Health Insurance on EU Travel

Divingnorway

If you are planning on going anywhere in Europe after 31/12/2020, you need to think about taking out health care insurance. The existing reciprocal free health care arrangement with EU, Switzerland, Norway etc will end. Our Government decided not to take up the option to continue the existing arrangements.

The insurance companies will be delighted by this. Premiums for a lot of people should not be too high. But best of luck if you have ever had any health treatment. Most standard policies will not cover "pre existing conditions". Those that do will probably want special terms, which translates as "expensive". You could always take the risk of not insuring, but medical treatment can easily run into tens of £1000's, as can repatriation costs.

peachyprice

Divingnorway said:

If you are planning on going anywhere in Europe after 31/12/2020, you need to think about taking out health care insurance. The existing reciprocal free health care arrangement with EU, Switzerland, Norway etc will end. Our Government decided not to take up the option to continue the existing arrangements.

The insurance companies will be delighted by this. Premiums for a lot of people should not be too high. But best of luck if you have ever had any health treatment. Most standard policies will not cover "pre existing conditions". Those that do will probably want special terms, which translates as "expensive". You could always take the risk of not insuring, but medical treatment can easily run into tens of £1000's, as can repatriation costs.

No, health care insurance is NOT required, travel insurance with  decent medical cover is. 
But it would only have been a mad man/woman who would have travelled to the EU without insurance even with an EHIC.  To the majority of travellers with common sense it's not going to make any difference.  Those repatriation costs you speak of were never included in EHIC cover. 

Voyager2002

peachyprice said:

No, health care insurance is NOT required, travel insurance with  decent medical cover is. 
But it would only have been a mad man/woman who would have travelled to the EU without insurance even with an EHIC.  To the majority of travellers with common sense it's not going to make any difference.  Those repatriation costs you speak of were never included in EHIC cover.

I have made several trips to Europe covered only by an EHIC. Had I needed care I don't think I would have wanted repatriation.

Most travel insurance policies for European travel insist that you have an EHIC and obviously this reduces their claims costs, so the end of this arrangement is likely to increase the cost of this kind of travel insurance.

peachyprice

Voyager2002 said:

peachyprice said:

No, health care insurance is NOT required, travel insurance with  decent medical cover is. 
But it would only have been a mad man/woman who would have travelled to the EU without insurance even with an EHIC.  To the majority of travellers with common sense it's not going to make any difference.  Those repatriation costs you speak of were never included in EHIC cover.

I have made several trips to Europe covered only by an EHIC. Had I needed care I don't think I would have wanted repatriation.

Most travel insurance policies for European travel insist that you have an EHIC and obviously this reduces their claims costs, so the end of this arrangement is likely to increase the cost of this kind of travel insurance.

I don't believe most insurance policies do/did insist you have an EHIC, although many do insist that if you do have one you use it. 

EHIC was never intended to be a, replacement for travel insurance. 

Ganga

Voyager2002 said:

peachyprice said:

No, health care insurance is NOT required, travel insurance with  decent medical cover is. 
But it would only have been a mad man/woman who would have travelled to the EU without insurance even with an EHIC.  To the majority of travellers with common sense it's not going to make any difference.  Those repatriation costs you speak of were never included in EHIC cover.

I have made several trips to Europe covered only by an EHIC. Had I needed care I don't think I would have wanted repatriation.

Most travel insurance policies for European travel insist that you have an EHIC and obviously this reduces their claims costs, so the end of this arrangement is likely to increase the cost of this kind of travel insurance.

Wanted or needed ,there is a hell of a difference .

Voyager2002

Ganga said:

Voyager2002 said:

peachyprice said:

No, health care insurance is NOT required, travel insurance with  decent medical cover is. 
But it would only have been a mad man/woman who would have travelled to the EU without insurance even with an EHIC.  To the majority of travellers with common sense it's not going to make any difference.  Those repatriation costs you speak of were never included in EHIC cover.

I have made several trips to Europe covered only by an EHIC. Had I needed care I don't think I would have wanted repatriation.

Most travel insurance policies for European travel insist that you have an EHIC and obviously this reduces their claims costs, so the end of this arrangement is likely to increase the cost of this kind of travel insurance.

Wanted or needed ,there is a hell of a difference .

This happened to a family member: once his condition had been stabilised he had a choice. He could use his insurance to be repatriated so that his treatment could continue in a hospital near his home, or he could continue to be treated in the hospital in mainland Europe. He needed treatment, but repatriation was a "want".

sheramber

If you ended up unable to fly normally- you may need extra room  or to lie down, your medical insurance would cover the extra costs involved.
If you had  prolonged medical needs would you want to be stuck in hospital abroad for months?
If you died travel insurance would repatriate your body.

zagfles

sheramber said:

If you ended up unable to fly normally- you may need extra room  or to lie down, your medical insurance would cover the extra costs involved.
If you had  prolonged medical needs would you want to be stuck in hospital abroad for months?
If you died travel insurance would repatriate your body.

Why not? If I was stuck in hospital I wouldn't really care which one as long as the medical facilities were good.

If I died abroad I'd have the funeral abroad! Most countries are a lot cheaper than the UK for a funeral. People have weddings abroad, why not funerals?

maman

I agree with OP that we'll be worse off travelling in Europe without the EHIC. Even with travel insurance, it gave the option of using local services and potentially not making a claim. That option is now gone (from 31st December). Making a claim on any insurance policy results in increased premiums, in my experience. 

zagfles

Divingnorway said:

If you are planning on going anywhere in Europe after 31/12/2020, you need to think about taking out health care insurance. The existing reciprocal free health care arrangement with EU, Switzerland, Norway etc will end. Our Government decided not to take up the option to continue the existing arrangements.

The insurance companies will be delighted by this. Premiums for a lot of people should not be too high. But best of luck if you have ever had any health treatment. Most standard policies will not cover "pre existing conditions". Those that do will probably want special terms, which translates as "expensive". You could always take the risk of not insuring, but medical treatment can easily run into tens of £1000's, as can repatriation costs.

Is this finally decided? Have you got a link for this? I thoght they were still negotiating. 

zagfles

maman said:

I agree with OP that we'll be worse off travelling in Europe without the EHIC. Even with travel insurance, it gave the option of using local services and potentially not making a claim. That option is now gone (from 31st December). Making a claim on any insurance policy results in increased premiums, in my experience. 

I doubt it'll make a massive difference in policy prices, it'll probably put European cover up to Worldwide cover prices.

The people who'll get hit hard are those with pre-existing conditions for whom travel insurance to cover those conditions is unaffordable, or those who like to indulge in activities on holiday which no travel insurance will cover, like getting drunk.