New European health insurance card

Those of you who travel in Europe will no doubt be familiar with form E111. Supplementary to your usual travel insurance, the form entitles travellers from the UK, who are eligible, to free or cheaper emergency medical treatment in the European Economic Area (EEA). The EEA covers member states of the European Union (EU) plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway. Switzerland is also covered.

This old style form is due to be replaced by a new plastic European Health Insurance Card. The new card will not hold electronic or clinical data. In line with EU regulations, the card will be issued on an individual basis and not a family basis as at present, so children will not be covered by their parent’s card.

The new cards will be valid for up to five years and will continue to be free of charge. We can expect to see the new cards sometime in 2005.

In the meantime old style forms E111 will remain valid until 31 December 2004. Therefore if you are planning to travel in Europe during 2005, you should apply for a new E111 as those issued before 19 August 2004 will not be valid next year. Your new E111 will be valid until 31 December 2005.

The current application form includes a tick box, which, if completed, will ensure that you are automatically issued with the new card in 2005.