Planning a European getaway this year? Along with your tickets and passport, there’s one other essential item to arrange and take with you: a Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC). 

If you’re unfamiliar with the GHIC or how it differs from the previous European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), don’t fret. This article will cover everything you need to know, from how to apply to why it’s so important for your travels.

What is a GHIC?

The GHIC card allows UK citizens to access state-provided healthcare in EU countries at a reduced cost or, in some cases, for free. It’s essentially the post-Brexit replacement for the EHIC card, which provided similar benefits. 

Like the EHIC, the GHIC is also valid in some non-EU countries, including Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland. It’s also valid in Australia, and negotiations are ongoing to extend it to other countries as well.

The GHIC ensures that you’ll receive medically necessary treatment while visiting a qualifying country, allowing you to continue your trip or return home safely. This includes care for chronic or pre-existing medical conditions and routine maternity care, so long as the reason for your visit isn’t specifically to give birth.

• If you have an EHIC which is still valid you can continue using this for now, but if it has expired you will need to replace it with a GHIC.

How to apply for a GHIC

The application process for a GHIC card is simple and entirely free of charge. Beware of third-party websites that may charge unnecessary fees to process your application. Here’s how you can get your GHIC:

• Visit the official NHS website.

• Fill in the online application form. You’ll need to provide your full name, address, date of birth, and National Insurance or NHS number.

• Submit your application and wait for your card to arrive by post.

It usually takes up to 10 working days to receive your GHIC, so ensure you apply well in advance of your trip.

What are the benefits of a GHIC?

Having a GHIC can be a lifesaver if you encounter a medical emergency while abroad. The card entitles you to:

• state-provided healthcare on the same terms as residents of the country you’re visiting

• emergency care, such as treatment for injuries or sudden illnesses

• care for chronic or ongoing medical conditions that may flare up during your visit

It’s important to note, however, that the GHIC does not cover:

• private healthcare

• medical repatriation

• costs of treatment in most countries outside the EU

• non-essential procedures or treatments that can wait until you return home

Why you still need travel insurance

While the GHIC is an excellent safety net, it’s not a substitute for comprehensive travel insurance. 

A GHIC will only cover healthcare costs under the local state system, which may still involve charges depending on the country’s rules. For example, you might need to pay for hospital stays or medication upfront, even with a GHIC.

Travel insurance, on the other hand, provides broader coverage, including:

• private medical care

• medical repatriation if you need to be transported back to the UK for treatment

• non-health-related emergencies, such as lost luggage or trip cancellations

To ensure you’re fully protected, consider a travel insurance policy that complements the GHIC. Look for one that includes medical expenses and covers scenarios that the GHIC doesn’t.

Closing thoughts

Whether you’re exploring the historic streets of Rome, lounging on a Spanish beach or skiing in the Alps, having a GHIC card in your travel kit is a must. 

It’s a simple and cost-free way to ensure you’ll receive essential medical care if the unexpected happens. Just remember: it’s not a substitute for travel insurance, so don’t leave home without both.

As always, if you have any comments or questions about this article, please do leave them below. 

Nick Daws writes for Pounds and Sense, a UK personal finance blog aimed especially (though not exclusively) at over-fifties.

Photo credits: Pexels

The post Travelling to Europe this year? Here’s why you need a GHIC card appeared first on Mouthy Money.

Backpacking in Australia is by no means an expensive experience. As a backpacker, finding the balance of ‘doing it all’ while also trying to be sensible with money can be tricky.

I’ve been living in Sydney since December now and I’ve been reminiscing about my East Coast trip which was honestly one of the best experiences of my life. Where you’re travelling to can also make a huge difference to your budget.

I moved to Australia in October last year and up until Christmas I was travelling a bit of the West Coast before going down the East Coast. 

Backpacking in Australia

After a wonderful time travelling through a bit of Western Australia and then all the way down the East Coast, I had to quickly find myself a job and get back on the earning train.

As someone with a plan to travel again, I went through all my spending over the last couple of months, to figure out if I could have budgeted better or made wiser money choices.

Find out more about Sophie’s trip of a lifetime to Australia

Split the food

Backpacking in Australia can be expensive. Your first weekly food shop will probably shock you. I once spent $7 (£3.50) on three bananas.

As a solo traveller I was buying my food for myself only. Things like salad bags or other perishable items would often go off before I’d had the chance to finish them. This often meant I was wasting food I had paid for. 

Friends or couples I met along the way who had travelled together were splitting their food shop and were mostly able to finish the food without it going off. It wasn’t until I got to Sydney (my final destination), that I made friends with someone and we decided to cook together. 

So if you can, buddy up as I reckon you’ll save a lot more money by splitting the cost and getting through your food before having to do another shop.

Plan your meals

If you’re able to buddy up or not, one thing I found contributed to moneysaving when backpacking the East Coast was planning my meals. 

Work out when you might be eating out, or when you’ve got a trip booked and therefore meals might be planned for you. For example trips to the Whitsundays or K’Gari Island can be up to three days and your meals are provided.

So if you’ve got food in the fridge ready to be eaten, make sure your plan ahead so you’re not having to throw it away.

Another thing to watch out for is if you’re using the Greyhound Bus to travel, you’ll probably be doing a few overnight trips in between destinations.

If you’ve got things that need to be kept cool, make sure you’ve finished them before you board – Australia is hot and things do not last!

Don’t convert back to pounds

In comparison to backpacking South East Asia or South America, Australia is very expensive, or it at least feels expensive.

One thing I was doing to justify some of my spending was converting the cost back into pounds as it ‘felt’ cheaper that way. It wasn’t wise, and I reckon I spent money on things I really didn’t need to because I was of the belief that it wasn’t ‘that bad’.

For example, a pint of beer might be about $12, but converting it into GBP would only be £6 – a steal!? Not really Sophie. I knew it wasn’t technically cheaper than UK costs, but yet I found myself using it as an excuse. 

If you are a convertor, use it to work out that something IS expensive, rather than isn’t.

For example, while I miss our beloved Cadbury’s chocolate, Australian supermarkets would often have them going for around $15. Would you therefore spend £7 on a chocolate bar back home? Hopefully not. 

Say yes to everything

While some of my choices were certainly wasteful when it comes to money, I did find myself saying no to things which I now regret. If you’ve made the decision to go backpacking, try not to hold yourself back because you’re worried about funds. 

Of course, don’t spend beyond your means, but do that experience, book that event, say yes to a few drinks. There are a few times I look back and regret saying no to because I was worried about money.

If you’re going somewhere you may as well do or see as much as you can while you’re there. 

Be present

While this isn’t necessarily money-related, I found myself often looking ahead for what was coming next when I was travelling down the East Coast. 

At times, this meant that I was not present for the things I was experiencing there and then. I didn’t always fully immerse myself in these wonderful experiences I was having (and paying for!).

So when you go travelling, make sure to take everything in.

Photo Credits: Pexels

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