We are fortunate to have healthcare free at the point of delivery in the UK, but as you know this is not the always the case when you travel overseas. You will often have to pay part, if not all, of your medical bills if you fall ill or have an accident. And if it's serious, the costs could easily become huge, spiralling up to many thousands of pounds. By taking out travel insurance and carrying a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) you can avoid substantial doctors' bills, delays in treatment and undue stress in the event of a medical emergency.

No doubt you are already aware of the comprehensive features of the family cover provided by the travel insurance element of your Federation Group Insurance Scheme. However you may not know that a EHIC is free, application takes five minutes and it is valid for up to five years. As a card carrying member of the Group Scheme any excess payments due on claims made for medical emergencies will be waived; saving you £35 each time. In addition, not only do you benefit directly, but a recent Federation claim has illustrated just how valuable the benefits of an EHIC can be to all members, helping to maintain premiums at competitive levels across the piece.

It is important to realise that the EHIC is NOT an alternative to travel insurance.

So whilst it will:

• Provide access to reduced-cost or free medical treatment from state healthcare providers in European Economic Area countries and Switzerland that becomes necessary because of either illness or an accident.

• Allow you to be treated on the same basis as a resident of the country you are visiting.

• Include treatment of a chronic or pre-existing medical condition that becomes necessary during your visit.

• Include routine maternity care (provided the reason for your visit is not specifically to give birth).

It will not :

• Act as a substitute or replacement for private travel insurance.

• Cover the costs of private healthcare or services that are not part of the state healthcare system in the country you are visiting, such as mountain rescue in ski resorts and privately operated ambulance services.

• Cover the costs of being brought back to the UK – dead or alive.

• Allow you to go abroad to specifically receive treatment (including going abroad to give birth).

For these reasons it is important to have both an EHIC and a valid private travel insurance policy. Be aware that you do need to renew your EHIC, and can do so up to six months before the expiry date. In fact according to the Department of Health about 3 million cards will expire between September 2008 and March 2009. So check out the expiry date on your card and if you haven’t already made an application get on with it so you too can feel the benefits.

For Applications and Renewals:
Call 0845 606 2030
Visit: http://www.stuartharvey.uk.com/ehic.htm
Or use an application form available from your local post office

To Replace a Lost or Stolen EHIC:
Call 0845 606 2030.
If the card is lost or stolen while you are abroad apply for a Provisional Replacement Certificate, which will provide you with the same cover as an EHIC until you return home.
Call 0044 (0)191 218 1999