Would you travel to Europe without medical insurance?

zagfles

Personally I wouldn't worry too much. The EHIC gives you the same treatment as locals would get. Repatriation costs only come into it if you can't travel home by normal means, if you were that bad would you really want to travel at all, just stay there and recover in a French/German hospital instead (which is likely to better than the NHS!). What would happen if you were on holiday in the UK 400 miles away from home?

hartcjhart

zagfles wrote: »

Personally I wouldn't worry too much. The EHIC gives you the same treatment as locals would get. Repatriation costs only come into it if you can't travel home by normal means, if you were that bad would you really want to travel at all, just stay there and recover in a French/German hospital instead (which is likely to better than the NHS!). What would happen if you were on holiday in the UK 400 miles away from home?

although technically correct,in fact it does not work that way in some countries for people with PEMC's, as it is supposed to be for 'emergency' style treatment

duchy

I used to work for a travel company organizing repatriation for holiday insurance companies and I personally wouldn't travel in Europe without. I've seen too often the added stress not having proper cover can cause.

If any member of the family is hospitalized it removes a lot of choices not having cover -like enabling the family to stay to be with them, hotel costs, changing flights (or if a driving holiday-what if the driver is the one in hospital) all kinds of expenses -plus insurance companies will usually take it all over and make the arrangements....leaving the family to be with the patient and not have to battle European red tape and language barriers.

zagfles

hartcjhart wrote: »

although technically correct,in fact it does not work that way in some countries for people with PEMC's, as it is supposed to be for 'emergency' style treatment

Don't understand what you're saying. Are you saying that if a PEMC flared up requiring emergency treatment it wouldn't be covered?? That's not my understanding - AIUI the EHIC doesn't make exceptions like most travel insurances do.

The EHIC won't cover you if you are going abroad specifically to have treatment, but that's not the OPs plan.

Bogtrotter

zagfles wrote: »

Personally I wouldn't worry too much. The EHIC gives you the same treatment as locals would get. Repatriation costs only come into it if you can't travel home by normal means, if you were that bad would you really want to travel at all, just stay there and recover in a French/German hospital instead

It depends on the country you're visiting and the services they provide to their citizens. For example in France generally you will be liable for 20% of the medical costs which could quite easily amount to maybe €50-€100 per day in hospital (substantially more possibly for complicated treatment). Also expect to pay the full amount if you call and make use of an ambulance at maybe €200-€300. So you could find yourself with a hefty bill for even a short stay in hospital.

zagfles

Bogtrotter wrote: »

It depends on the country you're visiting and the services they provide to their citizens. For example in France generally you will be liable for 20% of the medical costs which could quite easily amount to maybe €50-€100 per day in hospital (substantially more possibly for complicated treatment). Also expect to pay the full amount if you call and make use of an ambulance at maybe €200-€300. So you could find yourself with a hefty bill for even a short stay in hospital.

Wouldn't have thought it'd be that much, plus you might be able to get a refund anyway according to the EHIC website.

But yes there is the possibility of cost, just as there is here in the UK (have you got insurance which will cover you if you need dental implants after an accident? Almost certainly not!)

OP - have a look at the country by country guide on the EHIC website: http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/EEAcountries.aspx

peachyprice

zagfles wrote: »

Personally I wouldn't worry too much. The EHIC gives you the same treatment as locals would get.

And in many EU countries the 'locals' have to pay the first 20-25% and you may also have to pay up front and claim back once you get back to the UK. Sounds like something to worry about to me.

The only country that seems to give like for like treatment is Portugal (although I haven't looked at every single one on the link)

hartcjhart

zagfles wrote: »

Don't understand what you're saying. Are you saying that if a PEMC flared up requiring emergency treatment it wouldn't be covered?? That's not my understanding - AIUI the EHIC doesn't make exceptions like most travel insurances do.

The EHIC won't cover you if you are going abroad specifically to have treatment, but that's not the OPs plan.

thats exactly what I am saying,there was a case of a woman on holiday in greece recently that had to find the money for an op before they would treat her

http://canadianz.us/unitedkingdom-news/why-falling-ill-in-greece-could-leave-you-with-a-17000-bill.html

zagfles

hartcjhart wrote: »

thats exactly what I am saying,there was a case of a woman on holiday in greece recently that had to find the money for an op before they would treat her

http://canadianz.us/unitedkingdom-news/why-falling-ill-in-greece-could-leave-you-with-a-17000-bill.html

Er, !!!!!! has that got to do with EHIC/state treatment being refused because of a pre-existing condition? The state didn't refuse to treat her because she had a pre-existing medical condition, they refused because Greece is in a mess and has difficulty providing ANY state service. And even her travel insurance proved useless, so what does that say?

If the OP was going to Greece then they should be very wary. Regardless of insurance or not.

zagfles

peachyprice wrote: »

And in many EU countries the 'locals' have to pay the first 20-25% and you may also have to pay up front and claim back once you get back to the UK. Sounds like something to worry about to me.

The only country that seems to give like for like treatment is Portugal (although I haven't looked at every single one on the link)

I've used the EHIC in Sweden and Spain and didn't have to pay a penny, except for a presciption in Spain and that was only about EUR3 (cheaper than here). A friend of mine's Dad had a heart attack in Sweden and they only had to pay a token amount for a 2-week hospital stay, which they claimed back on their travel insurance, but it was almost not worth bothering about after the excess.