EHIC Cover

[Steph1]

I have just renewed my EHIC and the new card arrived this morning with an expiry date of September 2008. Does this have any relevance with regard to the new CMU rules as we are early retirees currently in the system?

[cooperlola]

Steph that depends on your status.  If your CMU cover gets revoked (either on E106 expiry, or on 31.3.2008), then the EHIC will no longer be available to you either. 

If you become ill in any other EU country (including the UK) after your CMU cover has expired, then that country will find itself unable to reclaim the money from any treatment, from France, and ultimately you will get the bill.  Ergo, should you be one of those requiring full private healthcare at some point in the future, you need to be sure that it, or travel insurance, covers you in all EU countries.

[Hereford]

We have had French EHIC cards for a couple of years. They only run for a year at a time so if you renew in September 2007 it will run out in 2008. Nothing to do with current possible changes.

H.

[cooperlola]

My point is though, Hereford, that if the new rules come into force, payments between two countries will no longer be processed after your cut-off date from the CMU (31.3.08 if you currently contributed), so you will end up paying the bill, even if it is apparently valid.  When the bills for treatment get back to France, they may very well check your CMU entitlement and refuse to pay the country in which the claim was made.  Therefore, I'm afraid it is an issue which is very much related to the current changes...