Health Insurance for long term travel (1 Viewer)

Originalsmoothie

Free Member
Jun 15, 2016
35
7
Southam
Funster No
43,617
MH
Hymer B754
Exp
I'm a newbie
We are going to be travelling in Europe for five months from November this year. Are there any insurers who will cover a trip of this length?

A recent two week trip has prompted this enquiry. My fiance tripped and badly sprained her wrist. Fortunately, a trip to the local pharmacy for a wrist brace and lotions was enough to resolve the problem, but I don't know what we would have done if she had broken it. The accident was a timely prompt to sort out some decent medical cover for this coming winter.
 
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Originalsmoothie

Originalsmoothie

Free Member
Jun 15, 2016
35
7
Southam
Funster No
43,617
MH
Hymer B754
Exp
I'm a newbie
Thanks for that but there maximum cover appears to be for 90 days using their online quotation form. Am I missing something?

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Brisey

Deceased RIP
Sep 4, 2007
8,087
17,512
Sutton on Sea
Funster No
223
MH
Coachbuilt
Exp
Since 2003
Their quote form only allows ages up to 55. Will they insure older than that?
This is from their website which states no upper age limit.
  • Longstay Info
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Single Trip travel insurance is ideal for a wide range of holidays, whether you are heading abroad for a two week sunshine break or an action-packed adventure holiday!

With this policy there is no upper age limit, over 100 activities available to be included and trips can be from as little as 3 days up to 365 giving you plenty of reasons to travel and live your life to the full.

Cover includes cancellation, emergency medical expenses, personal possessions, legal expenses as well as gadget insurance options available.
 

vwalan

Funster
Sep 23, 2008
8,835
5,798
roche cornwall
Funster No
4,148
MH
lynton5th wheel
Exp
since a child
most i know dont bother. just take ehic card . just remember you want a public ambulance and hospital . not a private one .
even harder as you get older and have on going health things .
 

Lenny HB

LIFE MEMBER
Oct 18, 2007
52,707
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On the coast in West Sussex
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658
MH
Hymer B678 DL
Exp
Since 2008 & many years tugging
Can often work out cheaper to fly back for a day or two to keep in the time limit of your insurance. Check you motorhome policy as most will not let you leave the vehicle unattended for more than 36 hours without notifying them.

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Originalsmoothie

Originalsmoothie

Free Member
Jun 15, 2016
35
7
Southam
Funster No
43,617
MH
Hymer B754
Exp
I'm a newbie
most i know dont bother. just take ehic card . just remember you want a public ambulance and hospital . not a private one .
even harder as you get older and have on going health things .
The problem at the moment is that my fiance is from the USA, so I have to make extra sure that she is covered.
 
Jul 29, 2013
9,048
18,096
Salisbury
Funster No
27,215
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Hymer B678DL A class
Exp
since 2011
Thanks for that but there maximum cover appears to be for 90 days using their online quotation form. Am I missing something?
You need to use single trip policy for more time we used them for our last trip of 5 months

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Mar 21, 2009
1,367
874
Harwich, Essex
Funster No
5,989
MH
C Class
Exp
4 years
EHIC card ok for treatment but , god forbid, should it be a long term problem and you need to return to UK whilst incapacitated you will not be covered. This is why you need additional insurance. Also 'annual policies' do not usually allow travel longer than 30/60 days which is why you need to look for 'Long stay' insurance.
As an example there was a gent staying where we are in Spain that had a severe stroke and was treated in hospital - they have now said his emergency care is finished and he has to leave the hospital and either pay for a private convalescent hospital or fly home with specialist care - both mega expensive!
 
May 8, 2016
1,685
78,518
silver coast, portugal
Funster No
42,972
MH
C Class: Low profile
Exp
Boatie for 20 years
Interesting thread. On Portugal, we usually go private, and at 20 euros a consultation, it isn't breaking the bank. EHIC card merely puts you into the local queue, with private appointments you jump that process.

My wife recently had an emergency (massive infection on her ear) and we were told by the dr (on phone) to get a specialist ENT hospital consultant to look at it. The whole process from start to finish took less than 3 hours and cost us 35 euros. Again, hardly breaking the bank, even at today's exchange rates.

EHIC took care of prescription costs, which shames our charges in the UK. The pharmacist charged 72 cents for 5 items

As you will be travelling, probably best to take out a long term policy. Especially with the Spanish, who appear to exploit the Brits
 

sedge

Funster
Jul 7, 2009
5,494
13,033
Nr Jct 3 M6
Funster No
7,396
MH
C class
Exp
Aug 09 to date 9,000 miles!
Well indeed - certainly as we age, if not before, strokes are something we might all have happen.

Of course when you use the EHIC abroad, the NHS is billed - so even though you did not need to put your hand in your wallet and extract any dosh - 'we' still end up paying for the drugs ! Likewise - we bill other EHIC countries for any NHS treatment and drugs needed by their nationals.

Has the Spanish exploiting the Brits been a recent thing? I hurt my knee in Majorca some years ago and didn't think to take my insurance policy to the clinic with me - we were told which clinic by the local doc in resort, after asking who our insurer was - he just looked it up on a list. I assumed we'd pay, and then reclaim it which we did, but we needn't have done. Local doc €5

An examination, an X-ray, knee full of blood and swollen like a balloon, removal of 1.5L of it with a horse syringe, needle inserted along the bones (ee-ukkkk) - instant relief! and trussed up from foot to thigh with a TIGHT mile of wide elastic bandage, issued with a pair of elbow crutches, Byee! - €130 plus €17 for the crutches.

He was emptying the blood into a 2L plastic measuring jug on the side as the syringe filled (it screwed on to the needle) and about halfway through he lifts it to show it me (thanks, I can see it mate) points to it and says in a very grave voice 'Sangre!' - well blow me down with a feather - whoever could have guessed that was what it was!! As it was my Spanish ain't that brilliant so he got a terse 'Si senor' (and now bloody well get on with it please went through my head) Happy chappy, he was whistling a tune as he worked ...... LOL

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May 8, 2016
1,685
78,518
silver coast, portugal
Funster No
42,972
MH
C Class: Low profile
Exp
Boatie for 20 years
@pyro as to your comment about the Spanish that's certainly not our experience.

My only two experiences (non personal) have been dreadful. One is the daughter of a client who was on a bucket list holiday (inoperable cancer) and taken ill in Spain, fed false hope to get her into private hospital in Mardid, had £25k's worth of surgery (against advice of Marsden experts, who later said that surgery was dreadful and exacerbated her condition) and ended up being detained in hospital whilst private additional funding was arranged. A further £20k to shorten her life.

The other came about as a result of a friend who suffered an RTA. They gave basics at A&E and then referred him to a private hospital after they established he was a foreigner. Cost him £7k to get out, as they wouldn't deal directly with his insurers (he did get the bills repaid after a long struggle with them)

Doesn't mean everyone is on the make, but I only have two experiences to quote, and I accept neither are first hand. My advice to get insurance if travelling stands
 
4

44658

Deleted User
Experience in Florida ( no MH connection ). Felt unwell with friends whilst out having dinner. Severe pins and needles in hands and feet. Collapsed in the night, rang friends in the morning, took me straight to Celebration Hospital, Kissimmee on the Tuesday morning. Admitted and started with every test imaginable,2 days later Thanksgiving Day. Second Lumbar puncture revealed Guillain Barre Syndrome. Straight to ICU, paralysed from the waist down.Blood taken 4 hour hourly for first 3 days. Max morphine permitted and then some paracetamol. Commenced treatment with some plasma, designed for my blood group etc. Cost was $28,000 a bag, and had 7 of them. Insurance company flew Pauline out, a nurse and a DR from UK, returned Business Class BA and private ambulance to Norfolk and Norwich Hospital, another 2 weeks. After which could walk 10 paces with a zimmer to the loo. Good enough to be discharged on Christmas Eve. Dodgy walking for 6 months, 4 years on still can't walk more than 2 miles. GBS effects 3 in 100,000, comes from stress, or viral infection, as in undercooked chicken etc. Every Dr seen and there were many, asked had I had a Flu jab as this is also a known trigger. Discovered by 2 French Drs in the 1st WW. Estimated total cost $300,000. All coverd by the Barclays Bank scheme. The staff at the insurance company that Barclays under wrote were faultless in all travel arrangements and treatment.Will never ever, travel without insurance.

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Oct 24, 2015
5,268
32,979
Helgas house
Funster No
39,736
MH
hymer e650 battered!!
Exp
None
Ok,, I left the uk last December and was not looking to hurry back, but I did take a policy with virgin travel,, six/6 months for £150 , they only do six months max I was informed, but it was a good policy! Hope it helps! X
 
Apr 25, 2014
1,222
4,981
Lancaster
Funster No
31,133
MH
Overhead cab
Exp
8 years
Just picking up on this old thread because I'm starting to look for health insurance for 5months in Europe. Only quote so far is from Caravan Club for £885! We answered no to all their questions re health as we only have annual checkups and haven't had any recent cancer scares etc so they didn't go in to our pre-existing conditions. We do have some but nothing life threatening.
Both of us are under 70.
So - I'll give a couple of companies mentioned on here a go.
I couldn't believe £885!

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Apr 25, 2014
1,222
4,981
Lancaster
Funster No
31,133
MH
Overhead cab
Exp
8 years
Just got the medical and personal possesions insurance from HolidaySafe Travel Insurance for £162 for both of us for 150 days away. All our pre-existing medical conditions approved.
So -what's the carvan club quote of £885 all about?
 
Feb 20, 2017
849
2,441
Kent
Funster No
47,422
MH
Bailey 75-2
Exp
Tugger now Motorhome
Motor cycle and Scooter riders - bear in mind travel insurance rarely covers riding anything bigger than a 125cc - check policy details! Anything bigger needs declaring.
 

flatpackchicken

LIFE MEMBER
Jun 27, 2010
1,276
1,755
BICESTER OXFORDSHIRE
Funster No
12,314
MH
A Class Frankia I8000
Exp
Since nov 2009
I have Lloyds bank travel insurance and updated it to 6 months at any one time for worldwide travel and cost me £190 this year Oct 16 to Oct 17. For myself only, a partner would cost an extra £190. regards Garry Flatpackchicken.

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ceejayt

LIFE MEMBER
Aug 12, 2015
3,170
5,723
Stamford Bridge - Yorkshire
Funster No
37,605
MH
RS Elysian A Class
Exp
Since 2004
Just to 6 months over in the USA with Direct Trtavekl Insurance for two of us - my wife has osteoporosis, a hiatus hernia and an under active thyroid and we are over 60. All covered for £468. Medical cover is £7.5m. I also phoned them to check this was all correct and everything was covered as nearest other quite was twice this much and did NOT cover the declared items.
The response I got which I also got in writing was that if the website quoted a price and all items had been declared then cover was available including for the the items mentioned.
 

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