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NEWS: New Euro Health Card Consultation
The government has launched a consultation on how best to introduce a new European health insurance card. The card will replace existing “e-forms”, which are used by European travellers to prove their entitlement to free or reduced-cost emergency medical treatment while abroad for a temporary period.
The UK is one of 16 European countries yet to introduce the health card scheme, while the other 13 countries introduced theirs on June 1 this year.
Ministers have proposed that the new card would retain the same entitlements as the existing forms, be free of charge, and apply for up to five years. No electronic or clinical data would be included, but name, date of birth and a personal identification number would be displayed. Distributed by the Prescription Pricing Authority, applications would be possible via the Internet, telephone and email.
“The government is committed to introducing the new European health card by the end of next year and ensuring that it will be easier to apply for and easier to use,” said health minister John Hutton.
“Until December 31 2005 UK citizens can continue to use E111 forms when they travel to any of the EU member states.”
The consultation runs until September 28.
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