Cost of getting home if ill on holiday with no travel insurance

TheMurisonMadhouse

My mother-in-law is going on holiday soon and does not want to declare all her pre-existing medical conditions to her travel insurance company as it would cost her about another £50 on her premium. I have told her that she is being foolish as it would cost her a lot more to fly her home if she fell ill on holiday and the insurance company refused to pay out as she hadn't been truthful about her conditions. Does anyone know how much it would cost to be flown home if you are still bedridden (I suppose I mean a special medical flight) or for hospital care while she is recovering (I know emergency treatment is covered by the NHS but I don't think this covers recovery in hospital). Many thanks, Lissa.

pennylane99

depends where she is going I guess

I have a friend who went to the US without insurance, and had to call a doctor to the hotel...cost $4000

phatbear

Well to give you an idea to hire a small private plane without medical staff starts from £3000 per hour, so say for example you were going to spain the flight time is approx 3.5 hours, so 7 hours round trip, so without medical staff you are looking all ready at £21000, with crew and eqpt you would be looking at probably another £4000-£8000 of course if you were further afield pilots would need to sto pover as to would the crew so you could double the costs.

Kinda makes £50 seems like small fry really, oooh another thing this doesnt of course include any treatement your mother would require whilst waiting for the plane etc.

all the best

the bear

geri1965_2

My boyfriend's sister had to be flown home from Thailand and accompanied by a doctor on the flight. She also had to have an ambulance from Heathrow to her home. It was covered by her insurance and I don't know the exact cost but it would have been in the thousands.

lisyloo

You mother-in-law may also be too ill to travel and may want expenses paid for close family to visit (flights, hotels etc.)
Depending on where she is a translator could be needed.

These things are definitely not covered by the foreign "NHS".

I have a friend whose mum had a stroke on a cruise ship.
She could not fly as she was unable to withstand the differnt air pressure, but a translator was paid for and my friends went out to visit with the insurance.

I think you are getting the picture now.
It's unlikely but if something happens it could run into tens of thousands.
If she's that worried then she should holiday in the UK.

photome

£50 extra or possibly tens of thousands extra...IT is a no brainer!

chalky_bertie

For crying out load, just pay the £50. It's very little to pay just incase something goes wrong.

I was fully fit when I flew to South Africa last year, started to take Malaria tablets and then had en Epileptic fit. Had to fly home with doctor on board and ambulance home. One thing is for sure, it cost more than the £50 they have been quoted. I also got most of my money back for all the hotels, tours etc that I had booked.

Fen1

Your MiL is being very silly.

I ended up in hospital in the States a few years ago. One night in hospital (no surgery or medication or x-rays, nothing but the bed and a couple of pain-relief shots) cost over £1,000. My insurance paid for it.

Perhaps MiL could hunt around for a competitive quote? Honestly, the more she has wrong with her, the higher the chance that something will go wrong.

If she still refuses to pay for the insurance, put it in writing that all costs for any medical treatment, repatriation, etc, and any costs incurred by you (eg flight costs, hotel for visiting her abroad, translators) are entirely paid for by her. Might scare her into thinking a bit.

Incapuppy

I can't quite believe that I'm reading this. Is your MIL really being this ridiculous?

Something else which you might like to point out to her - what happens if she needs to cancel her holiday as she cannot travel due to ill health? If she can't afford to pay an extra £50 for insurance cover can she afford to lose the full cost of a holiday that she is unable take?

hammy_the_hammer

i've just wasted 45 seconds of my life reading this

blindman

There's Money Saving and then there's sheer stupidity.

Wonder which one this falls into?