Martin Lewis issues Europe travel warning on EHIC and GHIC

UK holidaymakers heading to Europe are being urged to avoid paying avoidable fees for healthcare access and mobile roaming, after consumer expert Martin Lewis renewed warnings about companies charging for services that should be free and confusion over what is and is not covered when travelling.

Free health cards, rising scams and lingering confusion

According to publicly available guidance, UK travellers are entitled to a UK Global Health Insurance Card, or GHIC, which provides access to state-provided healthcare on the same basis as residents in EU countries, plus several other destinations. The scheme replaced most UK-issued European Health Insurance Cards, known as EHICs, after Brexit, although existing EHICs remain valid until their expiry date.

Official information indicates that both EHIC and GHIC are issued without charge to eligible UK residents. Despite this, news coverage and consumer forums continue to highlight websites that imitate official portals, add “processing” fees and use search advertising to capture rushed travellers applying shortly before departure.

Against this backdrop, Martin Lewis and his MoneySavingExpert team have repeatedly warned that people should never pay to obtain or renew an EHIC or GHIC, stressing that any site demanding card fees is not the official route. Publicly available guidance also stresses that travellers should apply only through the National Health Service’s online service or by other recognised channels.

The warnings come as peak summer travel approaches, with UK visitor numbers to EU destinations forecast to remain strong. Consumer advocates say this raises the risk that more people will search last-minute for documents and inadvertently hand money and personal data to copycat operators.

What EHIC and GHIC really cover in Europe

European Commission and UK government material show that EHIC and GHIC are designed to provide medically necessary state healthcare during a temporary stay in participating countries. This can include treatment for unexpected illness or injury, maternity care and management of chronic conditions that cannot wait until the traveller returns home.

However, the cards are not a substitute for full travel insurance. Published guidance explains that they do not cover private medical care, mountain rescue costs, repatriation to the UK or other non-medical losses such as stolen belongings or trip cancellation. In some countries, patients may still have to pay a contribution towards treatment, in line with what local residents pay.

Information on EU “Your Europe” portals also notes that, depending on the national system, travellers might have to pay upfront and claim reimbursement later, even when presenting a valid EHIC. UK advice echoes this by urging travellers to keep receipts and documentation if they need to claim back costs once they return home.

Lewis has frequently highlighted this gap between expectation and reality, urging holidaymakers to regard GHIC or EHIC as a valuable extra layer of protection rather than a complete safety net. Reports indicate that some travellers who relied solely on the card have faced significant bills for services that fall outside the scheme.

Money-saving message: do not pay for what is already free

The central theme of Lewis’s recent messaging is that many core protections for European travel either remain free or can be accessed more cheaply with planning. The strongest example is the GHIC itself, which is free to apply for and renew, yet continues to attract a cottage industry of unofficial intermediaries charging administration fees.

Consumer coverage also shows that some travel agents, online brokers and unofficial websites still encourage people to use paid application services instead of directing them to the official NHS routes. Lewis’s platform has previously named such practices as unnecessary at best and misleading at worst.

The MoneySavingExpert founder has long framed this as part of a wider pattern of travellers overpaying for convenience. Similar warnings have focused on dynamic currency conversion at overseas card terminals, where customers are offered the option to pay in pounds rather than local currency, often at unfavourable exchange rates. Public advice from consumer groups recommends declining such offers and paying in the local currency instead when possible.

For many families, these incremental savings can add up across hotel bills, restaurant payments, attraction tickets and car hire deposits. Lewis’s guidance typically encourages people to combine a free GHIC with appropriate travel insurance and a competitive debit or credit card that does not add foreign transaction fees.

Roaming charges and the risk of bill shock

Alongside healthcare access, roaming charges have remained a key concern for UK visitors to Europe since the end of automatic “roam like at home” arrangements for British networks. While EU residents continue to benefit from caps and domestic-equivalent pricing within the bloc, most major UK mobile providers reintroduced roaming fees for new or upgraded contracts.

MoneySavingExpert reports and Ofcom guidance note that UK networks now often charge daily surcharges for using data, calls and texts in the EU, typically subject to usage caps. Some networks still offer inclusive roaming in parts of Europe, but these deals vary by tariff and can change with relatively short notice.

Lewis has repeatedly urged travellers to check roaming terms before they fly, warning that relying on assumptions from pre-Brexit trips risks expensive surprises. He advises checking daily fee structures, fair-use limits and any additional charges for tethering, as well as being alert to higher tariffs when devices connect to non-terrestrial networks at sea or in the air.

Regulatory guidance in the UK now requires providers to alert customers when they approach spending caps on data abroad, but consumer groups say these protections are not foolproof. Lewis’s site suggests tactics such as pre-purchasing roaming bundles, switching off mobile data, using local or e-SIMs, and relying on secure Wi-Fi where available.

How travellers can protect themselves this summer

Travel experts state that the combination of free health entitlements, evolving roaming rules and a proliferation of unofficial intermediaries makes preparation essential ahead of any European trip. Lewis’s core message is that travellers should understand what is free, what is capped and what requires additional cover.

Publicly available information indicates that the safest approach is to apply early for a GHIC or use a still-valid EHIC, buy comprehensive travel insurance that recognises those cards, and verify mobile roaming terms with one’s provider before departure. Travellers are also advised to pay attention to any texts from networks about caps and to monitor their usage while abroad.

Consumer advocates say that refusing to pay unnecessary fees is only part of the equation. They recommend building a simple pre-departure checklist, including confirming that the health card has arrived, printing or saving policy documents, noting emergency contact numbers, and ensuring that payment cards are enabled for foreign use.

With UK tourists once again booking European breaks in large numbers, campaigners argue that understanding these rules can mean the difference between a manageable setback and a costly ordeal. Lewis’s warning that people should “never pay for it” when it comes to EHIC and GHIC applications has become a shorthand reminder that, amid a complex post-Brexit landscape, some essential protections still come without a price tag.