MEDICAL COVER ABROAD Every year, people living in the UK go on more than 60 million trips abroad. Most of them have safe trips, but some get ill or have an accident and need medical treatment abroad. The E111 form is no longer valid. You will need a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) to receive necessary healthcare during a visit to a European Economic Area (EEA) country or Switzerland. The EHIC is normally valid for three to five years and covers any medical treatment that becomes necessary during your trip, because of either illness or an accident. The card gives access to state-provided medical treatment only, and you'll be treated on the same basis as an 'insured' person living in the country you're visiting. Remember, this might not cover all the things you'd expect to get free of charge from the NHS in the UK. You may have to make a contribution to the cost of your care Applying for a European Health Insurance Card You can apply for a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) online, by phone or by post. You can apply for an EHIC for your spouse/partner and any children up to the age of 16 (or 19 if they are in full-time education) at the same time as applying for your own. If you are a foster parent or guardian (including boarding school teaching staff), you can apply on behalf of any children you are looking after. You must be over 16 to apply as a main applicant. Regardless of how you apply, you will need to have the following information to hand for everyone you are applying for: name and date of birth NHS or national insurance (NI) number In Scotland the NHS number is known as the Community Health Index (CHI) number and in Northern Ireland it is known as the Health and Care number. The EHIC is issued by the Prescription Pricing Authority (PPA) and is free of charge. Click on the following link to apply for your free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) With regards to a holiday in Majorca even if you are a holder of the EHIC it is always a recommendation to take out private medical insurance especially if the resort you are staying in doesn't have a state (NHS) clinic nearby. Also using a private doctor can be reasuring when you need them to understand you as your trying to explain your symptoms! Needless to say not all the state doctors can speak english although the medical side is usually of the same high standard.