Travel insurance - what and how?

CiniO

I've travelled a good bit around EU, but I never had any travel insurance.

What are those insurances for generally, and what they generally cover? (and how much they generally cost?)

Any advice appreciated.

keithclancy

Check out some info here.

http://www.consumerhelp.ie/travel-insurance

In general in the EU if you have Private Health Insurance you're risk is minimal.

huskerdu

In most EU countries, I would use the public health system is sick or injured, so I don't get travel insurance for the medical insurance cover.
I assume you have a EHIC card.

Some other reasons for getting travel insurance are

- Cancellation insurance (Once I fork out €2K for flights and accommodation, I want to know that this will be covered, if one of the kids got a temp of 104, or broke their arm the day before, and we could not travel)

- Theft insurance ( Mind you, I own nothing of value, so I am not that bothered about this, but some people bring iPads, iPhones, expensive cameras on holiday)

- Air ambulance home in case of major medical emergency ( Slim chance of this being needed)

For our family of two adults and three kids, we pay around €30 for 2 weeks in Europe.
There are cheaper and more expensive policies.

Cheaper often have poor cancellation policies and more expensive ones often have better cover for loss and theft of items.

There is usually plenty of choice of price and cover available.

coylemj

huskerdu wrote: »

In most EU countries, I would use the public health system is sick or injured, so I don't get travel insurance for the medical insurance cover.
I assume you have a EHIC card.

I assume that by 'most EU countries' you're excluding places like Spain where recent reports say cash-strapped hospitals have started to demand cash from tourists who don't have private insurance and you might as well flash a Tesco Clubcard as the EHIC for all it's worth.

Perhaps the UK would be an exception with the NHS but I wouldn't travel further afield without full medical cover.

ger664

coylemj wrote: »

I assume that by 'most EU countries' you're excluding places like Spain where recent reports say cash-strapped hospitals have started to demand cash from tourists who don't have private insurance and you might as well flash a Tesco Clubcard as the EHIC for all it's worth.

Perhaps the UK would be an exception with the NHS but I wouldn't travel further afield without full medical cover.

Used it on the algarve last year €17.50 seen in two hours on a public holiday. I would think you could lump the HSE in with Spain.

keithclancy

coylemj wrote: »

I assume that by 'most EU countries' you're excluding places like Spain where recent reports say cash-strapped hospitals have started to demand cash from tourists who don't have private insurance and you might as well flash a Tesco Clubcard as the EHIC for all it's worth.

Perhaps the UK would be an exception with the NHS but I wouldn't travel further afield without full medical cover.

In parts of Greece as well, not sure what was in the English/Irish papers but in the Dutch papers they advised to research the Public hospitals in the area as the Taxi drivers had a deal with the Private hospitals to bring tourists there and get some money for drop offs.

Since the beginning of 2013 all EU Member states and all EFTA Member states are in the EHIC Scheme.

EHIC is for emergency treatment only and not for Healthcare Tourism.

huskerdu

coylemj wrote: »

I assume that by 'most EU countries' you're excluding places like Spain where recent reports say cash-strapped hospitals have started to demand cash from tourists who don't have private insurance and you might as well flash a Tesco Clubcard as the EHIC for all it's worth.

Perhaps the UK would be an exception with the NHS but I wouldn't travel further afield without full medical cover.

" Most" was a bit of a sweeping statement. I meant that I consider each country on a case by case basis, but many EU countries have excellent public health systems.
In France, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark I would not dream of going to a private hospital, when the public system is so good.

If going to other countries, I would research the country before going.
It is still useful to have the EHIC, in case something happens and you send up in a public hospital.

coylemj

huskerdu wrote: »

In France, Germany, Netherlands, Denmark I would not dream of going to a private hospital, when the public system is so good.

Ski resorts are an obvious exception but in many countries you cannot in the first instance choose to go to a private hospital no matter how good or bad the public system is. For example in Ireland, even with all the private clinics (Hermitage, Blackrock etc.) and private hospitals (Bon Secours in Dublin and Cork, St Vincent's Private etc.), if you bust your head on a Saturday night you have no choice but to go to the nearest public hospital A&E.

huskerdu wrote: »

If going to other countries, I would research the country before going.
It is still useful to have the EHIC, in case something happens and you send up in a public hospital.

Best to have the EHIC for sure but the public system can vary even within a specific country and as in Ireland it can also vary depending on the time of day or the day of the week so I would always have the EHIC card and full medical cover via travel insurance in case I need follow-up treatment that may only be available at short notice in a local private facility.