Torrevieja Forum

[Sheff_Blade]

Apologies if someone else has already reported this but there is an article on the BBC website about the EHIC card.

According to the article, the UK government has asked all 31 countries to keep EHICs in use until 31 December 2020, no matter what happens with Brexit.

Apparently only Spain has agreed to date.

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-49989227

[dave c]

Hi sheff,
saw on the news yesterday. two other eu countries have done the same.
Portugal is one, can't remember the other.
must be getting worried about next years tourism?

[wingman]

Worth checking which EHIC you are referring to
E1 or E111
E1 will be valid until to end of transition period
E111 may not be valid wef 01 Nov.

[strolling_minstrel]

What's an E1?

[wingman]

What's an E1?

E1 EHIC - For Resident Benefit Entitled / Pensioners, Workers and Students. Applied for on DSS E1 Form. Reciprocal exchange medical cover between UK and Spain. With E1 EHIC and paying into Spanish INSS you can exchange for a TSE Card.

E111 EHIC (More commonly called E1-11) - For Holiday Tourists. Allows Emergency Treatment only.

[strolling_minstrel]

It's an S1 and you don't get a card for that. It used to be called an E121.
You get an EHIC (which replaced the E111 years ago) issued by UK.

We have our S1 forms which transferred the health care across to Spain and have had them for nearly 10 years.
Our EHIC cards simply say EHIC and cover us for all EU countries outside Spain.

[freddo]

My EHIC says European Health Insurance Card with uk in a ring of stars and no mention of where it can be used

[strolling_minstrel]

When we got our pensions, we were also sent a letter to apply for the EHIC and this letter explained that, as we had an S1, the EHIC would not be valid in Spain but would be valid in every other EU country.

It's why you have to go through a different department to get an overseas EHIC and you can't do it online.
Of course, this only applies if you are a resident as visitors will still be able to use their EHIC in Spain. (At the moment).