does european health card cover pre exciting medical condition

kadiekaismummi

Wonder if someone out there can give me some advice........ My daughter has just had a replacement shunt put in her brain, the last one lasted for 12 years with relitively no problems, except the occasional headaches, we werent going to bother with our planned holiday to my mothers in spain, but the doc said she is allowed to fly but make sure there is a good neoulogist, just incase needed!!! but everything seems fine with her now! ..... I have never bought medical insurance for her ever before, shes had the shunt since she was 1 year old.......... My mother has said that she will be covered anyway has we have the european health card, so that she can have treatment, and it is not nessarsary to pay out for medical insurance which I cant really afford , im just worried if I get there and she does need some kind of treatment, they will ask for medical insurance has she has a pre excisting condition.........
does anyone know if I should have to buy this insurance, or will we be covered by her european health card............we have normal insurance which I always use when we travel, but really need to know this, we fly tomorrow....your help will be really appreciated x

nuttywoman

No, you prob have to get insurance for her, i would think, to be on the safe side.

vaio

As far as I know the European card will give you the same cover as a resident of whatever country you are visiting and will certainly cover existing conditions.

What the card wouldn’t do is cover medical repatriation should that be needed. Medical insurance will cover repatriation but it could well be the case that they will exclude existing conditions.

arlybarly

No you are not covered. my ds has a very serious medical condition from birth and although he is okay most of the time when i go away i have to declare to the travel insurance and i have to pay about 60 extra for this with a specialist medical travel insurance. It is worth this for peace of mind as if his condition wasnt declared then he would not be covered and i would have to foot the bill myself. the medical insurance i actually found on this site and they were absolutely brill.

if you say you cant afford travel insurance, how do you afford the plane tickets. The qustion is CAN YOU AFFORD NOT TO HAVE IT.???????????

milliebear00001

Hi there

The card will cover your daughter as if she were a citizen of the country she is visiting. This includes any treatment needed for pre-existing conditions. However, the big difference is that some countries expect their citizens to pay towards their treatment, and you would be expected to do the same. You might then be able to claim back any costs incurred while overseas from the NHS on your return. As stated, you are also not covered for repatriation in an emergency.

kadiekaismummi

Thanks to you all for your kind information, I will look around tomorrow for an insurance company that will insure my daughter without ripping us of, I have heard they can be expensive!!!!......but would rather have peace of mind .we wasnt going to go, upto friday, as my mother had paid for our tickets to stay with her at her home in spain, didnt want to waste her money!!!.....but has the docs at GOSH have given go ahead , alls OK now,hopefully,so we can go.... will sort out tomorrow..... thanks againfor all your help xxx

Oldernotwiser

Don't worry, the Spanish health serviceis excellent and you will be covered by your EHIC in Spain, including for pre existing conditions.

FROSTYFRECKLE

Hi Kadie,

My hubby has a VP Shunt, he is on his third, replacement last year. Please, please, please do not go abroad without medical insurance. If you go onto the Headway website (Brain Injuries Charity) they have links to knowledgeable Insurance Companies - not always the case, some Insurance Companies will offer you insurance but the insurance is more expensive than the holiday or the excess is so high you need a mortgage:eek:

Direct Link to insurance info
http://www.policydirect.co.uk/hwy/hwyquote.htm

I know I am probably stating the obvious but also make sure the neurosurgical unit in Spain is within 4hrs (max) travelling time. My husband MUST HAVE medical insurance for his Shunt even in Europe, I personally would not risk not having insurance.

Oldernotwiser

FROSTYFRECKLE wrote: »

Hi Kadie,

My hubby has a VP Shunt, he is on his third, replacement last year. Please, please, please do not go abroad without medical insurance. If you go onto the Headway website (Brain Injuries Charity) they have links to knowledgeable Insurance Companies - not always the case, some Insurance Companies will offer you insurance but the insurance is more expensive than the holiday or the excess is so high you need a mortgage:eek:

Direct Link to insurance info
http://www.policydirect.co.uk/hwy/hwyquote.htm

I know I am probably stating the obvious but also make sure the neurosurgical unit in Spain is within 4hrs (max) travelling time. My husband MUST HAVE medical insurance for his Shunt even in Europe, I personally would not risk not having insurance.

Could you explain why you feel that your husband MUST HAVE medical insurance for travel to Spain?

Skint_Catt

Just don't take the risk get insured. Medical treatment could run into 10's of thousands and repatrication could bankrupt you if she needed it.

siamese0109

From the EHIC website:
What does the EHIC cover?

If you have an accident or suddenly become ill you’ll receive the necessary state-provided medical healthcare for free or at reduced cost.
You’ll be treated on the same terms as insured nationals of the country you’re in.
Tip: carry your EHIC with you at all times to prove you are entitled to healthcare.
The EHIC does NOT cover:

• all your medical costs
• private treatment (generally not covered)
• repatriation to the UK.

Remember: overseas state-provided healthcare may not cover things you receive for free on the NHS.
EHIC does NOT mean you’re insured!

You will still need appropriate insurance to ensure you are fully covered for all eventualities.
Remember: few EU countries pay the full cost of medical treatment, even under the European Union’s healthcare arrangements.
You still need sufficient travel insurance to cover healthcare costs.
Read more information about buying travel insurance.
Many people think an EHIC will be enough and don’t take out insurance. They regret this when they have to pay thousands of pounds for an air ambulance back to the UK or pay out for extra accommodation to stay with a sick relative.

I applied to EHIC+ for insurance and they turned me down on my pre-existing medical condition (Pulmonary Embolism). I eventually got mine from http://www.world-first.co.uk/
for less than £100 for myself and OH for an annual policy