Last Summer For E111 Forms

4.23.35pm BST (GMT +0100) Wed 29th Jun 2005

As people are going off on their holidays, a Liberal Democrat MEP is reminding holidaymakers that this is the last summer people from the UK will have to fill in E111 forms to get medical insurance cover.

All UK citizens can now apply for the new European Health Insurance Card by simply ticking a box on the new E111 forms. The Government has brought forward the launch date for the card from December to September but people from the UK will still be able to use their E111 forms until the 31st December this year.

Liberal Democrat MEP Liz Lynne issued the reminder as figures released show that over 30 million EU citizens are now carrying the new European Health Insurance Card. It was launched in 13 other EU countries last June. The card has proved far more popular than the previous EU health insurance document, and is expected to reach 50 million by the end of the summer.

Liz Lynne welcomed the success of the Card, which was initially proposed by a Liberal MEP two years ago.

"No longer will people be forced to plough through an array of forms in order to get healthcare in other EU countries. Instead, they will have a single card that can be used anywhere. The E111 form is to pass into distant memory.

"This will be of particular value to people with long term chronic illnesses as they will be able to travel throughout the European Union without worrying. It will be one less hassle for all travellers, workers and students living within the European Union."

ENDS