Travel Insurance or EHIC

[sasquatch]

Yes Molly I understand this but don't we pay these things for other European union nationals in our country. Why is it differen for Brits in other eu countries?

The simple answer is 'we are daft!' a similarly we pay to use motorways when abroad,but the continental motorists don't have to to use our roads except for trucks. I would NEVER travel abroad without insurance,but be careful which one you choose.

 

[Sky]

To go without is utter madness. Instead of paying a few quid extra you could end up either losing everything or not getting the treatment you need.

I've used Staysure in the past and found them very good too.

 

[spigot]

Don't do it Mike! I hate insurers but would never go abroad without it, even when I was young.....er than I am now. I used Staysure this time. They say there are no penalties for medication for certain ailments. It's too risky just to go with EHIC. Happy, healthy travels! x

Thanks Carol, Staysure had reasonable quotes but we would be limited to 35 days because of age (over 65).

 

[John H]

There is no one answer to the question because it all depends on where you are going. We always insure if we are travelling outside the EU (try LV - good value) but not if we are in certain parts of it. As has been pointed out, the EHIC entitles you to the same treatment as the locals so it all depends on what the locals get (a wise idea to check this out before you travel). We spend a lot of time in the Almeria region of Spain and have had to use their health service - every time on EHIC. If I got seriously ill I know that I would be very happy for it to be in Almeria - forget repatriation, the treatment we have had there is second to none.

 

[lebesset]

where are the EU countries where we could lose our homes to pay the medical bills ?
I've received treatment in several without problems ..of course in france the locals only get 70% of costs refunded , but all emergency treatment is free , I ended up in intensive care for nothing [ had to pay for my food though ]
and ambulances taking you to private hospitals ? just tell them to take you to the state hospital just as you would in the uk if they tried to take you to a private hospital

but repatriation ..if you wanted that then you will need private insurance , they won't repatriate you any more than the NHS would

 

[maxi77]

where are the EU countries where we could lose our homes to pay the medical bills ?
I've received treatment in several without problems ..of course in france the locals only get 70% of costs refunded , but all emergency treatment is free , I ended up in intensive care for nothing [ had to pay for my food though ]
and ambulances taking you to private hospitals ? just tell them to take you to the state hospital just as you would in the uk if they tried to take you to a private hospital

but repatriation ..if you wanted that then you will need private insurance , they won't repatriate you any more than the NHS would

The NHS will repatriate you if it will save them money. The EHIC basically a good thing in that it bestows on it's owner the same health care as the country you fall ill in. The main problems we find with the EHIC card are down our ignorance in how it should work in in the country you have chosen to fall ill in and the fact that that country is not always sure either. Spain has been a problem because the central government who should paythe bills has not been doing so. As a result the hospital attacks the tourist for the money, why because they are easiir to.scare into paying.

Having investigated the premiums for health care abroad I will avoid it unless i can cut out all the nice but useless addons they use to multiply up the premiums.

I must admit there is a vast difference between insurance for a14 day package and 6 months fulltiming

 

[Touringtheworld]

From very real experience, I implore everyone to get insurance and make sure you tell the truth. My father was stuck in Portugal for 8 weeks over an administrative error. My brother and I were in the seat for £64000 for hospital costs and a medivac plane to get him home. The UK NHS or any government department were not interested, just quoting the fact he should have had insurance.

It was resolved, the insurance did sort it in the end but it was tense to say the least.

The lesson I learned was - the insurance will stop being valid over the tiniest detail, and I mean the minutest cross of a t and a dot of an i - I would call them B4stards but they did come through in the end. B4stards.

 

[lebesset]

From very real experience, I implore everyone to get insurance and make sure you tell the truth. My father was stuck in Portugal for 8 weeks over an administrative error. My brother and I were in the seat for £64000 for hospital costs and a medivac plane to get him home. The UK NHS or any government department were not interested, just quoting the fact he should have had insurance.

It was resolved, the insurance did sort it in the end but it was tense to say the least.

The lesson I learned was - the insurance will stop being valid over the tiniest detail, and I mean the minutest cross of a t and a dot of an i - I would call them B4stards but they did come through in the end. B4stards.

in other words your private insurance was a nightmare !

and why the bill from the portuguese hospital , they didn't charge me because I had a current EHIC ; the portuguese hospital was fine ....why would I have wanted to be medivacced ?

 

[SafariMul]

.

 

[Deleted member 9237]

Having had cancer treatment in England and Spain I know the country i would live in thats why I moved here many years ago the fist treatment here was on the EHIC card. PS blinking warm again :lol-049::lol-049::lol-049:

 

[listerdiesel]

We have never travelled without insurance and EHIC cards.

We took two of our grandchildren to the USA and one fell ill on the flight over.

Excellent response by the BA crew, they called ahead for an ambulance which met the plane on the tarmac, Rita and one granddaughter went to the local hospital in San Bruno, I got wafted through immigration very quickly with the other one and went to the motel.

All ended up OK, but it was $3000 bill for the ambulance and checkup at the hospital.

Insurance paid up, but I had to guarantee the costs before they would release nipper from the hospital.

Peter

 

[maxi77]

From very real experience, I implore everyone to get insurance and make sure you tell the truth. My father was stuck in Portugal for 8 weeks over an administrative error. My brother and I were in the seat for £64000 for hospital costs and a medivac plane to get him home. The UK NHS or any government department were not interested, just quoting the fact he should have had insurance.

It was resolved, the insurance did sort it in the end but it was tense to say the least.

The lesson I learned was - the insurance will stop being valid over the tiniest detail, and I mean the minutest cross of a t and a dot of an i - I would call them B4stards but they did come through in the end. B4stards.

I would agree that many insurers can be difficult to deal with and will stop at almost nothing to avoid payouts. Mind you my little brother is a loss adjuster and his stories on how people try to fleece the insurers are very interesting.

You do not mention whether your father had an EHIC card as that would have entitled him to excellent free services in the Portuguese health service. Most of the English languages information directs you to the private sector and the many good but expensive private hospitals that exist.

 

[jennyp19]

I broke my wrist in Spain last year used EHIC. They reset it as an emergency, but I headed home after that. I got the impression that I couldn't get any follow up appointments.

I did think about getting travel insurance, but where do you start with what you have had to go to the Drs with in the past !!!!! Does everyone know what appointments they have had in the past - or is it just me.

 

[Deleted member 9237]

I broke my wrist in Spain last year used EHIC. They reset it as an emergency, but I headed home after that. I got the impression that I couldn't get any follow up appointments.

I did think about getting travel insurance, but where do you start with what you have had to go to the Drs with in the past !!!!! Does everyone know what appointments they have had in the past - or is it just me.

As long as your still in Spain on holiday or live here you can have as many appointments you need until they are happy that all is well.with a EHIC card

 

[John H]

I broke my wrist in Spain last year used EHIC. They reset it as an emergency, but I headed home after that. I got the impression that I couldn't get any follow up appointments.

I did think about getting travel insurance, but where do you start with what you have had to go to the Drs with in the past !!!!! Does everyone know what appointments they have had in the past - or is it just me.

Hi

We have used the Spanish health system several times - all on EHIC and all free. The most extensive course of treatment we had was when Jenny had a problem with her eyes that turned out to be macular degeneration. Incidentally, the doctor we went to in France missed it and said she had cataracts! The Spanish system diagnosed it and embarked on a three month course of treatment that was excellent. In fact, when we returned to England and saw the specialist at our local hospital for a check up, he said that the treatment Jenny got was better than she would have got in the UK. As pensioners, all medication was also free so we spent not a penny and got brilliant treatment. We also know several other people who have had to use the same hospital (El Toyo in Almeria) and without exception they all have nothing but praise for it. As long as Spain continues to operate the system as it does, when there we won't bother to do anything other than make sure our EHIC is up to date.

 

[Geraldine]

Annual insurance policy's can work out so much cheaper than buying one ad hoc.
Mandie and I are covered Worldwide ( just come back from Aus) and due to go to Canada next month.
Staysure £60 with 10 million med expenses cover.
Found them via Mymoneysupermarket.
Cheers
David

 

[Touringtheworld]

in other words your private insurance was a nightmare !

and why the bill from the portuguese hospital , they didn't charge me because I had a current EHIC ; the portuguese hospital was fine ....why would I have wanted to be medivacced ?

I just gave an true example of not having proper insurance. I don't have to go into or justify the details. Good luck with your Ehic when the £$%^ hits the fan.


Just saying.

 

[Touringtheworld]

Hi

We have used the Spanish health system several times - all on EHIC and all free. The most extensive course of treatment we had was when Jenny had a problem with her eyes that turned out to be macular degeneration. Incidentally, the doctor we went to in France missed it and said she had cataracts! The Spanish system diagnosed it and embarked on a three month course of treatment that was excellent. In fact, when we returned to England and saw the specialist at our local hospital for a check up, he said that the treatment Jenny got was better than she would have got in the UK. As pensioners, all medication was also free so we spent not a penny and got brilliant treatment. We also know several other people who have had to use the same hospital (El Toyo in Almeria) and without exception they all have nothing but praise for it. As long as Spain continues to operate the system as it does, when there we won't bother to do anything other than make sure our EHIC is up to date.

As long as you all keep screwing it, that's all good then. The Ehic and the E111 before it was brought into being for emergency treatment only. The NHS still have to pay, no wonder it's wilting.

 

[Teutone]

I got a reasonable deal from Explorer for our recent trip to Morocco.
A few years ago OH suffered a broken arm in France. EHIC was pretty useless as it only covers the very basics - we had to claim on our travel insurance.

what more than the basics would you get in the UK as a resident??

 

[GWAYGWAY]

Surprised no-one else picked up on that one. Been done to death, but lettng it slip by just adds fuel to the myth.
The Royal Collage of Anaesthetists statement on the web is a good starter.

On topic, as others have said its not worth the cost of not having it IMHO.

Chrz Mul.

The important bit there was losing the exact amount of the cash loss limit, which always jumps to mind whenever I hear of these "CASES" when they were robbed of everything and all were affected even the dogs??? And yet were OK after.. that means an exact calculation of the doses given??? Bl==dy clever those highway robbers.