EHIC - have you made a small claim on it? Is it worth it?

[Phineyj]

I needed to take DC to see a doctor during a recent holiday in France. Paid EUR 25 in cash and received a completed 'Feuille de soins'. However, I can't for the life of me work out how you go about seeking a reimbursement -- I did find one form but it was very long and complicated and only seemed to cover treatment carried out before 2021 (EU Directive Route). I have contacted the NHS Business Services Authority and asked them but just wondered if anyone else has pursued an EHIC claim successfully.

An EHIC card is not an insurance policy you can claim against - It's just a card showing you are entitled to access the reciprocal healthcare scheme in different countries. So indeed - you pay what a local would pay for emergency treatment. In Belgium for example I pay 25 euros to see my GP and can claim most of it back against my own health insurance. In your case, you can claim on your travel insurance. My travel insurance policy says I have to have an EHIC card.

You should have been given à pièce of paper called "feuille de soin". This is what à French person would send off to be reimbursed 70% of the cost of the visit

Yes, I've got the "feuille de soin" but I don't know what I'm supposed to do with it, that's the point! The doctor wasn't bothered about the EHIC - she didn't want to see it when I tried to show her. I'm happy enough to have got suitable treatment for €25, just don't understand what the EHIC was even for in the scenario and I'd quite like to understand it properly in case we ever had something serious happen.

They just charged you what a french person would pay, regardless of your EHIC, GP just didn't want the hassle of the paperwork.

That may not be the case in future without a GHIC (or a EHIC that is still in date)

My partner fell of his bike in Spain, the GHIC was definitely asked for, once shown, treated for free, without and we'd have got a hefty bill.

FWIW a GHIC covers less countries than the pre Brexit EHIC, GHIC's don't cover repatriation dead or alive or search and rescue costs... medical insurances will expect you to have one.

Thanks, we're going to phone our travel insurance provider and find out what we should do if we have a situation again.

Developments! I actually received a response from NHS Business Services with a form to fill in and it looks like I may get my €25 back! So (as is often the case) there is a system, it's just poor communication.

I will keep the form in case any other Mumsnetters need it.

You can still use your Ehic until it expires if you have one, then reapply for the new Ghic.

also ghic covers primary care only.

if (god forbid) you had for example a stroke it would cover a&e and urgent treatment.

anything after that, and as pp says re-patriation dead or alive, is not covered. that's where travel insurance comes in.

@Phineyj, is it possible you could send me a link to the form please?

If you pm me your email address I'll send it. It doesn't seem to be available easily online - they don't make this easy!!