Holidaymakers and Expats reminded that 'EHIC is not travel or medical insurance'

Spain is the number one holiday and expat destination for Brits, with holidaymakers alone making around 17 million trips there every year.

However, many of those heading to Spain travel with a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) in the belief that it is a replacement for buying travel insurance and travel insurance website, insurewithease.com, warns that this could be to their cost.

British tourists account for almost 30 per cent of all visitors to Spain, but Spanish health authorities, including those in the Balearics and the Canaries, are increasingly refusing to treat European visitors under the EHIC. For those travelling without insurance, medical and repatriation costs could run into thousands of pounds.

Sarah Findlay, online marketing manager for insurewithease.com said: "There is a misconception that the EHIC is a form of insurance cover, but this is not the case. As explained by the Foreign and Commonwealth Office, the EHIC will not cover repatriation, flight cancellation, lost or delayed baggage or missed departures. The card only covers treatment in state hospitals and does not cover GP consultations or pharmacy prescriptions."