If you’re heading overseas for a holiday this summer, you’ve probably already started to look at different options for your travel insurance. It’s a common misconception that most travel insurance policies are the same, and that it doesn’t really matter what company you go with. That’s really not the case, and if you haven’t taken the time to understand the terms and conditions of your policy and apply online for your EHIC before leaving home, you could end up being substantially out of pocket.
Read moreNobody likes to think about getting ill during their precious two weeks in the sun over the summer holidays, but every year thousands of people find themselves in just that situation. Luckily, most of the people who fall ill or have an accident recover very quickly, and do not to seek medical attention. For the minority who do require more intense medical intervention, the costs associated with getting medical care are often a lot more than they had anticipated, especially if they have travelled uninsured or without EHIC cover.
Read moreDoes having a foreign holiday have to be a thing of the past when you have kids? Parents often think that travelling overseas with small children is going to be stressful and unbearable, but with a little forward planning, it doesn’t have to be.
Read moreThousands of UK travellers heading to Europe every year apply for their EHIC – the European Health Insurance Card. This handy little card allows UK citizens to access state health care across the countries of the European Economic Area either free of charge, or at minimal cost. EHIC can be used in emergency situations, for minor ailments and also for treatment for chronic or ongoing conditions such as diabetes or high blood pressure. Given all of the benefits of having an EHIC, it’s hardly surprising that so many people are applying. But is the www nhs uk ehic website really the best place for your EHIC application?
Read moreEHIC – the European Health Insurance Card – has barely been mentioned during the raging debate on whether or not the UK should stay part of the European Union. Whatever your personal opinion on the matter, it seems that the referendum result will be a close run thing, and this leaves many travellers unsure of where they stand accessing state medical care for their summer breaks in the Mediterranean resorts this July and August. There are of course no real answers on this, but we can probably predict what will happen given either outcome – remain, or Brexit.
Read moreThe days of applying for official documentation to cover the whole family are long gone. In 1998, the government changed the rules to stop children travelling on their parents’ passports, and a few years later, changes were made to the old E111 European health insurance scheme. The replacement for E111 is called EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) and each member of the family requires their own card, whatever their age and circumstances. Applying for a child’s EHIC card isn’t as hard as you might think.
Read moreMost of us have heard of the European Health Insurance Card which allows European Economic Area citizens to access public healthcare across Europe. The process is relatively simple; you apply for a card for each member of the family before heading off on holiday, and if you break a leg in Greece or have an allergic reaction in Ibiza you can use the EHIC cover to get reduced-cost or free medical treatment. The system is long-established, works well in most cases and can save travellers a lot of money. There is however quite a bit of confusion about which countries are covered with EHIC and which aren’t.
Read morePrevention is always better than cure. Sometimes, falling ill on holiday or having an accident is unavoidable, but often it is our behaviour which contributes to the illness. There’s never any excuse for not taking out comprehensive travel insurance and applying online for your EHIC before you travel, so that if the worst happens, you are covered for whatever treatment you might need. In addition, there are several simple things you can do to avoid illness.
Read moreAnyone who has suffered from a serious or chronic illness knows how expensive it can be to get travel insurance. Most insurers demand that you reveal any type of medical condition, however minor, and every year there are horror stories about people being refused a payout after a traffic accident because they’d been to see a doctor about hayfever. Many travellers who have medical conditions end up being charged huge sums for travel insurance, or have to take the risk that their medical condition is excluded and just hope that nothing goes wrong while they are overseas.
Read moreGoing on holidays is supposed to be pleasurable and relaxing, but the actual travel can be anything but. When you’re trying to organise getting yourself and several others through airports, onto flights and then find your accommodation at the other end, anything you can do to lessen the burden of travel has to be a bonus. Here are some clever travel hacks which can save a lot of time and hassle.
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