EHIC cards

If you have one then check the expiry date. Apparently, they were not
issued for fixed periods of time. They phased the expiry dates of the
millions issued in the first few months to spread the load in future.

Some cards expire as early as September this year. Mine is 1st Dec. You can
renew the card up to 6 months before the old one expires.

http://www.dh.gov.uk/en/Healthcare/Healthadvicefortravellers/index.htm

 

has anyone ever actually been in a situation where one of these cards
has actually been of use/necessary?

 

Yes.

Well, sort of.

In Seville hospital last year, where they wanted my passport, which I
showed them, and then volunteered the EHIC card from which they noted
down the number. Whether I'd have been any worse off without it is a
moot point.

 

that's my point - would they have refused treatment/charged you if you
didn't have an EHIC?

 

I know in Switzerland they don't need them - just your NI number is
all they want.
--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (b.rogers at ifrance.com)
\`\ | /`/
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

Who knows? My impression was that it oiled the wheels of Spanish
bureacracy/indifference to non-Dago speakers in a "<shrug> I guess
we'll have to treat him now" kind of thing.

 

and of course, everyone's carrying around a record of their NI
number...

 

I know mine off the top of my head, it takes seconds for anyone in
authority to check it against the database.

--
Lozzo
Suzuki SV650S K5
Honda CBR600 FW trackbike
Yamaha SR250 Spazz-Trakka
Suzuki GSXR750 L
Suzuki TS50X
Suzuki TS50X

 

Yes, I know mine too. But if I'm needing medical help, I myself may
not be the best person to ask.

 

Me too. I'm trying to remember why, but ISTR there was a very good
reason to know it by heart when I first got sent it.

When one of the punters on a Ski Club holiday I was leading needed
medical assistance, the hospital got in touch with the person's GP in
England who was able to supply the number.

--
_______
..'_/_|_\_'. Ace (b.rogers at ifrance.com)
\`\ | /`/
`\\ | //' BOTAFOT#3, SbS#2, UKRMMA#13, DFV#8, SKA#2, IBB#10
`\|/`
`

 

You mean you don't have it memorised? Along with your driving license
number[1] and your credit card details?

Phil.

[1] Or more correctly - the algorithm to derive it plus the filler
characters.

 

I did know mine but when I got some hospital paperwork last week it
had a new number on it. Apparently they've all been changed?

 

I suspect the documents from a hospital would carry your NHS number - a
different thing to your NI number (and not something you need to remember
- yet).

 

I have a brilliant new idea.
Tattoo an ID number on the arm of everyone.....

 

RFID the fuckers.

 

costs more!

 

Have you seen WC's arms?

 

OK look I secretly admit to trials of the system about 68 years ago. It
was really cheap and worked awfully well.

 

On Tue, 27 May 2008 15:32:08 +0000 (UTC), Simon Atkinson

That's good point. I've just looked and you're right.

 

<Proud>