3 Reasons Travel Insurance Is Needed as Well as the EHIC
Although most people understand the importance of purchasing single trip holiday insurance before setting off on holiday, some wrongly assume that if they go to Europe, all they will need is the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). However, this is not the case. Although an EHIC is very useful and is completely free, it should not take the place of a good policy – you should ensure you have both for total peace of mind. Here are three important reasons why.
1. It Does Not Provide Private Medical Care
An EHIC will provide you with the same level of state health care as a national of the particular European country would receive. However, this varies greatly from country to country. In some countries, the state health care system may be very efficient and similar to what you would expect back home. But in others, it could be a very different experience.
When you purchase single trip holiday insurance, this will normally include treatment in any facility, either state run or private, so you can expect a high standard of care wherever you go, giving you far more reassurance.
2. It Does Not Include Repatriation Cover
Even where the EHIC covers you for your medical treatment in a European country, one thing that it will not provide is repatriation cover. So, if you were seriously injured abroad, you could receive treatment, but you may end up stuck in a hospital in that country and unable to be flown home with a medical team. Naturally, this can be a very distressing experience for the injured person and their family, but it is one of the aspects regularly covered by a single trip holiday insurance policy. Make sure you find one that provides repatriation cover up to a few million pounds so you know you can be flown home should it be necessary.
3. It Does Not Come With Extra Levels of Cover
The EHIC is solely for medical attention should you become injured when you are overseas. However, private policies typically cover so much more than medical expenses. Although medical costs are a large part of many policies, they may also provide cover for lost or stolen possessions, the cancellation of your trip, liability costs, personal accidents, delayed departure and much more.
Make Sure Get Covered
If you are travelling to Europe for any amount of time, getting an EHIC is a very good idea. However, don't assume that it takes the place of getting covered because it is a very different thing to private single trip holiday insurance. Cover yourself properly and you will be able to relax in the knowledge that you are secure in any eventuality.
Patrick Chong is the Managing Director of Insuremore. We provide low cost travel insurance and offer a range of policies including single trip holiday insurance, annual, multi-trip and family cover. For all your travel cover needs, Insuremore can help you in the quickest and most cost-efficient way.