Like others upthread, I'm also rather cautious and would never go abroad without insurance. To me, it's worth it for peace of mind. All you need is some idiot driver wrapping your outfit round a tree or whatever, with nasty consequences for you and/or your loved one (s). You may be the most careful driver in the world, but there's no accounting for others. And of course you can't guarantee not falling ill.
The other thing is that, should anything happen and you're not insured, how would the other half of the couple feel? I'd imagine (s)he would be devastated enough as it was, to be in a foreign country, possibly not fluent in the language, and also having to cope with the worry of getting the money together for a big hospital bill, and possibly also organising repatriation.
Not for me, I'm afraid, but I realise that everybody is different, at the end of the day only you can decide.
------------- Ina
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by Ina on 27/5/2020
Like others upthread, I'm also rather cautious and would never go abroad without insurance. To me, it's worth it for peace of mind. All you need is some idiot driver wrapping your outfit round a tree or whatever, with nasty consequences for you and/or your loved one (s). You may be the most careful driver in the world, but there's no accounting for others. And of course you can't guarantee not falling ill.
The other thing is that, should anything happen and you're not insured, how would the other half of the couple feel? I'd imagine (s)he would be devastated enough as it was, to be in a foreign country, possibly not fluent in the language, and also having to cope with the worry of getting the money together for a big hospital bill, and possibly also organising repatriation.
Not for me, I'm afraid, but I realise that everybody is different, at the end of the day only you can decide.
,,,, this in spades. And of course any grown up kids would be left handling a terrible situation.
The odds of needing repatriation from a holiday anywhere in the world are app 2.5 million to one and as Kelper posted that includes non medical repatriation!
saxo1
Quote: Originally posted by Trekkin Tekkie on 26/5/2020
Whilst travelling to a site in Frejus about 20 years ago, we'd noticed our then 2year old daughter was not herself, and on arrival she was listless and clearly getting worse. Being a Sunday no doctor was available at/near the site and so it was suggested we took her straight to the hospital at St Raphael. Doing so without doubt saved ger life; she had Septicemia. She was in hospital for 5 nights, getting much worse before improving, but as a result of excellent care at the hospital, she thankfully recovered fully and travelled home with us.
On arrival at the hospital we were asked for passports and E111 AND insurance details. I would think treatment would have been no different without the insurance we had, but we'd have had a bill for over £5000, an amount at the time we just didnt have.
Given that we don't tend to equip ourselves with significant contingency funds, and that, fortunately, we find travel insurance for us doesn't cost the earth, and having been REALLY grateful for having it on that occasion, we now ALWAYS have it.
TT
With a reciprocal healthcare agreement in place, why would you ever have been required to pay over £5000, if you don't mind me asking?
Don't forget to leave a review of the French and other European campsites you have visited!
Quote: Originally posted by Trekkin Tekkie on 26/5/2020
Whilst travelling to a site in Frejus about 20 years ago, we'd noticed our then 2year old daughter was not herself, and on arrival she was listless and clearly getting worse. Being a Sunday no doctor was available at/near the site and so it was suggested we took her straight to the hospital at St Raphael. Doing so without doubt saved ger life; she had Septicemia. She was in hospital for 5 nights, getting much worse before improving, but as a result of excellent care at the hospital, she thankfully recovered fully and travelled home with us.
On arrival at the hospital we were asked for passports and E111 AND insurance details. I would think treatment would have been no different without the insurance we had, but we'd have had a bill for over £5000, an amount at the time we just didnt have.
Given that we don't tend to equip ourselves with significant contingency funds, and that, fortunately, we find travel insurance for us doesn't cost the earth, and having been REALLY grateful for having it on that occasion, we now ALWAYS have it.
TT
With a reciprocal healthcare agreement in place, why would you ever have been required to pay over £5000, if you don't mind me asking?
A reciprocal healthcare agreement is just that - each nationality gets from the country he/she is visiting, what the locals get. That means in Europe you get the same level of healthcare that a local can expect - but most European countries require their citizens to have health insurance (we have the NHS) to top up 'state provision'. Some of their care is provided by the state, the rest is paid for by their health insurance. We get the bit that the state provides, which is basic health care, but there are many add ons which health insurance covers. These can be the expensive stuff like helicopter transfers, but can also be some treatmeans, and even dressings, and things like this, and the costs of all these can mount up. This is what your 'holiday insurance' covers - all the extras which Europeans have covered by their health insurance.
A friend of ours had a massive heart attack in his early forties, in the Pyrenees. He was airlifted off the mountain by helicopter and taken to the nearest emergency hospital. From there he was moved, by helicopter to the big specialist hospital. He was operated on, and his recovery was reasonably straighforward, but he needed physio, and what was deemed as convalescence, before being discharged back to the UK by air ambulance (plane with an accompanying nurse). Some of his care was covered by his EHIC, some wasn't.
His costs of upwards of £15,000 (the cost of the add ons over and above what was covered by his EHIC) was covered by his £12.99 travel insurance policy.
I guess that fully answers Kelper's question as well as my own, thank you.
I knew there would always be a proportion to pay in the absence of insurance, just never joined the dots relating to cases like heart attack and necessity for air ambulance etc.
Worst I've ever experienced was years ago, when a bit of sharp, dry grass slightly grazed my eye. I had to pay for dressings etc but it wasn't worth claiming back on our insurance cover, the amounts were so negligible.
If anything more major happens, it's potentially financial wipeout time, then! And that could surely include Covid-19, especially if no intensive care beds are available locally.
Quote: Originally posted by lidds0 on 28/5/2020
And that could surely include Covid-19, especially if no intensive care beds are available locally.
Think you may find many travel insurance policies excluding Covid-19 for some time.
That's exactly what I meant:
If anything more major happens, it's potentially financial wipeout time, then! And that could surely include Covid-19, especially if no intensive care beds are available locally.
A day of all things motorhome and campervan. The show is held both in the main indoor arena and across the grounds. Catering, hot drinks and food options are available. Easy access to the site and free parking included. Win one of five pairs of day tickets
Topic: European travel insurance
via mobile 27/5/2020 at 2:16pm
