Travelling after Brexit

Posted on 16/05/2019 12:07 by MichaelT

Sorry to hear about your wife's mishap hope all goes OK.  It did remind me to check the expiry date of our EHIC cards and jogged my memory that they are now due for renewal in June so new ones applied for.  I wonder if the Brexit mess will be resolved by time the new ones expire 

Posted on 16/05/2019 14:22 by eurortraveller

You are having bad luck AD - please give my sympathy to your wounded wife.

But dare I say I am not too bothered if EHIC disappears. Everyone is already advised to have a personal travel/medical insurance policy, and it is simply a case of pay with a credit card , get a receipt,  and reclaim when you get home. So my wife's out patient hospital treatment in New Zealand, her emergency dental treatment for a abcess in France last year, and my own memorable 24 hours in an Indian hospital were all covered that way.  Do holiday makers really need EHIC ? 

I do wish you both well. Take care.

Posted on 16/05/2019 11:07 by

EHIC

Update ,learned today that the card is for emergency treatment only not follow up . Attended the hospital today for a follow up on my wife's broken toes and a lot of confusion arose because we had not registered at a health center for temporary residence status. Initially they were not going to proceed because the "computer says no" but a Doctor overruled it/them and made a further appointment for 3 weeks time. In spite of my wife having more than basic Spanish skills we could not have managed without the assistance of volunteer translators from a local expat charity. Extended our stay for another week to allow for the appointment and by then it's going to be over 7 weeks which is something of a record even for us.

Posted on 16/05/2019 15:11 by allanandjean

Hi David, very sorry to hear you news and please pass our best wishes to Marjorie.

As euror says there are many that appear to either not know the limitations of the EHIC, or just 'wing it', but I had no idea about the ongoing treatment aspect.

Last summer our Granddaughter fell whilst near the onsite pool and had to attend hospital to have stitches, and was prescribed some medication, and then a follow up to remove the stitches.

The main issue was the language and finding pharmacies as the hospital did not dispense.

Fingers crossed for the remaining, problem free, time!

Posted on 16/05/2019 11:07 by

EHIC

Update ,learned today that the card is for emergency treatment only not follow up . Attended the hospital today for a follow up on my wife's broken toes and a lot of confusion arose because we had not registered at a health center for temporary residence status. Initially they were not going to proceed because the "computer says no" but a Doctor overruled it/them and made a further appointment for 3 weeks time. In spite of my wife having more than basic Spanish skills we could not have managed without the assistance of volunteer translators from a local expat charity. Extended our stay for another week to allow for the appointment and by then it's going to be over 7 weeks which is something of a record even for us.

Posted on 16/05/2019 15:22 by Pliers

What awful luck, and nothing is ever straightforward is it!

But the most important thing is that your wife makes a full recovery.

We're off to Spain soon, must check we've got the EHIC cards packed....

Posted on 16/05/2019 15:31 by

Thanks very much but at least we are sitting under palms and blue skies while she takes it easy.