NHS says Brits do not remember to check EHIC validity

Holidaymakers should ensure their health insurance card is in date before leaving the UK, the NHS advises.

Some 28 million Brits have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), which entitles them to free or subsidised healthcare if taken ill or injured in most European countries.

Following a survey, the NHS says that many people are not aware that the EHIC needs renewing periodically – those issued in 2005 and 2006 will need replacing soon.

GMTV’s resident GP Dr Hilary Jones said: “If you become ill or get injured on holiday, the last thing you want to be thinking about is paying unnecessary medical bills, which could cost thousands.”

In addition, Brits are putting their health at risk by not checking the expiry dates on condoms and cosmetics; 15 per cent of men did not know condoms expire and a fifth of women did not know makeup has a use by date.

Official figures from the Department of Health show that people living in the UK go on more than 60 million trips abroad.