The UK operates reciprocal health agreements with many overseas countries, providing a free or reduced cost medical service for treatment received whilst visiting these countries.

If you are travelling to an EEA Country and or Switzerland you can obtain this service under the new EHIC agreement, which replaces the E111 form.

If you are a UK resident you will need to take an EHIC card with you, which you can obtain, free of charge, from the post office or telephone the Dept. of Health 0845 606 2030 giving your National Insurance number or NHS number, your EHIC will normally be despatched within a couple of days.

The UK also operates other reciprocal health agreements with countries outside the EEA, such as Australia, Barbados, Bulgaria etc full details of which are shown in Department of Health booklet “Health Advice for Travellers” free from the post office or visit their website www.dh.gov.uk/travellers

The booklet or website will also provide you additional important information which may assist you prior to travel and whilst overseas.

However, we do not recommend that you solely rely on reciprocal health agreements when you travel overseas as they may not cover all of your medical costs, nor your additional costs to extend your stay or your early repatriation in the event of illness overseas.

Therefore, it is important that you also purchase travel insurance so that it may work in conjunction with any reciprocal health agreement which may apply.

It is a requirement of this insurance that when travelling to a country operating under a reciprocal health agreement with the UK that the appropriate documentation is obtained and taken and that medical facilities operating under the same agreement are used, full details are contained in your insurance document.