European Health Insurance Card

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European Health Insurance Card
25 October 2008

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is valuable for every Europe-bound traveller; it entitles you to the same state-provided healthcare as a resident of the country you are visiting. And procuring one provides a diversion for the dark days of late autumn.

You can apply for this free card in a variety of ways: for example, collecting an application form at a post office and sending it in. A second option: call the EHIC application line on 0845 606 2030. The quickest way to secure one, however, is online. But note: if you type "EHIC" into Google, the top entry is not the official NHS site, but a privately run website charging £9.95 for submitting an application on your behalf. The company promises "the reassurance that all of your details have been checked by us for common mistakes", but the misplaced apostrophe when citing "problems with your application which could delay it's processing" does not inspire confidence.

To apply free, visit ehic.org.uk. Don't fear a tax-return-style encounter; you need little more than name, address and NHS number.

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