Annual Multi Trip Policy is now available up to age 74

The UK Department of Health has issued a reminder of changes to the E111 following the introduction of the new European health insurance card in some EU countries. UK residents will continue to be entitled to state provided health care at reduced cost when visiting an EU country, but they need to submit an application for an updated form. Anyone planning to travel in the EU after 1st January 2005 should apply for the new E111, as older versions will not be valid.

The new form is now issued on an individual, rather than a family basis, but it will only be necessary to complete one application form in order to receive an E111 for each member of the family.
The new form will be valid until 31st December 2005 when it will have been replaced by the European health insurance card.

While useful in some circumstances the E111 form does not take the place of travel insurance.
Of the 29 countries that subscribe to the State run E111 Scheme, 3 provide free doctors??™ care and 5 provide free hospital treatment. Within Spain 60% of your fee is covered under the State Scheme once in a shared ward, with you being liable for everything else.

The E111 does not include the cost of Repatriation and these cost are very substantial. The following information is from the Know Before You Go website.

Typical cost of returning you to the UK.

If you need to be returned to the UK in an emergency it could cost you thousands. Make sure you have adequate and appropriate travel insurance.

• ??30-35,000 Air ambulance (Jet) ??“ East coast of USA
• ??16,000 Air ambulance (Jet) ??“ Canaries
• ??8,000 Air ambulance (turbo-prop) ??“ Balearics
• ??2,000 Air taxi (propeller driven light aircraft) ??“ Northern France
• ??8,500 Scheduled flight, stretcher and Doctor escort ??“ Australia
• ??4,000 Scheduled flight, seated club, with a nurse escort ??“ West coast of USA
• ??1,300 Scheduled flight, seated economy with a Doctor escort ??“ Mediterranean
• ??300-??500 Scheduled flight, seated economy without an escort ??“ Mediterranean
• ??3,000-??4,500 Scheduled flight, stretcher and Doctor escort ??“ Mediterranean