Summer holiday essentials: health
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Your support makes all the difference.If you need emergency healthcare while on holiday in the European Economic Area (the EU plus Iceland, Norway and Liechtenstein) you qualify to be treated on the same basis as a national ofthat country, which means reduced cost – or free – state treatment.
While the UK is still a member of the UK, you can get a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), free by calling 0845 606 2030 or by applying online at ehic.org.uk. It should arrive in seven days or less; if you have applied but your card has not arrived in time for travel, you are still covered. It lasts five years.
Each nation sets its own healthcare policy. In Spain, treatment in public hospitals is free; be aware, however, that if emergency help is required, tour operators and hotels will often opt for a private healthcare provider on your behalf, unless asked not to.
In France, some costs of treatment are payable locally. A portion can usually be recovered on return to the UK; keep all receipts for care you have to pay for. The card is not valid for private care, nor in countries that do not have a national healthcare service. For destinations outside the EU, it is advisable to take out travel insurance - in the US, for example, medical care is extremely expensive.
Check which health precautions are recommended for the country you are visiting well in advance of travel. If you’ve left it late, or have made a last-minute booking, first check out fitfortravel.nhs.uk, which will tell you what’s recommended.
Private travel clinics can – for a premium – get you covered last-minute. Masta (masta-travel-health.com) has a network of more than 50 clinics across the UK; and Nomad (nomadtravel.co.uk) has several in major cities including London, Birmingham, Manchester and Cardiff.
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