travel insurance

[littleeak]

I'm trying to find some basic travel insurance for a trip back to the UK. Having trouble finding a company that doesn't state you have to be a UK resident. Can anyone recommend a company?

[Campo Steve]

Try http://www.staysure.co.uk/overseas/travel-insurance

or

http://www.ibexinsure.com/travel-insurance.htm

That's just two examples, I am sure there must be more.

[Jool]

Columbus direct - get them to call or e-mail you....

[masterob]

I always use Citybond Suretravel. They offer a choice of policies covering Annual Multi-trip, Trip travel (up to three months stay) or Long stay (up to 18 months stay). You can take out the policy on-line at http://www.citybond.co.uk

[Martin Page]

Can I ask a stupid question here ....

Why do you need travel insurance ?

Do you need travel insurance to go to your next city or Madrid, say ?...NO ! ...England is just a little further thats all - think European not parochial

You see the point im trying to make .... what are you actually insuring for ?

The British have been totally SOLD the concept of insurance by the Insurance companies since its such a lucrative money earner for them and for the commisions that they pay to people that SELL it.
The time you usually realise this, is when you need to make any claim and find out that either your not covered or only partially coverd or the excess wipes out any payment.

Just be sure to have your EHIC card with you and what other cover do you need ?

[Campo Steve]

Afraid I don't see the point you are making Martin.

You forget that if you are British and resident in Spain, and are registered as such, and are under retirement age, you don't qualify for an EHIC from Spain. If you still have one from UK then it doesn't apply in UK, and is probably invalid anyway. Therefore you have no cover when visiting the UK. Although NHS will probably treat you they should bill you. Maybe it doesn't always happen, but they should.

Although a quick trip to the doc in UK may not excede the excess, a more serious problem certainly will. Is it worth taking the risk?

[Martin Page]

Campo - An EHIC card covers your emergency medical needs outside the country your Health care is registered in.

If you are registerd for health care in the UK - the UK issue the card (and you dont need it for the UK)
If you are registered for health care in Spain by transfer from the UK - the UK still issue the card. (and you WILLL need it for the UK )
If your registered for health care in Spain - then Spain issue the card.

If your not registerd any where ... thats a diferent issue not related to travel insurance

The point im making with the last post - is what are you actually buying with travel insurance?
Im asking WHY - you NEED it

In my opinion your buying somthing you dont Need ! - unless your insure for every local journey as a matter of course - just in case.

[Mowser]

I am a Spanish resident under retirement age. I therefore do not qualify for an EHIC from the UK. I don't pay into the Spanish system so I'm not allowed an EHIC card from the Spanish authorities. I have private medical insurance that does cover me for trips abroad.

[Campo Steve]

Martin

My point is that if you live in Spain but aren't working i.e. paying into the system, and are not of state retirement age, then you can't register for health care in Spain so are not eligible for an EHIC. Therefore by buying health insurance you are getting medical cover. So your argument that your EHIC covers you is not valid.

My private health cover in Spain does cover me for health care abroad, but it is limited. If I was, say, in New Zealand, it would cover me for health costs. But, if I had an accident requiring specialist transport home, that wouldn't be covered.

Another reason for getting insurance is to provide cover for your personal possessions. In the UK it is not so important as they are normally covered by your house contents insurance. That is not the norm in Spain. Personal property in Spain is often not covered automatically when away from the home. Indeed, the standard Linea Directa policy doesn't even cover possessions lost outwith the house i.e. in the garden. A Linea Directa policy I had went so far as to say items stolen from a building not attached to the main house isn't covered.

Of course it is personal choice whether you buy travel insurance or not. Personally I would rather be safe than sorry.

[gerryh]

The point im making with the last post - is what are you actually buying with travel insurance?
Im asking WHY - you NEED it

OK. EHIC will cover you for basic health care, BUT what if you are seriously injured or ill and need to be flown back to Spain.
UK wont treat you indefinitely or pay the air transport.
That, amongst other things, is why you need travel insurance.
Cheers
Gerry

[Martin Page]

I take it that you have been most fortunate in never having to attempt a claim on travel insurance and I sincerly wish that you never have to.

The arguments in favor of taking out Travel Insurance are repeats of the Insurance sales blurb and sellers rhetoric.
You only have to make your fist claim to realize what the true Value of travel insurance is.

Only recently - a travel insurance failed to payout for a medical repatriation from Florida on a technicality, so that agument is totaly spurious

On the medical front - I know not what the questioners circumstances are and my reply was both accurate and factual regarding the EHIC and it also covering the position should they NOT be registered or health care.
Since the underwriters of the insurers attempt to reclaim the cost from the claimants registered health care authority - not being registered will probably nullify your claim any way !

So again i just suggest - you just have to ask yourself WHY - do you NEED Travel insurance

[BENIDORM]

Travel insurance requirements vary from person to person, and for annual multi-trips the costs are quite reasonable in my opinion.
Of course it is very important to read the small print to be exactly sure what cover you are getting,the medical cover is really the most important I suggest, but of course you are also getting cover for loss of personal belongings, travel problems etc.

But it comes down to personal choice and of course how much you can afford...Still worth considering , even if it is just for 'peace of mind'....

But Vehicle breakdown insurance....well ...very definitely required if you are driving back..I would suggest...

Regards,
Gordon

[Mowser]

Martin

I've explained earlier why I need insurance. What do you suggest? If someone has no insurance and doesn't have an EHIC card, and takes ill on holiday, what would happen? Would the person have to dip into his savings to pay for an op?

btw - I've claimed twice on travel insurance and was paid promptly.

[Martin Page]

Erm just a thought - Where were the travel insurers when that travel company colapesed the other day. Conspicuious by there absence according to travelers it effected ... but then they had 'peace of mind' at the time.

Im not suggesting you do not have travel insurance - I suggesting you ask yourself WHY ?


Do you need to Insure for every trip you make regardless if its local, distant or international. Where is the point where travel insuarnce becomes compulsory _ and then what are you actually covered for ?

[Martin Page]

Mowser - that could happen, even with travel insurance, in the event that the insurers find a reason not to pay out.
For small claims they usually go through on the nod, so to speak, since the cost of fighting a claim isnt worth while . Things change dramatically when the cost become significant . Why do you hear so many horror stories in the press. Here I am being specific about - TRAVEL insurance

If you do not have any medical cover - that, I could justify getting specific insurance for - but not travel insurance, they are nothing alike

[Campo Steve]

Obviously travel insurance isn't required for local travel. If you are covered where you live then you are covered when you travel within that country, for health anyway. The original poster was going overseas, in this case to the UK.

I've made three claims on travel insurance in the past, for medical treatment in the USA, Greece and New Zealand. In each case payout was no problem.

Two friends had to be repatriated from Switzerland to UK after breaking their backs in a light aircraft accident. Being on stretchers and because of their injuries they had to be brought back by train and the carriages adapted to take the stretchers. Without insurance they would have been in real trouble.

For me that is enough to convince me I need travel insurance.

[Martin Page]

Very good Steve - You have been most fortunate and you obviously want travel insurance and have been sold on the value of it.

But I still ask you to ask youselves .... why do you (not you steve , you- anyone) NEED travel insurance.

WANT - isnt the same as NEED.

When you start to analyse what your getting from it, as well as the cost, the penny for some finally drops.

[Campo Steve]

I know you excluded me from the question Martin, but I'll answer anyway.

I WANT it in case I NEED it. Noone knows if they will NEED it until something happens. That's why it is called insurance.

[Martin Page]

Whatever - I've had enough now ...just have your last say and get on eh ?

[Mowser]

Martin

You said TRAVEL insurance and not medical. Travel insurance includes medical. If travel insurance was simply to cover you in case your bags got nicked or your flight was late, I wouldn't bother.