I have only just found out this past week that there is a new card you can apply for to enable you to receive free health treatment in Europe.
My son collapsed and had a sudden death in Andorra. His life was saved by his friend who immediately started CPR after alerting someone nearby to send for help.Within a few minutes other help and a defibrillator arrives and his heart was restarted.Within fifteen minutes an ambulance arrives with oxygen and other medical equipment. He was stabilized and airlifted to hospital in Barcelona.
After a traumatic week and excellent care by doctors and staff in Barcelona he is now awake after four days in an induced coma. Today he was moved from Intensive Care and is in another room awaiting a bypass operation.
Luckily he was very organized and his friend brought all his papers to hospital. Amongst them was the very important GHIC card, the hospital asked for this straight away.
The change happened when we left Europe so it’s not recent. The cards give you what the residents get - if they get free treatment, you do. If they pay, you do but not as much as you’d pay if you didn’t have the card.
However, travel insurance is still highly recommended - the cards aren’t a substitute for it.
The replacement GHIC is free, currently taking about 4 weeks to process.
Good to hear that there was a good outcome to a traumatic event.
Great he received the correct treatment immediately at scene as it did save his life.
The other important part of this story is don't leave the EHIC/GHIC card in a load of papers in holiday accommodation.. Treat it like a credit card and carry it with you at all times once you arrive at the destination.
I applied for my replacement EHIC card before it expired as I could not find it, in readiness for business travel, and got the GHIC card right away with no reported issues.
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Quote: Originally posted by path20 on 12/7/2022
I have only just found out this past week that there is a new card you can apply for to enable you to receive free health treatment in Europe.
.....Luckily he was very organized and his friend brought all his papers to hospital. Amongst them was the very important GHIC card, the hospital asked for this straight away.
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Topic: New European Health Card
via mobile 13/7/2022 at 9:55am
