Travel Insurance -
Confused travellers believe European travel card negates the need for insurance
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The European Health Insurance Card which replaced the E111 for people travelling abroad to Europe has been the source of some confusion. Many of those with the card are under the impression that it provides more cover than it does.
The card covers for free or reduced price medical treatment only in the case of emergencies, and only within the EU and Switzerland.
As its official name includes the word insurance it in unsurprising that many believed that it would provide insurance. Unfortunately, that is not the case and people need t be aware that the card is not enough on its own.
As many as 10% of people travelling with the card said that they did not bother themselves with health insurance for their holiday as they believed the card would cover them in the event of an accident.
13% of people thought that if they suffered a serious health problem on their holiday, possessing the card would mean that they could be brought back to the UK for treatment. This is not the case, the card will only ensure that emergency health problems are dealt with on the spot, and will not pay for anything other than healthcare.
Nearly ten per cent of the people questioned in a survey carried out by InsureandGo were under the impression that they could use the card to pay for planned operations abroad. This is known as health tourism, where British Citizens travel to a foreign country for their operation. People do it for a number of reasons such as a belief that some foreign healthcare systems are of a higher standard than here in the UK or for the opportunity to recover in a warm relaxing atmosphere.
Despite the card stating that it is for healthcare in its name, and the fact that it replaces the E111 form which was strictly for health emergencies abroad, some thought that the card would cover them for all sorts of other insurance. 3% thought that if their baggage was lost or stolen, that the card would mean that they received compensation. As many people carry vital medication in their bags on holiday with them, this is not an unreasonable assumption given that the card calls itself a health insurance card.
The name is clearly misleading many people, who are not taking the correct precautions as to insurance on their holidays as they are wrongly led to believe that the card will provide a solution to every problem they encounter. 2% of people even thought that they would get compensation n account of having the card should their flight be delayed or cancelled.
It is important that holidaymakers understand what the card does and does not cover for them and the government needs to provide this information clearly and effectively to those travelling abroad with the European Health Insurance Card.
InsureandGo, who carried out the research, questioning over one thousand people last month, made these comments on their findings:
“These are very worrying findings. It appears the EHIC card is giving millions of people a false sense of security and we are concerned that the Government is not making it sufficiently clear to travellers that they need travel insurance as well when they go abroad for business or pleasure. The uncomfortable truth is that this card should not have the word 'insurance' in its name - it does not offer people insurance in the sense they have come to expect.”
If you are travelling abroad, make sure that you are properly covered with the appropriate travel insurance package for you and are aware of exactly what you are covered for.
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