Unfortunately, EHIC cover does not last forever. People’s entitlement to EHIC cover can change over time, and this means that each card is valid for five years from the day it is issued.
When A Card Expires
It’s easy to apply for an EHIC and then when it arrives, pop it in a drawer and forget about it. Many people mistakenly assume that EHIC is the same as passports, and is valid for 10 years. It therefore always makes sense to check passports, EHIC, insurance policies and all other documents you need for travel well in advance of your departure as this gives you time to arrange a renewal if needed before you go. If your card has expired, is due to expire while you are overseas or even within the next six months, you can apply for a renewal straight away. Any time remaining on your current EHIC is not rolled onto the new card, which will also be valid for a period of 5 more years. If you are travelling with other members of the family, make sure that you renew everyone’s EHIC cards at the same time as it can get confusing with everyone’s cards expiring at different times. Children’s EHICs have the same length of expiry as adult cards, and must be renewed in the same way. If you change address or change your name on marriage or divorce, your EHIC should be renewed, even if it still have many years to run before it expires. Always make sure that the name on your EHIC matches the name on your passport, as a mismatch in names or spelling could cause problems if trying to access healthcare in an emergency.
Auto Renew
If you apply for your EHIC through the NHS website, then there is no prompt to renew the card and it is left up to you to check the dates and be on the ball with renewing in time for your next trip overseas. Many third party websites and companies who offer an EHIC application service will either automatically renew on your behalf or email you to remind you to renew as part of their service. This can be a valuable service for busy people who just don’t have time to keep on top of all of their administrative tasks.
When You Can’t Renew Your EHIC
For most people, renewing an EHIC which has expired will be a pure formality. It will take just a few minutes to do the renewal online, and the new card will arrive in the post. Sometimes people’s entitlements change, and if you have moved abroad permanently or to study, you may require a different type of cover. If your immigration or residency status in the UK has changed, you might lose your entitlement to EHIC cover and won’t be able to renew a card. Finally, given the UK’s recent vote to leave the EU, the long term future of UK residents being able to use EHIC coverage is uncertain. Keep your eye on the press to see how the situation develops.