Don’t forget to get your free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before you travel

Don’t forget to get your free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) before you go travelling abroad this summer.

The free card allows you state healthcare for free or at a reduced cost and cover you and your children for the cost of treatment until you can get back home.

Research from Asda Money, finds that when abroad, without the appropriate cover, a simple broke wrist could cost you £1706 in Europe, or a staggering £6,533 in the USA.

It gets worse for larger broken limbs, with a leg costing around £5971 in Europe or £82,000 in the USA.

But findings by Asda Money reveal that 29 per cent of parents jetting out of the country have not got their children an EHIC.

Don’t expect your travel agent to warn you about this, as only 9 per cent had been advised to get an EHIC when booking their holiday.

Head of Asda Money, Kirsty Ward says: “We all enjoy the excitement and anticipation ahead of a long awaited break abroad, and sometimes the ‘boring essentials’ are over-looked. No-one wants to consider accidents or illness on holiday, but it really is better to be safe than sorry. Treatment costs are sometimes just the beginning, with flight and hotel costs thrown in. Our research shows that many parents feel they can’t afford travel insurance, however we need to remember that the alternative could be much worse. We would like to see insurers and the travel industry provide all the necessary information on the EHIC to anyone travelling in Europe.”

You can apply for a free EHIC online via the NHS at: http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/about-the-ehic.aspx