Medical Insurance Europe (1 Viewer)

[miklin]

Trawled through all the insurance companies for travel/medical insurance for a forthcoming trip (mid Oct to mid March) to Spain. Not concerned about Covid cover. Could get nothing for normal cover except 104 days with Staysure for just under £500. Got to thinking about all the cancellation etc cover that as a motorhomer I do not want, so started looking into medical cover only. Just booked with AXA Schengen, no covid or existing conditions are covered but all else including medical expenses, emergency hospitalisation, repatriation, and if worst came to worst....a coffin!! There is no age limit. This is designed to go with visa applications but can be used by anyone. Spoke to them about our FCO advice no to travel and it makes no difference. This is basic medical cover anywhere in the Schengen area. The cover is for 2 people single trip max of180 days £319.

 

[Mikeco]

So if one of your, if any, pre existing conditions caused you to be needing a hospital or repatriation then you would not be covered.

 

[ADJF]

Trawled through all the insurance companies for travel/medical insurance for a forthcoming trip (mid Oct to mid March) to Spain. Not concerned about Covid cover. Could get nothing for normal cover except 104 days with Staysure for just under £500. Got to thinking about all the cancellation etc cover that as a motorhomer I do not want, so started looking into medical cover only. Just booked with AXA Schengen, no covid or existing conditions are covered but all else including medical expenses, emergency hospitalisation, repatriation, and if worst came to worst....a coffin!! There is no age limit. This is designed to go with visa applications but can be used by anyone. Spoke to them about our FCO advice no to travel and it makes no difference. This is basic medical cover anywhere in the Schengen area. The cover is for 2 people single trip max of180 days £319.

I've been looking into these policies as we are staying on inside the Schengen area rather than bothering to go back into the UK. Current policy expires in just over a month. If it wasn't for quarantine regulations we'd just take a cheap flight back into the UK, land and then come back again. I'm not 100% certain but do these Schengen policies allow you to take them out if you are already inside Schengen and not in your country of residence when you take it out?

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[miklin]

I've been looking into these policies as we are staying on inside the Schengen area rather than bothering to go back into the UK. Current policy expires in just over a month. If it wasn't for quarantine regulations we'd just take a cheap flight back into the UK, land and then come back again. I'm not 100% certain but do these Schengen policies allow you to take them out if you are already inside Schengen and not in your country of residence when you take it out?

I'm pretty sure you would have to take it in your country of residence, but you can always check with the.

 

[miklin]

So if one of your, if any, pre existing conditions caused you to be needing a hospital or repatriation then you would not be covered.

That's correct.

 

[Mikeco]

That's correct.

No good to most of us oldies then, don’t know how much you paid but that cover was £104 last year from the Camping Club which covered 6 months.

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[miklin]

No good to most of us oldies then, don’t know how much you paid but that cover was £104 last year from the Camping Club which covered 6 months.

For two people?

 

[RandallC]

Would advise whatever your thinking of re insurance to read the small print.

Currently the FO advice I think is NO foreign travel! So make sure that it's not just covid your ignoring. Some policy include exclusions for traveling against FO advice is all and worth checking me thinks.

 

[Mikeco]

For two people?

No per person.

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[Dorset Diver]

My wife is 75 and I'm her toy boy at 73 and we both have some pre-existing medical conditions. I have a booking ready to go for about 90 days in Portugal for the winter. We would travel down through France and Spain or from Santander. I have been hunting high and low for just medical cover including CV19 and must have looked at dozens of providers but not one offers a product we can use; not even one at exorbitant cost. At this rates we will be stuck in England and I will be ...

 

[Mikeco]

My wife is 75 and I'm her toy boy at 73 and we both have some pre-existing medical conditions. I have a booking ready to go for about 90 days in Portugal for the winter. We would travel down through France and Spain or from Santander. I have been hunting high and low for just medical cover including CV19 and must have looked at dozens of providers but not one offers a product we can use; not even one at exorbitant cost. At this rates we will be stuck in England and I will be ...

Very similar situation to ourselves, it will be the first Winter at home for 10 years or so but that’s what we are doing. May do Northern Spain in April and May if things settle down.

 

[miklin]

Would advise whatever your thinking of re insurance to read the small print.

Currently the FO advice I think is NO foreign travel! So make sure that it's not just covid your ignoring. Some policy include exclusions for traveling against FO advice is all and worth checking me thinks.

As I said, I have spoken to AXA and they are willing to insure despite the FCO's advice which is only to avoid non essential travel, not all travel.

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[Dorset Diver]

As I said, I have spoken to AXA and they are willing to insure despite the FCO's advice which is only to avoid non essential travel, not all travel.

miklin Does that include CV-19 cover? If it does it may good for us, what do you think?

 

[miklin]

miklin Does that include CV-19 cover? If it does it may good for us, what do you think?

Covid is not covered.

 

[Dorset Diver]

Covid is not covered.

Thanks. If it does not cover Covid then it is not for us.

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[Oscar]

We've had emails from both Staysure and World First regarding travel insurance - worth having a look to see if either of these two companies can offer the cover you require - they mention cover for Coronovirus, but, as we are not yet ready to get the insurance, we have not looked at either of them in any detail.

 

[Millcourt]

Now in 14 days quarantine after a recent trip to France. Prior to going I did an extensive search for insurance cover.

Some of the “big name” players have temporarily stopped offering any travel policies to new customers. Most are excluding ALL cover for non-essential travel to countries so designated by the FCO. Some are offering cover for Covid to other countries, but what this means varies. It usually means cover for cancellation due to Covid before you travel and, for some, cover for Covid whilst away provided the country was not on the non-essential only list either at the time the cover was taken out or if the country is added to the list prior to travel.

I only found one company offering medical (including Covid) cover to non-essential travel countries. It is expensive and is single trip if over age 69, with supplements for cover of pre-existing conditions. The company is one I had not previously heard of and apparently specialises in cover such as Journalists travelling to dangerous places. The company trades as Inforsure.com. If interested have a look at......

Home - Insurefor.com Travel Insurance

With over 20 years’ specialist experience under our belts, insurefor.com provides a range of travel insurance to suit a variety of customers, from business

www.insurefor.com

Of course up to the end of this year EHICs remain valid. The position after seems unlikely but is not yet finalised. You could rely on this, but the biggest risk may be the cost of repatriation should this become necessary.

 

[PeteH]

I keep getting E-Mails from Both Staysure and another. Their headline is covid cover too. But I suspect that they just send them willy nilly to anyone on their mailing list. They have both rejected SWMBO more than once.

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[miklin]

Now in 14 days quarantine after a recent trip to France. Prior to going I did an extensive search for insurance cover.

Some of the “big name” players have temporarily stopped offering any travel policies to new customers. Most are excluding ALL cover for non-essential travel to countries so designated by the FCO. Some are offering cover for Covid to other countries, but what this means varies. It usually means cover for cancellation due to Covid before you travel and, for some, cover for Covid whilst away provided the country was not on the non-essential only list either at the time the cover was taken out or if the country is added to the list prior to travel.

I only found one company offering medical (including Covid) cover to non-essential travel countries. It is expensive and is single trip if over age 69, with supplements for cover of pre-existing conditions. The company is one I had not previously heard of and apparently specialises in cover such as Journalists travelling to dangerous places. The company trades as Inforsure.com. If interested have a look at......

Home - Insurefor.com Travel Insurance

With over 20 years’ specialist experience under our belts, insurefor.com provides a range of travel insurance to suit a variety of customers, from business

www.insurefor.com

Of course up to the end of this year EHICs remain valid. The position after seems unlikely but is not yet finalised. You could rely on this, but the biggest risk may be the cost of repatriation should this become necessary.

Just seen on gov.uk. If you are in a country on 31.12.2020 and remain in that country then the EHIC card will be valid until the end of your trip. As you say it does not cover repatriation but it does cover pre existing medical problems. EHIC and AXA Schengen seem a good solution.

 

[Millcourt]

Just seen on gov.uk. If you are in a country on 31.12.2020 and remain in that country then the EHIC card will be valid until the end of your trip. As you say it does not cover repatriation but it does cover pre existing medical problems. EHIC and AXA Schengen seem a good solution.

Thanks miklin . The extension you mention could be really helpful (especially with the current non-essential/Covid travel insurance restrictions) for a trip starting in (say) late December and continuing to perhaps March. I just had a look at the FCO website, as I was not aware of this possibility and my recently renewed EHIC came with a covering letter saying it was only at present valid up to 31st December. the FCO website page I looked at confirms this. The section I just had a look at is under "Healthcare" at......

Travel or do business in Europe: Brexit guidance

Find out how new Brexit rules apply to things like travelling, working, studying and doing business with Europe in or with EU countries.

www.gov.uk

Can you advise which section of the FCO website mentions the extension of cover please. If there are two contradictory statements being made, I will email the FCO to seek confirmation of the correct position.

 

[TheHat]

try here i think https://www.gov.uk/guidance/uk-residents-visiting-the-eueea-and-switzerland-healthcare
this is a copy and paste from said web site
You can use an EHIC until the end of 2020.

If you’re visiting an EU country on 31 December 2020, you can continue to use your EHIC until the end of your visit to that country.

An EHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance. Make sure you have both before you travel.

Each healthcare system is different, and in some countries you’ll need to pay to have treatment.

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[Millcourt]

Thanks TheHat . Hope if the need arises to seek healthcare help in the EU in the early part of next year that the local staff/officials are aware of this provision.

 

[miklin]

Thanks TheHat . Hope if the need arises to seek healthcare help in the EU in the early part of next year that the local staff/officials are aware of this provision.

Don't forget EHIC does not cover repatriation.