Would you travel to Europe without medical insurance?

Pollycat

callum9999 wrote: »

No I haven't. What are these "stairs" and "cars" you talk about...

Such a stupid response says a lot about you.
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Pollycat

ash28 wrote: »

In the US we paid $800 for a doctors visit - included the antibiotics for our grandson.

In the US we paid $1300 for a visit to the emergency room for a nasty cut that in the end didn't need stitches or pain killers - grandson once again.

In Greece (Skiathos) we paid 40 euros for a visit to a medical centre and 18 euros in total for 4 prescription items - less than the excess on our insurance - if we'd had the EHIC the visit to the medical would have been free - I'm not complaining.

Would never travel without insurance - especially medical and cancellation - but luggage, as we never take anything remotely expensive with us I would be prepared to forgo that - especially as the cover is often very limited.

In callum9999's world, he'd ask:
"What are these antibiotics and stitches. I've never heard of them".
:rotfl:

callum9999

Pollycat wrote: »

Such a stupid response says a lot about you.
:rotfl::rotfl::rotfl:

Does it? What exactly does it say then?

I've gone 21 years without being hit by a car or falling down stairs, I'm fairly confident I can continue that miraculous streak for a few months abroad... Not something I'd actively advise other people to do, but hardly unreasonable.

callum9999

Pollycat wrote: »

In callum9999's world, he'd ask:
"What are these antibiotics and stitches. I've never heard of them".
:rotfl:

You really are the height of hilarity aren't you... Though I would actually say no such thing because it would either be largely covered by the state, or my insurance company...

Dunroamin

Bob_the_Saver wrote: »

Not France then, don't forget many people in these countries have top-up insurance to cover the costs they don't 'get for free'.
Also if you're in a car accident for instance not conscious it's difficult to say to the ambulance chappies "I say, I'm British and have no insurance, make sure you take me to a Public hospital not a private one old fruit"

In India I paid £1.50 to see the doctor and In Singapore Mrs Bob the saver paid a fiver to see the Doctor, (The Insurance then paid £1800 for her time in the wonderful public hospital he sent her to)

1st Rule of Gambling - only gamble with what you can afford to loose.

http://www.telegraph.co.uk/travel/columnists/7888089/Travel-insurance-why-we-all-need-holiday-cover.html

From above article....
"Ambulances operate privately in France, and our emergency call-out cost €800"

Although I agree with what you're saying generally, the Telegraph wasn't totally correct on the question of French ambulances.

Most towns have an ambulance/taxi service with greater or lesser degree of medical assistance (oxygen for an example) and these are privately run. However, in an emergency you would call out the Pompiers and their ambulance would take you to the Urgences (if necessary) and the service would be free.

mikey72

callum9999 wrote: »

Does it? What exactly does it say then?

I've gone 21 years without being hit by a car or falling down stairs, I'm fairly confident I can continue that miraculous streak for a few months abroad... Not something I'd actively advise other people to do, but hardly unreasonable.

I wouldn't disagee with you.

We've been abroad, mainly europe, some flying, mainly driving, and I've never taken insurance. If the car had cover, it went with whatever level it had included, I don't take out breakdown cover unless it's free with the policy, and we never take cancellation insurance. Medical insurance rates even lower for me. The only exception is the usa, then I will take medical.
Must have saved hundreds, if not thousands over the past thirty years.

Voyager2002

mikey72 wrote: »

I wouldn't disagee with you.

We've been abroad, mainly europe, some flying, mainly driving, and I've never taken insurance. If the car had cover, it went with whatever level it had included, I don't take out breakdown cover unless it's free with the policy, and we never take cancellation insurance. Medical insurance rates even lower for me. The only exception is the usa, then I will take medical.
Must have saved hundreds, if not thousands over the past thirty years.

Your luck could change, and just one incident could cost far more than all the money you have saved...

My father always used to go to Europe and further afield, and never had any problems that would warrant an insurance claim. After perhaps fifty journeys, a freak accident put him into intensive care (he was unconscious at the time he was taken to hospital so was certainly not in a position to choose either the ambulance service or the type of hospital that he used). He was repatriated to the UK by air ambulance, and that alone cost a sum of money equivalent to the price of a flat at the time.

He had not arranged travel insurance before popping over to France, but fortunately the credit card that he had used to pay for the ferry crossing provided medical insurance.

fin54

Been travelling for the last twenty years, always had travel insurance but never needed it to a few years ago when I slipped on wet stairs in Turkey,I had to pay £500 because I had dislocated two toe's that needed put in place, so having insurance does pay and I would never not have it, moral is if you can afford to holiday then you can afford to insure for your health and nobody know's what tomorrow brings

SaveTheEuro

A former holiday rep told me of a case she had to deal with where the husband died on holiday and his wife returned home refusing to paying for the repatriation of the body. The widow was repeatedly asked to collect her husband's body but would not. It may be a money saving measure to discard your dead spouse at a holiday resort but it's not one I would choose. (I fear a response from Bob The Saver about Mrs Bob The Saver.)

mikey72

Voyager2002 wrote: »

Your luck could change, and just one incident could cost far more than all the money you have saved...

My father always used to go to Europe and further afield, and never had any problems that would warrant an insurance claim. After perhaps fifty journeys, a freak accident put him into intensive care (he was unconscious at the time he was taken to hospital so was certainly not in a position to choose either the ambulance service or the type of hospital that he used). He was repatriated to the UK by air ambulance, and that alone cost a sum of money equivalent to the price of a flat at the time.

He had not arranged travel insurance before popping over to France, but fortunately the credit card that he had used to pay for the ferry crossing provided medical insurance.

Even so, I'm still with your father on this, the chances are so remote it's not worth taking insurance out. And if my luck doesn't change, I'm up at least the deposit for the flat.