subject: From one country to another: what you should know about health insurance [print this page] From one country to another: what you should know about health insurance
Nowadays, every European country has its own national health system, which allows its citizens to benefit from medical cover for free or at a lower price. However, the extent of the medical coverage can change from one country to another, and services that are free of charge in a country such as the UK might be costly in a country overseas like France.
Created in March 2002 by the European council, the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows the person holding it to benefit during a temporary stay in a foreign country (up to 120 days) from free medical treatment, though only necessary treatment is covered. For example, this card allows its holder to be treated in a French hospital, just like any other French citizen. The EHIC is the same in every European country and is registered to one person only. It is completely free and is valid for a year. It is now a must-have, for if you travel without an EHIC, you will have to pay for every single service provided, a bill that can easily reach dozens of thousands pounds. However, the EHIC has been designed for short stays only and because of the diversity of the NHS you may have to pay for something you are used to getting for free.
That is why private medical insurance remains important. Medical insurance companies offer supplementary coverage such as dental, optical or maternity treatment, in addition to the core services provided. Moreover, they also deal with your case from A to Z: they can choose the hospital for you, fill the administrative forms or arrange your medical evacuation and repatriation. Thanks to them, coverage gaps left by NHS disparities can be filled for an additional cost.
By obtaining an EHIC and subscribing to private medical insurance, you will get the serenity of being taken care of for free or at a lesser cost.
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