Travel Insurance - being airlifted off cruise ship?

Be_Happy

Hypothetical question -

Read in the news of person being airlifted off cruise ship to hospital.

Can anyone tell me if a person is taken off cruise ship in British waters, by British coastguard helicopter to a British hospital is there a charge for this, or is it covered by NHS?

I know there will be cost of medical treatment while on board the cruise ship, but what about the airlift?

Thanks

luci

As the cost of an ambulance in the UK is charged after an RTA then I would think the cost of a helicopter would certainly be charged.

You need to make sure that any travel insurance covers cruises as not all do as standard.

Be_Happy

Thanks. I'd forgotten about ambulances being charged after RTAs. Did wonder, though if everyone who is rescued in other situations eg on hills, gets charged.

Only asking because OH has varied previous medical conditions. We can just about manage the cost of travel insurance in Britain and did wonder about doing cruises that only travel around Britain. Worry is that despite giving details of all his previous conditions when taking out insurance, there could be some slight thing I've forgotten about which could invalidate insurance.

We had just discovered cruising and loved it when he had his last illness - a heart attack 5 years ago - which, despite being fine since then apart from 10 pills a day and 6 monthly checkups, has put the cost of travel insurance equal to the cost of a holiday.

dzug1

I don't think it is charged currently - though there's an argument that it ought to be

And it's alleged that the privatisation of the service will not change this.

Quentin

luci wrote: »

As the cost of an ambulance in the UK is charged after an RTA then I would think the cost of a helicopter would certainly be charged.

You need to make sure that any travel insurance covers cruises as not all do as standard.

Eh.........

How many cruise ships have been involved in a rta?

System

SAR services for Medevac/Casevac are currently free in the UK whether performed by RN, RAF or Coastguard

Charges for RTA are written into one of the traffic laws. Other emergency uses of ambulances/medical treatment are free.

Be_Happy

Thanks !!!!!! this makes it clearer.

While we could raise the cost of medical treatment on ship if the travel insurance company refused to pay out. We certainly couldn't find the £thousands I've heard it costs to airlift outside Britain.

It does look good, though, for cruising close to Britain.