UK travellers visiting the EU are used to getting the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) for free which covers health costs while in the EU to the same standard as if back in the UK.

As of first January 2021 that changed as the UK is no longer in the EU so why should UK citizens get free medical treatment?

If you already have an EHIC card then it remains valid until it’s deadline.

For pensioners and a few other cases, new medical insurance will remain free for travel to the European Union,  but for the majority it is finished and we will have to pay for travel medical insurance in the E.U. as we already do for the rest of the world.

Scammers are starting to offer free EHIC – just click the link in the emails and fill in your details to get the free cover.

But the messages are fake and the websites are fake – just a means to get your personal information that can then be sold to other scammers.

You can check at https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/apply-for-a-free-ehic-european-health-insurance-card/ if you want to see if you are eligible for a free EHIC card but don’t expect it be Yes unless you are a pensioner.

If you have any experiences with these scams do let me know, by email.