Travel Insurance for Elderly Parents advice please

aces709

Hi,

Sorry if this is a bit long winded but if any of you could help I'd really appreciate it.

Brother Lives over in Australia, Parents going out for Christmas.

Travel Insurance quoted is 'silly money' to me (£583 and that only covers medical NOT flights or personal protection or anything else)

I think that as they are staying with my brother (so no hotel is involved) and that as Oz is part of the Commonwealth that really the only thing they need to consider covering is Flights and luggage

Does anybody know what the 'deal' is with reciprocal agreements re anything medical between UK and Oz?

Certainly when my brother and family come over here he never bothers with travel insurance.

My Dad is concerned re having to be flown back if anything serious happens but realistically should anything happen like that he would recuperate for as long as required with my Brother

Am I missing something either obvious or not so and its a 'must have whatever the cost' (especially with regard to medical) or am I right in saying that apart from the 24 hour flights to and from (in the luggage going missing department) for them they don't need to take it out?

Any and all advice / help is greatly appreciated

Thanks

Dave

InsideInsurance

Your brother is therefore taking a chance that nothing happens to him as if it did he would get a fairly large NHS bill and would be stuck here accruing more medical bills until he was either fit enough to fly by normal plane or was able to afford a medical evacuation (which aint cheap!)

The one thing in his advantage is the NHS treat first and deal with billing afterwards and are very bad at chasing debts. So he probably could abscond and not pay the debt but that isnt going to do anyone any favours.


I am not an expert on Australian health system (your brother could probably help) but my understanding was that their facilities are all private however most residents are entitled to a Medicare card which is effectively state funded insurance.

On the basis of that they may be more similar to other countries where unless you are dying on the street then they will resolve payment methods before giving treatment.

The fact they are part of the commonwealth makes no difference to their citizens here or ours there.

aces709

Hi,

Thanks for that but re my Brother - that I know is wrong as I follow speedway and ALL the Australian riders stay here if they're injured rather than fly back to Oz plus I personally know of 3 riders who flew back into the UK to have treatment on the NHS.

However forget all the mither about my Brother - Its my Mam and Dad I'm concerned about!!

I know that I've had a varuka over there and claimed the expense back via what they term as 'Medicare' and when my Brother 1st went over he broke his wrist and didn't pay.

Does anyone have any other answers at all

Thanks

InsideInsurance

http://www.fco.gov.uk/en/travel-and-living-abroad/travel-advice-by-country/asia-oceania/australia#health

British citizens resident in the UK and travelling on a British passport are entitled to limited subsidised health services from Medicare Australia for medically necessary treatment while visiting Australia. This does not cover pre-existing conditions, or treatment that does not require prompt attention. These provisions do not apply to non-visitors, for example those who are studying in Australia. You should check Medicare Australia for further details.

Other exclusions under the reciprocal agreement include pharmaceuticals when not a hospital in-patient, use of ambulance services and medical evacuations. The latter, in particular, are very expensive - with reported cases exceeding £100,000 for medical evacuations to the UK. Make sure you have adequate travel health insurance and accessible funds to cover the cost of any medical treatment abroad and repatriation

aces709

I appreciate your reply and if I've read and understood correctly then anything that they might need to see a GP about ie. Asthma that isn't covered for the medication OR the GP visit; BUT if they need hospital treatment having suffered a bad attack then they are covered.

The medical evac to the UK isn't an issue as they would be treated over there in hospital and then stay with my brother until they were well enough to fly home.

I have checked with the airline and they can change their seats back to the uk upto a year in advance with no charge.

So they have to weigh up possible doctors visits against £538 outlay - If I've understood correctly?

Again your advice is appreciated

Thanks

Dave