Ok, I'm going to Spain on wednesday for 6 days. Went to the Post Office today to get my euros, where the woman behind the counter asked me if I had travel insurance or was planning on getting any. I said I hadn't though about it. She then asked if I had health insurance, to which I also said I hadn't got any. She then started this lecture about how I was being very silly not to get it and gave me this envelope with information about how to get a EHIC card.

However, when I called them they said it was too late to get one, as it takes 7 working days for it to come through. I know I should have got it sorted it out sooner, but I've never flown before, never arranged a holiday before and have only been on one holiday abroad which was a year 8 skiing trip with my school. Health and travel insurance didn't even cross my mind.

So, how vital are these 2 things when going on holiday?