EHIC...is it enough?

ipri

Hi...Is the European health card adequate?...I'm 65...wife 57...going to Rome for 3 nights....do we need to buy anything more for peace of mind? thanks

Lorian

You need travel insurance. EHIC isn't going to fly you home under care if anything goes wrong.

forgotmyname

As above, there are plenty of potential issues, It may pay for basic healthcare in a public hospital. But there have been cases where people were taken to a private hospitals, which is not covered.

And as mentioned it may cover you for a trip to the docs but wont cover costs if you need to delay your return or book an emergency flight.

missbiggles1

I've travelled abroad with only an EHIC (because my husband was uninsurable) but it is a bit of a risk as not every EU country covers you 100%. In addition, travel insurance covers cancellation, loss of baggage etc. I wouldn't worry about being flown home though, hospitals in Rome will be at least as good as the NHS.

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/healthcareinItaly.aspx

Quentin

missbiggles1 wrote: »

.. I wouldn't worry about being flown home though, hospitals in Rome will be at least as good as the NHS.......

What about getting home if you (or your uninsurable husband) get discharged after your booked return?


And Italian undertakers won't fly either of you home free if you end up in their care!

missbiggles1

Quentin wrote: »

What about getting home if you (or your uninsurable husband) get discharged after your booked return?


And Italian undertakers won't fly either of you home free if you end up in their care!

We weren't travelling by air (not everybody does) and they have crematoria in Italy, just as they have hospitals.

I agree that travel insurance is desirable, just not for the reasons some people give.

Quentin

You have the answer for everything.


How will you get the coffin on the luggage rack?


What if you can come home but need medical assistance/nursing care to get you through the journey?

missbiggles1

Quentin wrote: »

You have the answer for everything.


How will you get the coffin on the luggage rack?


What if you can come home but need medical assistance/nursing care to get you through the journey?

I don't know all the answers but I do know you don't have a coffin after a cremation.:D

jackyann

If OP is still reading: most cheaper / basic travel insurance takes the use of EHIC into account.
So my travel insurance says that I need to seek treatment under the reciprocal or EHIC agreement; it then covers me for the rest.
That is the best way of getting value for money. It seems some travel companies persuade you to take out their insurance which includes private treatment and is very expensive & unnecessary.

It does cover repatriation costs - whichever route! I use InsureandGo, who I have found very good, but there are a number out there.

Aretnap

Medical repatriation is the big potential cost which isn't covered by an EHIC card. If you have to be sent back to Blighty in a private ambulance or helicopter with a doctor on hand the cost can run into many thousands of pounds. Even a relatively minor injury can make getting home expensive - a friend of mine broke his leg in Spain and had to have two business class seats bought for him to fly home because there wasn't enough space in economy class to accommodate his cast and non-bending knee. I don't like to think about what that would have cost if he'd had to pay himself.

Plus if you have an extended stay in an Italian hospital travel insurance will pay your OH's hotel bills and living expenses while he stays behind with you - an EHIC card won't.

Travel insurance will also cover your baggage,mbut that's less important, especially if you're not taking anything too valuable and/or it's covered by your home insurance's personal possessions section anyway.

Ultimately whether or not to chance it is up to you - but by going without insurance you are still at some risk of a very large bill should something go wrong.

lisyloo

I agree that travel insurance is desirable, just not for the reasons some people give.

If you break a leg and have to be in traction for 6 months, then you probably won't want to stay abroad.
If you partner is working they might not want to (or be able to leave their job for 9 months).
Travel insurance would pay as many seats as you need plus a nurse to travel with you if that's needed.
That's just one example but the general consencus is that you'd be mad to go without it.