Is there anyone who~Who} doesn’t enjoy that fun of travelling abroad on holiday? Anxiously waiting, flattening your luggage to close it, double-checking that you’ve got your passport… still, how many of us remember our healthcare? It is more involved than simply taking out travel insurance.

Whether you’re off on holiday or visiting for work, if you’re visiting a country in the EEA (European Economic Area), then you might be able to receive medical assistance at a reduced cost or perhaps for free. If you are a UK national, you ought to make sure you have your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). It is used instead of the E-forms of earlier years, which also includes the familiar E111.

You will not be charged for the EHIC and it’s valid for five years. Carrying this valuable card, you are permitted access to state-provided healthcare in all parts of the EEA countries (and Switzerland) at a lowered expense, or occasionally free of charge. Every UK resident should carry their EHIC with them while they are travelling abroad, in addition to a current travel insurance policy. At times,travel insurance agencies insist that you possess an EHIC and the majority of them will even waive the excess if you hold one.

The EHIC includes the provision of oxygen, renal dialysis, maternity care and for management of symptoms of chronic or prior conditions which occur while abroad. However,it’s vital to note that it does not permit you to be out of the country with the specific intention of getting private medical care. This is also the case for lost/stolen property, repatriation to the United Kingdom or such emergencies as mountain rescues.

Your card gives you admittance to the same healthcare as that available from the government for residents living in the country that you are in. Remember that not everything that’s free under the NHS in the UK is free elsewhere. For example, you might be liable to pay for an ambulance trip, since in a few European nations these are privately run. Be sure that you try to get the state-provided healthcare, or you could find yourself paying unnecessarily for entirely private medical services. Take particular care if your hotel or travel rep are arranging things for you, since they will sometimes direct you to private healthcare services.

If you can, show the medical office your EHIC on arrival, before treatment gets underway, and don’t forget to have your travel insurance details on your person. Keep in mind that there are countries that expect international patients to pay for part of their healthcare. That means, although you show an EHIC, you may be expected to do the same. Despite the fact that you are entitled to completely free treatment, in some lands you will be asked to pay for your healthcare first and subsequently need to claim a refund using your EHIC. In that situation, always try to file your refund before going back home.

Naturally, you might like it where you are so much that you don’t even want to go back home! In case you’re so attached by the sun, beach or the whole different lifestyle that you figure you will become another of the UK’s many ‘expats’, then private expat health insurance is the best option.

There are plenty of personal healthcare plans for you to choose from, often including family care, and at differing levels of cover. Just like all such plans, choose carefully and figure out exactly what’s covered. Repatriation to the UK, or evacuation services when needed, in many cases come as standard. The majority of international healthcare plans also give access to a confidential, round-the-clock advice line, in addition to a foreign language interpreter.

Whether you’re off on holiday or making that big move, be sure your healthcare is well and truly covered.