Insurance?

[Augusta08]

We are booked out on the Gallicia next Friday for 54 days in Espaniol but haven't fixed any insurance beyond the UK Global Health Insurance card. Being 73 and 69 respectively is it worth buying a single trip policy? Is it worth it? they seem to want £200 upwards and we've never had issues in the past.

 

[bigtwin]

It’s potentially a big risk if you go without travel (health) insurance. Remember, like investments, past performance (health) isn’t necessarily an indicator of future health.

If you’re struggling to justify £200 for a policy, how would you feel about a bill of tens of thousands of pounds? Unlikely perhaps, but possible.

Ian

 

[Silver-Fox]

It’s potentially a big risk if you go without travel (health) insurance. Remember, like investments, past performance (health) isn’t necessarily an indicator of future health.

If you’re struggling to justify £200 for a policy, how would you feel about a bill of tens of thousands of pounds? Unlikely perhaps, but possible.

Ian

I’m with you on this one.

I think it’s socially and morally irresponsible not to have sufficient health cover whilst travelling abroad.

 

[Augusta08]

My understanding is the GHIC provides basic cover within the EU.

 

[bigtwin]

I think it’s socially and morally irresponsible not to have sufficient health cover whilst travelling abroad.

Agreed.
Plenty do it though and when it all goes pear shaped we then see the Go Fund Me pages being set up to help them out.

Ian

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[bigtwin]

My understanding is the GHIC provides basic cover within the EU.

It does, but it won’t cover everything. The question is, are you comfortable funding any gaps in cover should you be so unfortunate as to find yourself in that position?

We’ve just had to pay £400 for our (annual) policy.

Ian

 

[bobandjanie]

It depends if you feel lucky, our EHIC and private healthcare in Spain covers quite alot .......... but they do say

An EHIC or GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. Make sure you have both before you travel.

£200 is nothing especially if like son in laws best friend, needed flying back from Spain on a Private Lear jet with two pilots and two medics from Germany to the UK €50.000.
A month ago he had the accident in Spain, he has been back in the UK for 10 days, he is not good and still not had the operation, he is so smashed up I don't think any surgeon wants to do it, as he may not recover. Bob

 

[Silver-Fox]

Agreed.
Plenty do it though and when it all goes pear shaped we then see the Go Fund Me pages being set up to help them out.

Ian

I know it seems they way of society these days.

They would rather have a few more quid in their pocket to buy drinks than make sure they have health cover.

 

[Augusta08]

I've lived many years in mainland Europe with just the sort of cover the GHIC provides, so I guess some of us are more relaxed about the risks.

 

[Trevor Wbm]

I've lived many years in mainland Europe with just the sort of cover the GHIC provides, so I guess some of us are more relaxed about the risks.

Well yeah, but if you live there repatriation after accident, illness or worse isn't an issue, is it?

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[EuroTrotters]

My mate just paid £150 for a couple similar ages to yourselves, worldwide American Express. Annual multi cover

 

[The Wino]

I suppose it's like any other insurance you either stand the risk yourself or pay someone else to take it on. I don't know anyone personally who has had their house burn down but still take out house insurance as it's a huge amount to lose if it goes wrong. On the other hand I don't pay for all risks on contents as it's likely to be a claim I can cover myself. In the context of a European trip on that basis I'd probably take the health insurance but not necessarily breakdown cover as the most that's going to cost is likely to be a lot less. As it happens we have a pay per month bank account that covers both.

 

[bigtwin]

I suppose it's like any other insurance you either stand the risk yourself or pay someone else to take it on. I don't know anyone personally who has had their house burn down but still take out house insurance as it's a huge amount to lose if it goes wrong. On the other hand I don't pay for all risks on contents as it's likely to be a claim I can cover myself. In the context of a European trip on that basis I'd probably take the health insurance but not necessarily breakdown cover as the most that's going to cost is likely to be a lot less. As it happens we have a pay per month bank account that covers both.

A good perspective. If you can stand the uninsured cost, fill your boots otherwise it’s potentially life changing.

Ian

 

[Augusta08]

Well yeah, but if you live there repatriation after accident, illness or worse isn't an issue, is it?

The state the NHS is in I'd rather stay in Spain.

 

[Spriddler]

For just 200 quid it'll give you peace of mind for the 54 days.
All insurance is a grudge purchase. It's the one thing that everyone buys hoping they never use it.

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[Cautious driver]

Not worth the risk. Friend had a heart attack whilst with us in France. GHIC covered his stent operation and hospital stay. Consultants fees,investigation and medication not covered. His subsequent doctors assessment for doctor accompanied air repatriation home along with his wife plus private ambulance with medics from the airport to home not covered by GHIC. In addition recovery of his car and caravan back to the UK. Total claim was around £20k which their travel insurance covered. They also organised all the post operation needs outlined above.

 

[Stealaway]

I’m with you on this one.

I think it’s socially and morally irresponsible not to have sufficient health cover whilst travelling abroad.

Exactly how much is morally responsible and sufficient health cover?

Five thousand - ? Maybe we should simply double it to ten thousand just to be sure?

Five thousand pounds would be five thousand pounds more than I have ever needed in traveling Europe. Travelling by motorbike/car and now motor home over the last 50 years.
A complete waste of money?

 

[hblewett]

Travel insurance in EU is essentially 'disaster' insurance in my view. While I don't expect to be ill, nor does anyone else, but some will be. EHIC will cover immediate medical costs, but what if you have an accident, road or otherwise? You've only got to break an ankle or leg and you won't be driving back ... if you can't bend your leg you'll need 3 seats as a minimum. Worse accidents have worse effects - financial (as pointed out by bobandjanie) as well as medical. Your call, but you wouldn't want all the worry of the money as well as the medical problems. I had a stroke when I was 57 - it certainly wasn't planned and nothing to do with lifestyle ... now I'm a fit mid70s, as far as I know ???

It might be worth looking at annual insurance - it can sometimes be not much different to single trip.

 

[The Wino]

Exactly how much is morally responsible and sufficient health cover?

Five thousand - ? Maybe we should simply double it to ten thousand just to be sure?

Five thousand pounds would be five thousand pounds more than I have ever needed in traveling Europe. Travelling by motorbike/car and now motor home over the last 50 years.
A complete waste of money?

We skied about 30 or 40 times. Never had an injury. Was it a waste taking out insurance I don't think so being helicoptered off the mountain doesn't come cheap neither repatriation to the uk if you can't come back with the package and need medical care. Not needing insurance cover that you've taken doesn't mean it was a waste of time just that you were lucky. It's like my uncle who smoked like a chimney and never got lung cancer it doesn't prove it was safe just that he was lucky. If someone decides knowing what the highest bill could be that they want to cover that themselves thats fine equally if they want minimal insurance and carry some risk or pay for top cover. They're all reasonable decisions provided people realise the risk.

 

[Jimbohorlicks]

We are booked out on the Gallicia next Friday for 54 days in Espaniol but haven't fixed any insurance beyond the UK Global Health Insurance card. Being 73 and 69 respectively is it worth buying a single trip policy? Is it worth it? they seem to want £200 upwards and we've never had issues in the past.

£200 is a good price, just for peace of mind,its just the price of a UK pint per day.So why question it.
Cost you more than that if you break a leg for med fees.

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[HugoBNB]

My mate just paid £150 for a couple similar ages to yourselves, worldwide American Express. Annual multi cover

Are you sure? I have been with AMEX platinum insurance for many years. My partner is now not covered for medical emergencies as she is over 70. All other benefits from the Platinum insurance are still in place for her. It is only the medical they stopped.

 

[Speve]

LV= annual travel insurance cost us £140 both 70 yrs

 

[namwaldog]

We always go to one of the comparison sites, go compare, moneysupermarket, etc. Fill in all the details they ask for, remember to tick the no contact box (so you dont get plagued with emails and calls) and you may be pleasantly surprised at the results.
We've ended up going with Debenhams, Tesco etc. Three years ago it cost us (72 & 69) just over £1/day each for 90 days.

 

[jumartoo]

My mum's just had two weeks visiting us over Christmas. At 91 she had to pay over £300 for the 14 days. She arranged it herself and I think she was ripped off slightly, but she was content, secure that she had insurance. She's home now and, luckily, didn't need to use it. A waste of money?? Perhaps, but not if she'd been ill or had an accident.

We helped a couple in a campervan some years ago. The guy was having a fit. It turned out he had a bleed on the brain. He was taken to the local hospital and then airlifted to Cordoba where they operated successfully. He then had to recuperate for a month before he could be passed fit to travel and he was flown back to the UK. Their camper was transported back.

They had EHIC but they also had insurance which covered the expense.

 

[Silver-Fox]

Exactly how much is morally responsible and sufficient health cover?

Five thousand - ? Maybe we should simply double it to ten thousand just to be sure?

Five thousand pounds would be five thousand pounds more than I have ever needed in traveling Europe. Travelling by motorbike/car and now motor home over the last 50 years.
A complete waste of money?

Maybe you’ve been extremely lucky.

Might be time to start doing the lottery

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[Suenliam]

We are in the older age range and Liam had heart etc. surgery 3 years ago and now takes a few pills. Last August, just before our French trip, I bought an annual multi-trip med. holiday insurance for just over £500. The single trip would have been £400. Hopefully we will never have to use it and hopefully it will be a total waste of money but I wouldn't dream of traveling without it.
Sue

 

[Stealaway]

LV= annual travel insurance cost us £140 both 70 yrs

But is it enough to cover repatriation by private medical jet?
How much cover is enough?

£200 is nothing especially if like son in laws best friend, needed flying back from Spain on a Private Lear jet with two pilots and two medics from Germany to the UK €50.000.

 

[EuroTrotters]

Are you sure? I have been with AMEX platinum insurance for many years. My partner is now not covered for medical emergencies as she is over 70. All other benefits from the Platinum insurance are still in place for her. It is only the medical they stopped.

What he told me. It ours used to be around £130 worldwide. But we are much younger

 

[Stealaway]

Maybe you’ve been extremely lucky.

Might be time to start doing the lottery

Could be and its maybe time to monitor it and maybe re-asses the situation.
But I really don't want to pay for travel insurance when the EHIC seem to cover all but serious situations.
We both have over £5k on our credit cards if it does become expensive and one of our sons can come across and drive the van back home - with me in it?

We can all imagine the worst case scenario but realistically it not ever likely to be that serious.

 

[bigtwin]

We can all imagine the worst case scenario but realistically it not ever likely to be that serious.

For the vast majority of people it wont ever be that serious, but for some it will be serious. Now, if we could all choose who would be affected in a serious manner there'd be no need to take out insurance as we’d choose for it to be someone else who’s affected. Fact is, none of us know what’s around the corner. Two years ago while out walking our dogs I fell and broke my leg in three places; fortunately, it happened in the UK but it could just have easily happened abroad.

Having £10k available on your cards would hardly scratch the surface of the bills you might be facing.

Do you feel lucky? Could you just be unlucky?

Ian

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