Holiday with someone without insurance - problem?

blckbrd

Hiya - hope someone can help,

I'm going away with a friend who never gets insurance, while I'm the type who always does.

We're not doing anything dramatic just a hol in Istanbul :j. Still think I should have my own cover but can anyone forsee any potential problem in travelling with someone who's uninsured?

Thanks

forgotmyname

If they get taken ill are you the sort of person who will say oh dear never mind the hospitals only 1 mile away, You could walk or pay for an ambulance or a taxi to get there.

See you later im off out, Dont wait up.

Or the sort of person who will dig into your pockets when they insist on cash up front before treatment?

Rabies, Food poisoning, etc. They advise strongly that you have travel insurance.

thenudeone

It's not a problem for you, as long as you're prepared to refuse to pay for their treatment when the doctors say - if you don't pay, we won't treat him, and he might die.

blckbrd

Thanks chaps. You've echoed what I've thought/said to him.

Meadows

Coulda, shoulda, woulda :eek: all too easy to think nothing would happen but apart from the medical side what about Personal Liability Insurance - Accidentally causing an injury to someone or damage their property they may sue.

I can't see you being held responsible for anything that the friend might incur if as is said above you are prepared to say 'See you later' but if it was a legal issue it could detain your return if they thought you were connected and there was no chance of recovering costs.
In an ideal world we would hope that it can all go without hitch but for peace of mind I would rather pay a few £'s for insurance than risk having none. At least you have the sense to have the insurance

beedeedee

If it were just the EU you were going to - and your friend had at least the EHIC card.......then I would probably say it would be OK for him as he would get emergency treatment of sorts............(but wouldn't be transferred back to UK or anything and he might have to stay there in hospital for months.....) However Turkey is a different kettle of fish - and is not part of the EU (am I right)? I would strongly suggest he does get private travel insurance for himself.

Mr_K

Although I'd always take out insurance, there is a case if you're travelling within the EU, that you don't necessarily need it.

Doesn't look as though an EHIC is valid in Turkey, so I'd deffo get insurance.

Meadows

Even when travelling in the EU (EHIC card) travel insurance is not just about medical but liability, loss of personal possessions, delay etc.

While we could get around loss, delay and possible minor medical costs, the traveler may not be in a financial position to cover for legal liability which could be anything from damage to property to loss of life of a third party.

zzzLazyDaisy

EHIC is not valid in Turkey. It is often pretty useless in Europe unless you are close to a major town with a public hospital, as many of the treatment centres are private clinics.

My friend slipped on some wet steps and broke her arm badly in two places when we were on holiday in Crete. She had no insurance and does not have a credit card. The closest public hospital was 45 miles away down poor roads, and even then we would have had to get a taxi - which she couldn't afford. The private medical centre that treated her was amazing - very fast and efficient. But they refused to treat her until I had paid up front for her treatment on my credit card.

Having been on the wrong end of such foolhardiness, I think travelling without insurance is grossly irresponsible - supposing your friend accidentally looked the wrong way when crossing a road and stepped out into traffic? It happens a lot and the Turkish are maniac drivers (apologies to any Turkish people reading this!). Can you afford to pay for extensive medical treatment or an operation of your friend was unconscious or too ill to deal with their own financial affairs?

Hezzawithkids

blckbrd wrote: »

I'm going away with a friend who never gets insurance, while I'm the type who always does.

Then presumably your friend has weighed up all the pros and cons and come to that decision on their own? After that I don't see that it's your problem. Sounds like you are a risk-averse person and your friend is the opposite. Make it clear to him/her what the consequences are if anything happens to them and just how much (or little) help you'll be able to provide.