GHIC application. Why is it so difficult?

My husband fell breaking his nose in Portugal. We called an ambulance which arrived within 15 minutes.We were taken to a medical centre where he had an xray and stitches. We were then sent to a bigger hospital where he had a CT scan. We were asked to return the next day to see an ENT consultant, who re-set his nose and discharged us. I'm grateful it happened in Portugal and not UK. GHIC and passport were all that was required.

We always take the GHIC card plus separate travel/health insurance.

A few years ago we needed an ambulance for my mother-in-law after she fell and cut her head.
The only thing that the paramedics asked for was her EHIC card.
They took her to the local clinic for stitches.
She had excellent treatment, all free, that was in Lanzarote.

I had no problem applying for GHIC online, beware the sites that charge,its free. Arrived within ten 10 days. Do I rely on it,no, some European countries, France, of course, didn't accept it , with a shrug of shoulders. Still good job a good Travel Insurance sorted the problem, and paid very quickly.

I went to the government website and filled in the form, name and address plus NI number, that was all. Card was delivered a couple of days later.

I’ve just received my first GHIC and wasn’t asked for any paperwork. Just the usual details plus NI number. Completed online and it came within ten days.

Update: They accepted my winter fuel payment letter as one piece of evidence.
I phoned my district council on Friday to ask them to provide proof of my inclusion on the electoral register. I received the letter back today (Monday). I am so impressed. Have now sent that as the final piece of evidence so am hopeful that I will soon have a valid GHIC!

Further to my comment above, today I received my GHIC, about a week since it was ordered. However, I also have travel insurance, including for medical care.

It's good to have both GHIC and travel/medical insurance.

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can't you send a recent bank statement with the figures column obliterated.
you can buy a kind or roller rubber stamp that is v effective for doing this.
they will still be able to read dates, name address, and transactions, just not the figures.
good luck.

which they claim needs to be checked

Sorry, I should have said that they said they'd do the checking.

I've just applied for a GHIC card online and was not asked for proof of address, just my N.I. number and address which they claim needs to be checked. Perhaps it was straightforward because I have had an EHIC in the past.

I wish you luck with your application, Nandalot.

Nandalot

*Oldbat1*, I have bought insurance but DH thinks we need the certificate as well.
The evidence has to have my address on and be less than 3 months old so driving licence and tax code don’t qualify. I have hospital letters but all over 3 months old!

Do you really need the certificate if you’ve got insurance? Only asking because while we were staying at a BiL’s place in France, a fellow guest became seriously ill and when we visited him in hospital next day, the first thing I was asked was whether he had insurance.

I had sat with him until the ‘pompiers’ arrived, and luckily he’d told me where his paperwork was, so that had gone with him to the hospital.
Just as well he had insurance, since very sadly he had a 2nd more severe heart attack and eventually had to be switched off from life support - insurance paid for him to be repatriated.

Yes, Cabbie21, reading our insurance documents it says if you have a GHIC the excess won’t be payable.

I would certainly advise having both insurance and GHIC.
Insurance may refuse to cover the part covered by the GHIC.

Same happened to us - mine arrived almost by return of post OH's still hasn't arrived several months later.

I sent a letter from the bank regarding a change in the interest rates rather than a statement. Previously I have sent statements but used a Sharpie pen to block out account number, amounts etc.
Don't think it's personal, just the usual bureaucracy!

Oldbat1, I have bought insurance but DH thinks we need the certificate as well.
The evidence has to have my address on and be less than 3 months old so driving licence and tax code don’t qualify. I have hospital letters but all over 3 months old!

You still need insurance as Ehic/ghic in Europe only entitled you to what locals of that country would receive. It won’t repatriate you or your body as others have found to their cost.

Bus pass if you are old enough? Driving licence? Income tax code notification? I don’t remember having to “send” any paperwork though. Hospital letter with your national health number on? Good luck.