Check renew date on your European Health Insurance card
By Darren Cronian on Thursday, March 26th, 2009

Millions of travellers will find that their European Health Insurance card is due for renewal at the end of this month. The Department of Health is urging holidaymakers to check and renew their EHIC before they travel, so check the renewal date on the front of your card.

Check renew date on your European Health Insurance card

Apply for an EHIC

Those of you that have not applied for a European Health Insurance card then please do without delay; it’s free and only takes five minutes of your time to apply. The card is usually delivered within 7 days, so you really have no excuse.

You are putting your health at risk and the EHIC gives you access to reduced or free healthcare within the European Union and some countries outside that have reciprocal health arrangements with the United Kingdom. Check the NHS website for more information.

Buy travel insurance

The European Health Insurance card was introduced in August 2005 to replace the old E111 forms and is not a replacement for travel insurance. From April 1, UK residents visiting the Channel Islands must have adequate travel insurance.

Frequently asked questions

The NHS healthcare website has a very useful section of frequently asked questions, but if you have any specific questions that aren’t covered there, leave them in the comments section and I will try and get someone qualified to answer for you.


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10 responses to “Check renew date on your European Health Insurance card”

Vicky | 26 March, 2009 at 7:24 pm

Thanks for the reminder on the EHIC renewal Darren, just checked mine and found it went out of date in December and applying for the renewal online couldn’t be easier. Cheers!

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Nick | 30 March, 2009 at 9:56 am

Do not forget Passports, with new applications taking 6 weeks do this now rather than later.

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Alestair Gibson | 17 August, 2009 at 5:11 pm

Hi, I require to replace my European Health Card,(replacing the E111) which expires on 01.09.09. I checked on the web and found that I needed to given a RENEWAL FORM at the Post Office. This I did and was given an application for a new Health Card. Is this
the normal means of Renewal or has the Post Office made a mistake

Thank you

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Darren Cronian | 17 August, 2009 at 8:42 pm

@ Alestair

The European Health Insurance Card is nothing to do with the Post Office. Renewals are done via the EHIC website in this post. The post office used to administrate the E111 form which no longer exists.

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Julia Larmour | 31 August, 2009 at 4:29 pm

Hi My EHIC card needs to be renewed so I tried the website but they are claiming that only new applications can be submitted, but give no info on how to renew, any ideas?

Thank you

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Darren Cronian | 31 August, 2009 at 4:37 pm

@ Julia

What website are you using to renew your European Health Insurance Card?

I have just noticed that there’s a company who have created a website and are charging people to apply/renew, so I want to make sure your going to the right site.

Darren

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Julia Larmour | 31 August, 2009 at 4:49 pm

Thanks for your quick reply, I found the right one in the end. The one that I used to start with was ehic.uk.com. Obviously they don’t want renewals only new applicants. I have now applied on the correct site ehic.org.uk. There is a similar one called e111.org.uk too which isn’t interested in renewals either. This seems to be a common type of thing at the moment, as we have been almost caught out with tax refunds too.

Thanks again

Julia

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Darren Cronian | 31 August, 2009 at 4:52 pm

@ Julie

I am going to be writing about this tomorrow, it’s disgusting because these companies are charging people £9.95 for the European Health Insurance Card. I am glad you have found the right site. Would love your comment on the post when it is published tomorrow. People need to be made aware of these types of websites.

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Julia Larmour | 1 September, 2009 at 5:42 pm

Glad to Darren, just send me the link, I agree that these sites need to be highlighted.

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Barbara | 17 November, 2009 at 3:18 pm

My family’s health cards were up for renewal and queuing in the post office for hours they directed me to the website, saying they no longer renewed them over the counter. Like some of you I first went onto the ehic website which charges and smelt a rat. Apparently search engines take you to this site which is not illegal and the post office is powerless to act. That said I can totally recommend renewing over the phone – it is quick and simple and doesn’t require pushing hundreds of buttons – simply call 0845 605 0707 – have your EHIC card with you as it will ask you your PIN number. It took less than three minutes and they send within a week.

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