Research* from InsureandGo, the insurance company, has found that British travellers are highly confused about the new European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). In consequence, millions of people are putting themselves and others at risk by not properly insuring themselves when they are abroad, in the mistaken belief that having an EHIC card is sufficient insurance cover.

Among the findings of the research were that 11% of Brits – equivalent to 2.3m people – who had travelled to Europe in the past 12 months for business or pleasure did not take out travel insurance because they had an EHIC card. An additional 7% travelled to Europe without either travel insurance or an EHIC card.

Brits also appear highly confused about what the EHIC card covers them for. Almost half of those surveyed (48%) did not know that the card only provides free or reduced-cost medical treatment for emergency health problems in European Economic Area (EEA) countries and Switzerland. Of those surveyed, 13% – equivalent to 6m people – mistakenly believed it would pay for their repatriation in the event of a serious accident. Eight per cent – or 3.8m people – erroneously thought it would pay for their “health tourism” – that is, if their main purpose for going abroad was to receive medical treatment.

Significant numbers of people also mistakenly believed the card would cover them for problems only covered by standard travel insurance policies. 1.4m people (3%) thought the EHIC card would provide compensation for lost or stolen money or documents and the same number thought it would provide compensation if their luggage was lost, stolen or delayed. 1.1m people (2%) thought it would provide compensation if their flight was cancelled or if they experienced other travel delays.

Perry Wilson from InsureandGo said: “These are very worrying findings. It appears the EHIC card is giving millions of people a false sense of security and we are concerned that the Government is not making it sufficiently clear to travellers that they need travel insurance as well when they go abroad for business or pleasure.

“The uncomfortable truth is that this card should not have the word ‘insurance’ in its name – it does not offer people insurance in the sense they have come to expect. If people rely on the EHIC card to cover them for medical and other emergencies they should know that they are putting themselves and any dependants at real risk.”

The EHIC card, formally introduced in 2006, replaced the old E111 form for travellers within the EEA. It gives the card holder rights to treatment that becomes medically necessary during a temporary visit to EEA countries or Switzerland. Each individual travelling requires a card and each card lasts for up to 5 years.