Usefull info if going abroad with the family.

m8

EHIC card replaces the E111.

Handy to have if you travel abroad often and this can be renewed online. I think it lasts about 4/5 years but not 100% on that.

About EHIC

Getting necessary healthcare in other EU / EEA countries

As an Irish resident you are entitled to get healthcare through the public system in countries of the European Union (EU), European Economic Area (EEA) or Switzerland if you become ill or injured while on a temporary stay there.
Until now, you needed an E form – such as the E111 or the E128 - to get such treatment. Now, these paper forms are being replaced by the European Health Insurance Card. One Card is needed for each individual or member of the family.
The Card was introduced on 1 June 2004. It means that you can get necessary healthcare in the public system of any EU / EEA country or Switzerland, if you become ill or injured while on a temporary stay in that country.
Apply for the European Health Insurance Card if you:

• Plan to go on holiday to another EU / EEA country or Switzerland
• Regularly visit any of these countries, for example, on business, as a transport worker or for leisure
• Plan to go to any of these countries to seek work
• Are being sent by your employer to work in any of these countries temporarily but will continue to pay tax in Ireland
• Intend to undertake a course of study in any of these countries but still consider yourself as ordinarily resident in Ireland
• Intend to visit any of these countries for any other type of temporary stay where healthcare in itself is not the aim of the visit

Travelling to Great Britain or Northern Ireland
You don’t need a European Health Insurance Card to get necessary healthcare while on a temporary visit to the UK. It is enough to show proof that you are ordinarily resident in Ireland – in practice, this means a driving licence, passport or similar document.
If you would like more information, please call your local Health Office:

EU member states

Austria
Belgium
Cyprus
Czech Republic
Denmark
Estonia
Finland
France
Germany
Greece
Hungary
Italy
Latvia
Lithuania
Luxembourg
Malta
Netherlands
Poland
Portugal
Romania
Slovakia
Slovenia
Spain
Sweden
UK (the Card is not essential for access to necessary healthcare in the UK – proof of residency in Ireland is sufficient)

Other EEA member states

Iceland
Liechtenstein
Norway

Other states

Switzerland

dowtchaboy

m8 wrote: »

EHIC card replaces the E111.

Handy to have if you travel abroad often and this can be renewed online. I think it lasts about 4/5 years but not 100% on that.

You need to apply for it in good time though - a few weeks.
The website claims that you can get a temporary EHIC by getting your local District Health person (sorry can't remember the exact title) to stamp a downloaded form - but they claim to know nothing about it and refused and told me to phone the HSE.

deco_b

Hi,

Your local health office will be able to stamp the temporary form if you need immediate cover. You'll have to provide id for verification.

The laminate card doesn't take long to arrive. You can also renew online if you have an existing card.