Form E111
and what it gives you
Form E111 (available from post offices) entitles you to
free, or reduced-cost, treatment in member states of the
European Union, plus Iceland, Liechtenstein and Norway.
Should you need treatment while in one of these countries,
you present your completed E111 together with proof of UK
residency. Depending on the agreement that the UK has with
the country in which you fall ill, you may still need to
pay for treatment (keeping all receipts for any drugs or
treatment that you receive) and then claim a refund either
abroad or when you get back home.
The E111 can be useful – some insurers will not make
you pay the first part of a medical expenses claim if you
use an E111 to cover your medical costs – but it is
no substitute for the medical expenses part of travel insurance
if you want cover for other possible costs such as emergency
repatriation or the costs of a relative or friend staying
behind to look after you.
What is not covered
Typically, the first part of any claim under the medical
expenses section will not be paid unless you used an E111
to meet your medical bill. Claims under this part of the
policy are not generally paid if:
• You travelled against your doctor’s advice
• You received treatment for an illness or on-going
condition (e.g. asthma or diabetes) which you already had
when you took out the policy but did not tell the insurer
about
• You attempted to commit suicide
• You were treated for a self-inflicted injury
• You were injured as a result of deliberately putting
yourself at risk – although if you were trying to
save someone’s life, your claim would be paid
• You needed treatment because you were taking drugs
– but not prescribed drugs (unless they were prescribed
for the treatment of drug addiction)
• You were under the influence of alcohol (e.g. you
fell down the stairs and sprained your ankle after one too
many gin and tonics)
• You were injured as a result of participating in
a ‘hazardous activity’ (which the policy should
define)
• Treatment was non-urgent or was not related to the
reason for your being admitted to hospital
• You had treatment in the UK
• Your treatment could have waited until you got home.
Depending on the policy, treatment relating to pregnancy
or childbirth might be excluded, although conditions vary.
If, when you took out the policy, you told the insurer that
you were pregnant, or you did not know you were pregnant,
or you were in the early stages of pregnancy (usually defined
as the first 28 weeks), you may be covered. However, some
policies will include all treatment relating to pregnancy
while others will not cover you at all. Insurers also vary
in their attitudes to age and mental illness so it is worth
checking whether there is an age limit or if mental disorders
– including stress and anxiety – are covered.
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