Holidaymakers have been issued with an urgent warning ahead of taking a much-needed getaway this year.
The MoneySavingExpert website has reminded any UK citizens planning to head abroad that reciprocal health cover arrangements have changed with the end of the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
It is being replaced by the new Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), which will operate in much the same way as its predecessor, reports the Mirror.
Anyone holding a EHIC can continue to use it abroad until it expires - but holidaymakers are being urged to check if their card is still valid.
Once a EHIC has expired, travellers will need to apply for a GHIC, which provides emergency-care access to state-run hospitals or GPs at the same price as a local resident.
Although it is named as the Global Health Insurance Card, it actually covers fewer countries and all are EU, MoneySavingExpert explained.
Travellers have also been urged not to use an external site that charges to submit an application for a GHIC card - even though it is free to get one through the NHS website.
The Department of Health and Social Care said both cards offer equivalent protection for “emergency and medically-necessary healthcare needs” when a UK resident is in the EU on a temporary stay.
GHICs can be obtained from www.nhs.uk/GHIC and are free of charge. Travellers are advised to apply at least two weeks before their next trip.
People are being warned that an EHIC or GHIC is not a replacement for insurance.
Holidaymakers are always advised to buy travel insurance as soon as they book a holiday, so they are covered for other issues that may arise such as Covid-linked cancellations and lost luggage.
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