Icmeler Online Holiday Forum & Reviews - Turkey

this may sound like a stupid question but can the ehic card be used in turkey. i ask this because a rep from saga insurance co said to me that i can definitely use the card for cover in turkey this information he got from a "government" website however looking on the foreign office website states that i cannot use the card for medical cover

please get back to me
thanks

Sorry it can't be used in Turkey

Definitely not!
The EHIC can only be used in countries in the EU.Turkey is in Asia.
Its best to have travel insurance in place when you book your holiday.
I would get back onto the rep from Saga or someone in authority at Saga as she is misleading people.

Good Heavens!! That is dreadful advice the EHIC Cannot be used in Turkey. For your own sake take my advice and make sure you have adequate Insurance for your trip. Don't be caught out and spend the rest of your life paying for it. Hospitals abroad are Very expensive.

OMG, so scary that this advice has been given!!! Good job you asked on here or you could have found yourself in difficulties if you'd simply believed her!

Also, even if folk are travelling to an EU country, they'd be as well to get travel insurance that includes medical cover as the card only covers basics and you can't be too careful

thanks to you all for the information i have spoken to saga and placed a formal complaint regarding the sales rep and after the argument with saga i told them to just put me on hold and ring the foreign commonwealth office and get the facts from them. which they did and have accepted the complaint and given us all 50% reduced travel insurance costs for my grand parents.

Definitely can't be used in Turkey, have a look at the Foreign and Commonwealth website on http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-liv ... pe/turkey#
under the heading 'Health.'

I recently found out that even if you're in a country where you can use it, if it isn't on you when you need it then you can't use it. For example, if you are by the pool and you fall, if it isn't with you before you reach the hospital you cannot use it. How many people carry the card around with them all the time? I used to keep it in the safety deposit box where it was 'safe' but totally useless as it wasn't on my person. So an accident by the pool would mean a quick dash to the apartment to get the card. Ok if you're at the pool at your own apartment but no good if you're elsewhere.

The EHIC card can only be used in public hospitals and as they are usually on the outskirts of holiday resorts many people end up being taken to private clinics where if you are not insured you will have to re mortgage the house to pay for treatment.