monty the motorhome Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Long term (6 months) in France/Spain/Portugal - expensive health insurance or rely on the EHIC??? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Rosbotham Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Travel insurance. EHIC will get you basic treatment at local hospital...it won't cover e.g. repatriation if it's necessary. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Heath insurance is a must, EHIC card will only give you cover to the same level as the locals. In France most people have a private top up insurance as a lot of things are not covered by their government health care. I don't know what the current situation is but they used to have to pay the first 20% for hospital costs if you need an operation it could be a few grand you have to cough up. What if you have and accident or need long term treatment and need an ambulance back to the UK again it will cost you a few grand. Not worth the risk without full health insurance. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Philjp Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 From personal experience you would be foolish to travel without Insurance. I was 1 of 4 people injured in a car accident in France (not our drivers fault) my injuries where just light my wife suffered a Fractured Skull. The driver broken legs. He had not taken out insurance. My wife was treated at the local hospital and arrangements made to transfer both of us back to the UK. Poor old driver got minimum treatment and had to pay for is own and his wife’s repatriation to the UK. I do not travel anywhere with cover so I took out a yearly travel insurance which covers me In the UK or any where else I choose to travel. Worked out cheaper than buying one off trip insurance. And to top it The french hospital wanted payment before they would treat him even though he had is E1 11 .He then had to claim it back but the French would only repay him part of the cost of is treatment. They even botched up my Wifes treatment Thank god we got back to a Uk Hospital within 24 hours Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
malc d Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 I wouldn't go over there for two weeks ( never mind long term ) without proper health insurance. :-( Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Not even worth the risk on a day trip. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monty the motorhome Posted February 9, 2010 Author Share Posted February 9, 2010 I thought you'd all say that, we would never normally travel without insurance, I was just hoping someone would say French hospitals were so good and so cheap, it didn't matter... ok, bite the bullet then - any companies you'd recommend, that do 6 month duration at least? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rupert123 Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 Their is a company I used this year called EHIC plus. It is very cheap but you need to read the conditions carefully to see if it suits you. I also use the French Carte Neige for skiing as a backup, this is so cheap not worth doing without if you ski and from personal experience know it works well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monty the motorhome Posted February 9, 2010 Author Share Posted February 9, 2010 rupert123 - 2010-02-09 8:20 PM Their is a company I used this year called EHIC plus. It is very cheap but you need to read the conditions carefully to see if it suits you. I also use the French Carte Neige for skiing as a backup, this is so cheap not worth doing without if you ski and from personal experience know it works well. Thanks, I take a look at this one. :-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
monty the motorhome Posted February 9, 2010 Author Share Posted February 9, 2010 monty the motorhome - 2010-02-09 8:31 PM rupert123 - 2010-02-09 8:20 PM Their is a company I used this year called EHIC plus. It is very cheap but you need to read the conditions carefully to see if it suits you. I also use the French Carte Neige for skiing as a backup, this is so cheap not worth doing without if you ski and from personal experience know it works well. Thanks, I take a look at this one. :-) Unfortunately, they only do 4 month trips :-( Any others?? *-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mel wood Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 monty the motorhome - 2010-02-09 7:57 PM.. ok, bite the bullet then - any companies you'd recommend, that do 6 month duration at least? You may like to find out more about the Camping and Caravanning Club's Carefree Service and the Caravan Club's Red Pennant Service. Many people who have had accidents/illness abroad and have been covered by these have spoken highly of them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted February 9, 2010 Share Posted February 9, 2010 I actually use my bank's free insurance and pay a supplement to bring it up to 93 days - obviously no good for you but I think it may be difficult to get cover for a longer period. Out of interest I asked Saga for a quote (as they had been bothering me) and they wanted almost £400 for an annual. Years ago we had Euro Assistance and I think there cover was longer. There is also Comfort but you may have to insure your m/home or car with them. Alternatively you could enquire about French top-up insurance because you are allowed to buy that now and it could be reasonable. Incidentally have you thought what to do about your house insurance while you are away for such a long time? That can be a big problem too to find a company which will cover you. Also I have had personal experience of at least five French hospitals and their treatment has always been superb, if pricey. If you are unlucky enough to need an ambulance that is very expensive and they demand payment in cash before booking you into the hospital. Randonneur will be more up to date than me but a visit to the doctor is almost £20 now but drugs are about 1/3rd cheaper than in England and you may only be able to claim about 15% to 30% back. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Mel B Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 There are a lot of companies out there that do 180 day travel insurance - Just type '180 day travel insurance' into Google. Don't forget to check for pet cover if you need it too as some include it. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
johnnerontheroad Posted February 10, 2010 Share Posted February 10, 2010 Have a look at the BMC cover do not be put off by the name they do travel insurance, below is taken from their site you will need to become a member but they do long term insurance. http://www.thebmc.co.uk/modules/insurance/Landing.aspx Q. How long can a single trip last? A. For single trip policies there is a 65-day limit on one individual trip. After that it becomes more economical for you to take out annual cover. If your trip is longer than three months you need to take out an annual policy with extended cover. Please note that in any period of insurance no single round trip is insured for more than 15 months from UK departure to UK return. Good Luck Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Patricia Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 I suspect that many people who are able to go on extended visits abroad are above a certain age. This company will only insure up to 70 years old but many will only cover up to 65, or even 60. When I have searched before that is the first question that I ask. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randonneur Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 The cost of a Doctors visit is now 22€. We both are in the French Health System and therefore for most things we get 70% of the cost refunded and also have TopUp Insurance. Because I have Leaukaemia and Diabetes whatever treatment is required for those I am covered 100%. The EHIC covers you for emergency treatment exactly the same as the Local People. My Son-In-Law had to go the A&E at Angouleme last week and was pleasantly surprised that there was no one waiting to be seen and the turnaround with Triage, XRays, Doctor and Treatment was only 2 hours. He hadn't taken his EHIC with him but they said its OK we will just send you a bill and he can reclaim most of the costs from CPAM - which is our Health Service Department. You are given a form which you fill in and send in or take in and this is put into your Bank Account within 5 days. As far as the state of treatment is concerned, over the last 9 years the treatment that we both have received has been far superior to the UK system, I have nothing against the UK system but here it is far more slick and they treat you as a person not as a statistic. Anyone travelling anywhere, including us, should have some sort of travel insurance and not rely solely on the EHIC. Luckily our TopUp covers us for travelling in Europe. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
spospe Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 The EHIC covers up to 70% of the cost of treatment. 4 Years ago in France we were next to a man who needed emergency treatment in Avignon. He was in hospital for 2 nights and was charged €1400 per night. How lucky do you feel? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Randonneur Posted February 11, 2010 Share Posted February 11, 2010 spospe - 2010-02-11 6:26 PM The EHIC covers up to 70% of the cost of treatment. 4 Years ago in France we were next to a man who needed emergency treatment in Avignon. He was in hospital for 2 nights and was charged €1400 per night. How lucky do you feel? I had an operation last year, before I had the TopUp, and the cost was 80€ the rest was paid by the French Health System. I was there for 2 days in a private 2 person room with. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOTH Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 For anybody reading this thread..... Your EHIC has an expiry date and if you were one of the first to get the plastic card, then it has already expired. Check yours now! Hope this helps somebody. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MOTH Posted February 25, 2010 Share Posted February 25, 2010 Almost forgot....Plastic Driving Licences have an expiry date on them also. Look at 4b on your licence! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lennyhb Posted February 26, 2010 Share Posted February 26, 2010 MOTH - 2010-02-25 9:33 PM For anybody reading this thread..... Your EHIC has an expiry date and if you were one of the first to get the plastic card, then it has already expired. Check yours now! Hope this helps somebody. I've just renewed mine, my wife's which was which was applied for at the same time & received in the same envelope does not expire until October. So check the dates on both your cards you may find one is OK the other has expired. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pister Posted March 24, 2010 Share Posted March 24, 2010 I would agree with the 'strength' of opinion obvious in the replies so far re that you must have FULL insurance - as well as having the EHIC card. EHIC will only provide cover in certain circumstances. It's stated in some policies if you haven't shown your EHIC card to the medical people treating you, your (full) insurance may be invalid. I've been hospitalised 3 times (for a week each time) in Europe and the main hospital bill has been 'picked up' by the EHIC card. What is not covered are private doctors' fees and probably medicines over the counter and possibly ambulance transport - tho' in some cases that's been allowed. And... the EHIC card is not valid for ever. Keep a note of when it needs renewed. The old piece of paper (E111) lasted I think for life - till superseded by the EHIC. Pister Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lumpy Posted March 26, 2010 Share Posted March 26, 2010 went to Tenerife this winter for a month at 73 with a heart bypass a nd 2 cancer ops, best deal £ 180 for me and the misses with the post office Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
PJay Posted March 26, 2010 Share Posted March 26, 2010 lumpy - 2010-03-26 8:51 AM went to Tenerife this winter for a month at 73 with a heart bypass a nd 2 cancer ops, best deal £ 180 for me and the misses with the post office Lumpy was that for the one trip, or annual cover? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tony Jones Posted March 26, 2010 Share Posted March 26, 2010 Glancing through this thread made me wonder about the expiry date of our EHICs. Sure enough, it was last October, and we're off to France on Easter Monday! 8-) So I phoned up the automated system and did the renewal, but was told by the robot lady it'd take 7-10 working days. Phoned again, sat quietly and ignored all entreaties to speak or press buttons, until I was put through to a real person, nice young Geordie called Kerry, who assured me that our cards would be in force from today even though we hadn't got them, and gave me an emergency phone no which we could use if necessary to get a copy of the card faxed to a hospital or wherever. If anyone else needs it, it's +44 1912 181999, and option 2. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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