Britons are confused over the role of their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), new research has suggested.
American Express conducted a study which revealed that over two million UK citizens travelled within the EU without travel insurance in the past year.
Furthermore, the poll of 10,000 travellers showed that 16 per cent had never even heard of the EHIC and just one in five could claim to know which countries it covers.
The EHIC - which replaced the E111 form for EEA travel in January 2006 - actually entitles UK residents to free or cheaper healthcare when they are in the countries it incorporates.
But, as the firm's head of insurance services Chris Rolland explained, the EHIC is "not a substitute for comprehensive travel insurance".
While travellers would not be covered for delays, loss of baggage or cancellations if they only carry the EHIC, possessing one can provide the option of securing
cheap travel insurance.
The countries covered under the EHIC scheme are Austria; Belgium; Bulgaria; Cyprus (but not Northern Cyprus); the Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Ireland; Italy; Latvia; Liechtenstein; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Malta; Netherlands; Norway; Poland; Portugal; Romania; the Slovak Republic; Slovenia; Spain; Sweden and Switzerland.
