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European Health Insurance Card

PostPosted: 11 Oct 2005, 18:54
by locutus
Not seen this mentioned, but you can now apply online for your EHIC. It replaces the E111 from the end of the year, so if you're going abroad*, get one now :)

http://www.ehic.org.uk

* visiting a European Union (EU) country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.

PostPosted: 11 Oct 2005, 20:18
by lilyjosh0
Thanks - that's really useful. May be worth noting that you can only do online applications for over 16s. I'll just have to trundle off to the post office for my son's forthcoming skiing trip.

PostPosted: 11 Oct 2005, 21:06
by robandgill
Originally posted by locutus
Not seen this mentioned, but you can now apply online for your EHIC. It replaces the E111 from the end of the year, so if you're going abroad*, get one now :)

http://www.ehic.org.uk

* visiting a European Union (EU) country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.


Its also the fastest way to get the card. When we applied in
september, we submitted the appplication on a friday and the
cards were through the letterbox on wednesday morning.

Robert

PostPosted: 11 Oct 2005, 21:17
by mcuth
Nice spot, thanks for that one [y][y][y]

Cheers

Michael

PostPosted: 11 Oct 2005, 21:22
by mitchja
I sent my form in weeeks and weeks ago....still no card here yet though [:(!]

Submitted another application online...thanks for the web link :)

Regards

PostPosted: 11 Oct 2005, 21:28
by preiffer
I only found out about this when I went to the post office 3 days before I was due to go to Spain, to get my E111 re-done.

The lady told me that it wasn't possible to do anything "there and then" like they used to anymore, and it needed sending off (taking 14-28 days). The fastest way was to do it online, but that would still be 7-10.

So, I got back to the office on Monday afternoon & filled out the online form. (Just registering online is enough to cover you - I checked - you just need to call them and get the emergency number to call if necessary)

Anyway, Wednesday morning (1.5 days later!) my shiny new card was through the letterbox [y]


MUCH handier than the old A4 form (and I dare say a little more durable, too ;))

PostPosted: 12 Oct 2005, 00:02
by robandgill
Originally posted by preiffer
I only found out about this when I went to the post office 3 days before I was due to go to Spain, to get my E111 re-done.

The lady told me that it wasn't possible to do anything "there and then" like they used to anymore, and it needed sending off (taking 14-28 days). The fastest way was to do it online, but that would still be 7-10.

So, I got back to the office on Monday afternoon & filled out the online form. (Just registering online is enough to cover you - I checked - you just need to call them and get the emergency number to call if necessary)

Anyway, Wednesday morning (1.5 days later!) my shiny new card was through the letterbox [y]


MUCH handier than the old A4 form (and I dare say a little more durable, too ;))



Yep, exactly the same happened to us. We didn't think the
cards would arrive in time before we went to Greece so we
gave them a call.

Seems as soon as you submit the form on-line, details are logged
in their database. As preiffer said they can give you your EHIC number and a number to ring if you get into any "trouble" while
you are away.

PostPosted: 12 Oct 2005, 10:04
by AlanA
Strange,
I filled in the forms from the Post office in May this year using the E111 system and about three months ago the card arrived without me asking for it!

PostPosted: 13 Oct 2005, 00:03
by onionz
Originally posted by AlanA
Strange,
I filled in the forms from the Post office in May this year using the E111 system and about three months ago the card arrived without me asking for it!


The E111 form changed this year, and the separate application form stated that an EHIC card would be provided as soon as they are available, unless you indicate otherwise. You obviously didn't indicate otherwise!

It's strange how it's the Prescription Pricing Authority who send the card. They are the body responsible for reimbursing pharmacists for the cost of drugs they dispense on NHS prescriptions. Their jurisdiction must stretch to reimbursing European states for medical aid given under the reciprocal health agreement.

PostPosted: 15 Oct 2005, 16:57
by McCoy
It's strange how it's the Prescription Pricing Authority who send the card.
Indeed.. that surprised me too. Who were the existing E111s issued by?
I got my card last week.. only a few days after online application.

PostPosted: 15 Oct 2005, 18:40
by onionz
Originally posted by McCoy
It's strange how it's the Prescription Pricing Authority who send the card.
Indeed.. that surprised me too. Who were the existing E111s issued by?
I got my card last week.. only a few days after online application.


The old style forms were always available at the Post Office - so techinically they issued them. But the Goverment department responsible was printed on it somewhere if memory serves me correctly. Was it DSS by any chance - i.e. what is now the Department for Work and Pensions?

PostPosted: 21 Oct 2005, 22:42
by JAT74L
Got ours in yesterday. Cheers to locutus for the info.

Regards

John

PostPosted: 06 Nov 2005, 21:34
by xenole
Sorry to be a bit dumb, by what exactly is this?
Is the E111 that form you are supposed to fill in to get NHS style treatment in Europe or something?
Got annual travel insurance and popping over to Holland in just over 2 weeks so not sure if this applies to me.....

PostPosted: 06 Nov 2005, 21:42
by locutus
Originally posted by xenole
Sorry to be a bit dumb, by what exactly is this?
Is the E111 that form you are supposed to fill in to get NHS style treatment in Europe or something?
Got annual travel insurance and popping over to Holland in just over 2 weeks so not sure if this applies to me.....



Yes, that's it. Still worth getting if you are going to a covered country. I'm sure the insurance people will try and get out of paying something if you could have got it for free anyway.

PostPosted: 13 Nov 2005, 18:23
by catsilversword
Hmmm... I got a new E111 in August. Can I still apply for one?

PostPosted: 13 Nov 2005, 18:29
by locutus
Originally posted by catsilversword
Hmmm... I got a new E111 in August. Can I still apply for one?



Yes, as it's valid after Dec when the E111 will become invalid, so apply now. :D

PostPosted: 13 Nov 2005, 18:35
by catsilversword
Originally posted by locutus
Not seen this mentioned, but you can now apply online for your EHIC. It replaces the E111 from the end of the year, so if you're going abroad*, get one now :)

http://www.ehic.org.uk

* visiting a European Union (EU) country, Iceland, Liechtenstein, Norway or Switzerland.


Many thanks! My kids applied for their E111 several months ago and were automatically sent a card too, shortly afterwards. I did teh same, but no card, and yes, I DID tick to receive one! Many thanks to locutus though, have just applied online, so fingers crossed...

PostPosted: 14 Nov 2005, 19:17
by Treelo
I applied online for the cards for me and the present Mrs Treelo last Monday evening - the cards arrived Friday a.m.:D