BRITS are being warned to check a vital travel document as it might soon be expiring and could cost you thousands if you don’t renew it.
Up to 1.3million Brits could be caught out when travelling abroad this year due to out-of-date travel documents.
A Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) is a free card that gives UK travellers access to state healthcare when on holiday.
New data collected by Compare the Market for the NHS has revealed that 1,299,484 UK GHIC cards are due to expire this year.
This means that if you needed emergency healthcare when on holiday, you could be faced with a nasty bill if your GHIC card is out of date.
Currently there are around 23.3 million GHIC cards in circulation in the UK but the cards only last five years.
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If your GHIC is due to expire soon and you are also due to travel soon, then apply for a new card for free via official NHS BSA Healthcare Cover Application, as soon as possible.
It usually takes around 15 working days for the card to arrive once your application is approved.
If you travel before your card arrives, then don’t worry – if you need medical treatment when abroad, then you or someone on your behalf can request a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) online or by phone.
All you need to provide is your name, address, date of birth and your National Insurance Number.
The certificate can then be emailed directly to the hospital or medical centre you are seeking treatment at and gives you the exact same healthcare cover as a physical card.
It is worth remembering though that GHIC cards are not a substitute for travel insurance.
GHICs do not cover private medical care, mountain rescue, flight cancellations or being flown back to the UK – all things that you will need travel insurance for.
Tim Knighton, travel insurance expert at Compare the Market, said: “With nearly 1.3 million GHICs due to expire this year, anyone travelling to Europe should check their card well before they set off.
“It’s an easy thing to overlook, particularly if you haven’t needed to use your GHIC on previous trips.
“The rise in applications for PRCs also highlights that people could find themselves needing access to healthcare unexpectedly while abroad, so checking you have a valid GHIC before travelling is an important part of preparing for your trip.
“A GHIC can be very useful if you need medically necessary state healthcare while abroad, but it’s important to remember that it isn’t a substitute for travel insurance.
“There are costs and circumstances that a GHIC may not cover, so having appropriate travel insurance can provide additional protection if something goes wrong.
“Before travelling, check the expiry date on your GHIC and make sure you understand what healthcare you can access at your destination.
“It’s also worth arranging travel insurance as soon as you book your trip and comparing policies carefully to make sure the level of medical and other cover suits your needs.”