Travel Insurance (1 Viewer)

Feb 26, 2013
1,647
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Pinar de Campoverde, Spain
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Giottiline T60
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Since March 2013
The only thing left to sort before we head off to Europe on 10th May is travel insurance for longtermers. I am assuming I will need to get a "backpackers" type policy. Does anyone have any recommendations please? Any experience of good or bad companies would be welcome. ::bigsmile:
 

vwalan

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Sep 23, 2008
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lynton5th wheel
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since a child
most long termers dont bother with travel insurance . use the ehi card use hospitals that arent private . i travel for up to 6months most ears dont hardly know anyone that as it . save the money and enjoy life.
 
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Coolbeanz
Feb 26, 2013
1,647
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Pinar de Campoverde, Spain
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most long termers dont bother with travel insurance . use the ehi card use hospitals that arent private . i travel for up to 6months most ears dont hardly know anyone that as it . save the money and enjoy life.

but would we be covered if one of us was unfortunate enough to become seriously ill and needed to be flown back home? Do you know if the EHI card covers that?

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Puddleduck

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Jan 15, 2014
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On and off for many years.
but would we be covered if one of us was unfortunate enough to become seriously ill and needed to be flown back home? Do you know if the EHI card covers that?

EHI does not cover repatriation. It gives you the same rights / benefits that the inhabitants of the country you are in receive.

A lot depends on your personally acceptable level of risk.
 
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Coolbeanz
Feb 26, 2013
1,647
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Having received 3 lots of bad news in the last 2 weeks alone then I guess I would be better to get myself some cover. I have realised that life has a habit of throwing curved balls when you least expect it so for the sake of approximately £190 a year its a no brainer I suppose. My friend's 17 year old son died last week from a brain haemorrhage, my work colleague has just been diagnosed with terminal cancer at the age of 51 and my dearest friend has been battling cancer for 9 years and it has now returned. I think I would rather have a policy and not need it than need it and not have it. :Smile:
 

vwalan

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Sep 23, 2008
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but would we be covered if one of us was unfortunate enough to become seriously ill and needed to be flown back home? Do you know if the EHI card covers that?

no ,it doesnt cover it. but why would you want to be b. there are hospitals worldwide.
uk isnt the only place with them .
i know lots that have opps in maroc as they do a good job.
mind their hospitals are equal if not better than ours . even in some asian hospitals its very good .
try and get health cover for a trip to india by road or a round trip of africa . you soon give in and just take to the road. if it happens it does .
i have charcot marie tooth disease and throat cancer , try getting cover with those two .

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Puddleduck

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Jan 15, 2014
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I couldn't get health insurance last year as I was waiting for surgery. The specialist said "it's only for a month so just go, you know what to do if you get ill better than most doctors, take an emergency pack, the sun will do you the world of good." I went and really enjoyed myself - had one day when I was really tired, used one of the vials from the emergency pack, and just spent the day sleeping and chilling and using room service. Better than being 'ick at home! I was a lot better the next day but just took things easy.

I would prefer to have repatriation insurance but wouldn't panic if I was hospitalised in foreign parts, after all the NHS send folk to Europe for some things. You can't predict the future so enjoy the now or you will regret the things you haven't done because of "what if".
 
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sedge

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Jul 7, 2009
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My company suddenly want an extra £350 to cover me for all the things I've had for years and years and they already knew about.

I can't find any cover that isn't very limited in terms of length of trip or which bits of me they will cover. It's no help to do it without these pre-existing because if someone said eg of course her diabetes etc made it more complicated, they wouldn't cover me for eg a broken leg - see what I mean?

I concluded, if it was going to cost way over £1,000 annually for the privilege, we'd just have to cross that bridge at the time and if we had to liquidise some assets to pay for getting one of us back, then so be it.

I think it's more expensive to bring you back in an air ambulance than in the hold in a box sort of thing; in which case if it's bad perhaps it would be cheaper if it's really bad? :Sad: And you have the consolation that you were enjoying your holiday at the time!

If it's something routine like a break or appendicitis, then EHIC rules.
 
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Coolbeanz
Feb 26, 2013
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The quotes I have had are only around £190 for a year's cover for both of us so it seems quite cheap to me. I just wondered if anyone has tried to claim and their insurer played hard to get.

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sedge

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Jul 7, 2009
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I've had to claim - once for a lost watch and twice medical. First time I hurt my leg in Majorca, second time I ran out of insulin in Australia.

What happened was, I went to the loo in Heathrow and though I don't usually do any such thing, for some reason decided to do my jab in the cubicle. Nice big loo roll holder to put all my stuff on.

Some hours later, when lunch came round the lady next to me got out her Novorapid pen and gave herself a jab. I chuckled, grinned at her and reached in my bag ... yes, I'd left all my stuff on top of the loo roll holder!

All the spares were in the hand luggage so Pete had to get it out. When we got to Oz I had to go to the docs, get a scrip and go to the pharmacy.

The claims chap didn't really understand it, he thought it should come under the 'baggage' section cos it was lost baggage. Hang on says I - this is medicine, without which I would probably have DIED. Now can you put it under the Medical Expenses section please?

He did and paid it!

On both occasions we paid on plastic and just claimed reimbursement when we got home. In the case of the clinic in Palma, with my leg, if I had had my insurance policy with me when I got there, they would have sent the bill direct to insurers and I would not have had to part with a penny piece.

The doctor in the resort had looked on a list in his drawer and sent me to the clinic that insurer dealt with. It was very very easy!
 
Feb 16, 2013
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We both have staysure, it's around £60 each with one or two exceptions , but as for getting back , don't see any problem as unless both of you are Ill together, with a motorhome one of you can drive the other home, not as bad as being on holiday somewhere , package tour or cruise or something, at least you have wheels, but thought for £120 it's well worth it.
 

Welsh girl

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Nov 7, 2009
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We bought travel insurance for our 7 month trip around Europe.
We used staysure, we found them best on price.
We haven't used it with 3 weeks to go till we get back but still feel peace of mind.
We know we would get NHS (similar) in each country but we are worried about repatriation.
With the EHIC cards, the cards plus passport must be on your person to be able to claim free cost I read somewhere.
We don't carry our passports everywhere only the cards so presumably wouldn't be covered if not travel insurance covered ?

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SUGGY

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Nov 23, 2011
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We are with American Express , just gone up from £137 from to £247 , 40days out of the uk,
Going up to around £600 for 60 days and £900 for 120 days cover ,

i phoned to ask why and was told you are now over 60 , i said i was last year and the reply was er yes we missed that so you got a cheep year :ROFLMAO:

One of the reasons i used them was they have offices in marakech and cassablanca :Smile:

I have spoken to a few people who have gone for Safesure also through the C&CC ,


It would be great if members would put " approximate " ages and prices on their posts for us to get an idea of what people are paying ,
also the number of days out of the UK they are allowed and how many times per year
 
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vwalan

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Sep 23, 2008
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lynton5th wheel
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since a child
We bought travel insurance for our 7 month trip around Europe.
We used staysure, we found them best on price.
We haven't used it with 3 weeks to go till we get back but still feel peace of mind.
We know we would get NHS (similar) in each country but we are worried about repatriation.
With the EHIC cards, the cards plus passport must be on your person to be able to claim free cost I read somewhere.
We don't carry our passports everywhere only the cards so presumably wouldn't be covered if not travel insurance covered ?

hi. in most of europe its an offence not to be carrying your id card or passport. shame uk dont have id cards.
going swimming or having a bath they let you off of course. ha ha .
but beware it can cause problems if you arent carrying your passport.
 
Feb 16, 2013
19,505
51,186
uttoxeter
Funster No
24,713
MH
ambulance conversion
Exp
50 years
We are with American Express , just gone up from £137 from to £247 , 40days out of the uk,
Going up to around £600 for 60 days and £900 for 120 days cover ,

i phoned to ask why and was told you are now over 60 , i said i was last year and the reply was er yes we missed that so you got a cheep year :ROFLMAO:

One of the reasons i used them was they have offices in marakech and cassablanca :Smile:

I have spoken to a few people who have gone for Safesure also through the C&CC ,


It would be great if members would put " approximate " ages and prices on their posts for us to get an idea of what people are paying ,
also the number of days out of the UK they are allowed and how many times per year


We are 67and 62, mine was £39 last year at 65 but nearly doubled this year at 66 with no other changes, but they did say it stays the same to 70
Hth:thumb:

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scotjimland

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Jul 25, 2007
2,084
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15
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Timberland
no ,it doesnt cover it. but why would you want to be b. there are hospitals worldwide.
uk isnt the only place with them .
i know lots that have opps in maroc as they do a good job.
mind their hospitals are equal if not better than ours . even in some asian hospitals its very good .
try and get health cover for a trip to india by road or a round trip of africa . you soon give in and just take to the road. if it happens it does .
i have charcot marie tooth disease and throat cancer , try getting cover with those two .

I agree with Alan..


If you are fulltime as we were ..home is where you are parked. Being repatriated would have been that last thing we wanted..

3 years on the road with two kids in tow and didn't take out insurance.. In that time had several visits to doctors and dentists in France and Spain with better service than you get in the UK:thumb:

If however being repatriated is important, then take out insurance..
 

bobandjanie

LIFE MEMBER
Apr 28, 2008
8,144
15,700
Javea, Spain
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2,360
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Pilote V600g
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2007
What I mainly want from travel insurance, and you have to make sure it is included if it is important to you, is the repatriation of a body. Many will think I am daft, when you are dead you are dead blah blah but I have a very strong conviction about wanting to be buried. Which is almost an impossibility abroad as they are very hot :ROFLMAO: on cremation. Jane :Smile:

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OP
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Coolbeanz
Feb 26, 2013
1,647
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Pinar de Campoverde, Spain
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Giottiline T60
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Since March 2013
I think repatriation is important because although general medical care may be as good, if not better, in a lot of Europe if myself or my husband became seriously ill requiring long term medical care I would rather be in the UK with the support of my family.

I just got an excellent quote from staysure until I read the small print and it was limited to 35 days per trip so I will call them to discuss a quote :Doh:
 

Puddleduck

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Jan 15, 2014
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I've found the Post Office very good - they cover stuff that even so called specialist companies don't.

What we paid won't help others as I pay extra due to unusual medical stuff. Last year The Post Office gave us enough insurance to satisfy the cruise company but excluded a couple of my medical issues. They covered DH though. I'm not sure how long they cover abroad as standard but you can increase it - they also cover kayaking excluding white water for no extra charge.

The Post Office also covers the UK.

I've not made a claim so can't say how good they are that way. Just another company to try for comparison.
 

sedge

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Jul 7, 2009
5,493
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Aug 09 to date 9,000 miles!
The danger with doing that Puddle, is what I said. I've been T1 diabetic since 1972 and yes I do go hypo at intervals - I am pretty stable most of the time - but you aren't a proper T1 diabetic if you don't LOL Anyway I have pretty good warning signals and all that, so 99.9% of the time I am in no danger of falling over. But what about the 0.01% ?

So if this happens and I stumble down a pothole or down a kerb and break something (never broken anything in my whole life but you know when you do it will be at the most inconvenient point in your life!) and the hospital says 'Fell down a hole because she was hypo' if they are excluding diabetes my broken leg won't be covered.

Grief - have even tried Saga and Diabetes UK and can't get anything long enough so I don't really have much choice unless I'm prepared to pay more than the holiday would cost! And I'm not.

I am however prepared to pay the cost of repatriation if it becomes necessary, and am not happy but I am resigned to, take my chances on that being necessary.

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Puddleduck

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Jan 15, 2014
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The danger with doing that Puddle, is what I said. I've been T1 diabetic since 1972 and yes I do go hypo at intervals - I am pretty stable most of the time - but you aren't a proper T1 diabetic if you don't LOL Anyway I have pretty good warning signals and all that, so 99.9% of the time I am in no danger of falling over. But what about the 0.01% ?

So if this happens and I stumble down a pothole or down a kerb and break something (never broken anything in my whole life but you know when you do it will be at the most inconvenient point in your life!) and the hospital says 'Fell down a hole because she was hypo' if they are excluding diabetes my broken leg won't be covered.

I totally agree that it isn't suitable for everyone but sometimes it's worth asking the question.... I couldn't get cover at all one year because my exact condition isn't listed. My hospital specialist phoned them on my behalf and managed to get me the cover I needed. Since then I've had no problems as they group my condition with other similar things (note on my file).

The specialist also said that he only ever states the exact cause of an accident - "fall" or whatever as it would be impossible to prove if a hypo or hyper was the cause of the fall or occurred because of the shock of the fall and it is all a matter of opinion anyway and up to the insurance company to prove. I'm not sure if he is the exception though.

Again it all depends on your attitude to risk. I've never had to claim on the health part of my travel insurance so can't say how good any of the companies are. I have had to claim for broken spectacles which was straight forward but not a huge claim of course.
 

sedge

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Jul 7, 2009
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Hee hee, my specs cost a lot more than either of my medical claims!

The price was really cheap when I did my leg, even the elbow crutches I was sold only cost €17 ! Whole lot was about £140 including treatment and prescription drugs. Think the lost insulin cost me more, what with Aus $60 for the doctor etc.

We are sposed to have a reciprocal agreement with Oz for diabetes and other reasons but it involves actually registering with Medicare and as you can't make an apt - just like the GP surgery - you just have to turn up and sit and wait etc. I didn't want to lose 2 days out of my holiday! Of course I could have waited till I was actually dying and then turned up at a hospital A&E - but didn't really want to do that !
 

vwalan

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Sep 23, 2008
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I've found the Post Office very good - they cover stuff that even so called specialist companies don't.

What we paid won't help others as I pay extra due to unusual medical stuff. Last year The Post Office gave us enough insurance to satisfy the cruise company but excluded a couple of my medical issues. They covered DH though. I'm not sure how long they cover abroad as standard but you can increase it - they also cover kayaking excluding white water for no extra charge.

The Post Office also covers the UK.

I've not made a claim so can't say how good they are that way. Just another company to try for comparison.

get away the postoffice dont like parcels that big . you need parcel force for that . ha ha .

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Coolbeanz
Feb 26, 2013
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We both have staysure, it's around £60 each with one or two exceptions , but as for getting back , don't see any problem as unless both of you are Ill together, with a motorhome one of you can drive the other home, not as bad as being on holiday somewhere , package tour or cruise or something, at least you have wheels, but thought for £120 it's well worth it.

The policies around £60 are annual policies which limit a single trip to 35 days so no good for long terming unfortunately :Sad: Staysure told me I need single trip policies not an annual policy.
 

PHD

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Mar 25, 2014
76
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Staysure

We also have a policy with "Staysure.....over 50s experts"

Couple; both 51, whole of Europe with trips up to 100 days (which we paid extra for) and the total for the year(Aug 13) was £92. At that price we felt is was worth the expense.

That was a comprehensive policy that included 17 days winter sports (for the under 65s).
 
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Coolbeanz
Feb 26, 2013
1,647
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Pinar de Campoverde, Spain
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24,871
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Giottiline T60
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Since March 2013
We also have a policy with "Staysure.....over 50s experts"

Couple; both 51, whole of Europe with trips up to 100 days (which we paid extra for) and the total for the year(Aug 13) was £92. At that price we felt is was worth the expense.

That was a comprehensive policy that included 17 days winter sports (for the under 65s).

Trouble is it's no good for long terming as we will be away over 5 months on the first trip. Post Office just quoted me £416 and we are both 52 and fit and well! It would probably work out cheaper to pop back every 100 days :ROFLMAO:

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PHD

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Mar 25, 2014
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69
Cranwell, Sleaford
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Trouble is it's no good for long terming as we will be away over 5 months on the first trip. Post Office just quoted me £416 and we are both 52 and fit and well! It would probably work out cheaper to pop back every 100 days :ROFLMAO:

That's over 150 days. so finding a cheap flight back, for an afternoon in a UK airport, would be cheaper than the premium quoted. Shame there's no duty free. :Doh:

One thought: it would cover you for the first 100 days as you could head home if anything went wrong and deny any plans to stay longer. ;-)
 
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Organplayer

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Dec 11, 2011
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Am into my 3rd year with AXA PPP Healthcare. Me now aged 73 and management 69. 95 days max each trip, total 183 days in each 12 months off these shores. No details of medical history or pre existing history required. The only two conditions in this policy are (1) must not travel when you know you are unfit to travel (2) must not travel against medical advice. Had to make a claim whilst in Spain last winter when other half was admitted into private hospital with arythmia (?) probs and spent three days in the hospital. Three months later I renewed the policy has no adverse comments on this claim and no conditions attached. I must admit this is an expensive policy but we were thankful we had it when needed. Must say the care in the Levante hospital was second to none, the rooms and surroundings rather like a top hotel. Safe travels to us Funsters. (must try and get to a rally sometime)
 
Aug 18, 2011
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but would we be covered if one of us was unfortunate enough to become seriously ill and needed to be flown back home? Do you know if the EHI card covers that?

Take your breakdown out with ADAC. They will get you home..BUSBY:)

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