!

just re-newed all ours, thanks so much for the heads up!

done ,thanks for this

I didn't think I'd be the only one somehow!
Let's keep this bumped.

absolutely!

Go and check now!

bump

bedtime bump for all you holidaymakers.

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Bump.

Thank you!!!

Just looked and ours expired Sept last year! Am renewing now for our holiday to France in August. I had completely forgotten about them.

Thanks! I'd done the same as many here - taken mine abroad with me at least once since Jan this year, when they expired!

THanks for the reminder - just doing ours now, but can't find DH's NI number...grrr...

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Have just applied for mine - we're off on Sunday...wish I'd thought of it before, it may take 10 days it says, will just have to chance it!

Hi I think I may have made a bo bo! I've paid £20.00 for ours! Are they meant to be free? Was in a rush when sorting it as had a screaming toddler fussing!!

Just renewed ours - 2 yrs out of date They arrived within the week of applying on line. Definitely free.

Yep defiantly messed up :( just clicked on. the first link in a Google search! Am now £20 lighter. Just hope they arrive :(

Thank you
Mine has expired

Any idea how long they take? (renewal)

I second this. My DB got caught out last month with appendicitis in Spain. His card which he'd left at home and had to get a housemate to send photo of had expired. He would have had to pay full costs up front.
Fortunately I was able to phone EHIC people who renewed it for him and faxed confirmation over to the hospital, but it was a worrying time.

No-one should ever pay for a EHIC card; they are free.

There are many unscrupulous people out there who will happily scam others to offer what is a free service.

Mummy21 - I would reapply for the EHIC using the official NHS website. Sorry Mummy but you've been scammed. If you have paid by credit card I would see if you can get the payment stopped because you have been misled.

Generally speaking, these cards are no real substitute for proper travel insurance as coverage on EHIC can be limited.