Travel insurance 'needed' for bank holiday

Holidaymakers taking advantage of the spring bank holiday at the end of May should be aware that the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) will not cover all emergency costs and that travel insurance is a worthwhile investment, claims a finance website.

The EHIC replaced the old E111 form and secures free emergency medical treatment for travellers in the EU and Iceland, Lichtenstein, and Norway.

However, Find.co.uk warns holidaymakers that the EHIC only entitles the bearer to the same standard of treatment that local citizens would get, which is not always as good as the service provided by the NHS.

The website added that, carrying an EHIC does not pay for repatriation costs or flying relatives out to spend time with the ill or injured traveller, costs which travel insurance would cover.

Taking out an EHIC is indispensable and some insurers, such as Churchill, Direct Travel, Halifax, Marks & Spencer, Post Office, Saga and Sainsbury’s Bank will waive excess fees to anyone using one, the website claimed.