We spent 4 weeks in Greece and it was wonderful, air so much better there for me. After getting ridiculous travel insurance quotes last year, we decided not to insure again this time. The quote for me was£450. I no its risky but we chanced it. My 2nd day on holiday I notice I had an infected toe, we were on a small island with one medical clinic and no pharmacy. I walked in at 11.30, saw the doctor straightaway, he cleaned and put a dressing on it and gave me a prescription for 2 weeks antibiotics and antibiotic cream also with prebiotic to protect stomach. I had to take the prescription to the supermarket where the lady at the till rang it through to the larger island next to us. She said come back at 5pm after the ferry brings in drugs. As we had our European heath card, the 3 items cost us €7 !!! INCREDIBLE. The doctor said to see him in 5 days to let me know if I could swim in the sea. He didn't charge me for consultations and after 5 days said I could swim.Obviously anything serious and you would definitely be in trouble as they airlift patients to Athens with anything major. I just wanted to share my story with you.
Just returned from the Greek Islands - Lung Conditions C...
Just returned from the Greek Islands
The Greek islands are amazing as are the Greek people. I lived on Crete for four years, absolute wonderful experience. Such a slower pace of life 🐞🐞
Lucky you living in Crete. We've travelled all over Crete, our favourite place being Paleohora in Southwest
Hi where in Crete did you live? We lived between Chania and Rethymno. We had 10 wonderful years enjoying that more relaxed lifestyle.
We used to have a house near Chania great air out there
We lived on the US Air Force base about 10 miles from Iraklion. Wonderful people and an amazing way of life 🐞
Hi SuzieWow glad all went well with toe and 4 weeks holiday 💕 Sounds lovely, 4 weeks 🙇😍⛱️
So can you still apply for a European Health Card?
Yes I believe so
I have a look as I thought you can't any more 👍
I think you can get something similar now
GHIC is what has replaced it
What does this stand please ❓🙇
Global health insurance card
Yes you still can get the European Health card. Its still free via the government website. We got ours a month ago. Brian
Thank you very much for the information here Bingo 👍 I shall have a look on Monday morning for this 👍
Just put European health card in Google and it will come up .use the government. Site to order it and usually takes upto 2 weeks to come. Brian
Pleased you had a wonderful holiday and had brilliant treatment for your infected toe. Sounds like a good system for looking after people. Xx
That was amazing Suzie, all that for €7 including the meds brought over by ferry! Sounds a marvellous holiday. Which tiny island was it (or is it a secret)? I only ask because over the years I've sailed around & to many of them in Ionian & Aegean seas. Miss it very much
U were fortunate! I ended up once in icu in Spain.whn moved to cardiac care ward,I was in with English woman,who had travelled without insurance despite being in late stage liver cancer.she said she was OK then 2days later at deaths door.im glad u enjoyed Yr hols x
Yes it is a lottery. I have said to my husband to keep me in Greece if I died there as I would be very happy to have it ad my resting place. We have also got back up money incase. I certainly wouldn't suggest anyone do it. We have already saved £1250 not taking insurance, but money isn't everything
Some may say very foolish but a very reqular occurance for us because insurance would cost me more than my holidays. I applaud you for making the most of your time no matter how poorly, and as you say the warm air does make such a difference.Up to twenty weeks away every year because uk weather is no good to me. In Spain, Tenerife, Cyprus, Australia I have found medical attention to flare ups/infections absolutely brilliant. ghic card in europe ensures we only pay the same price for prescribed meds as here in the uk. What I think is most important is a fully discussed understanding about what happens in case of death. In my case there is a pot of money never touched but readily available for cremation. I see no benefit in a deceased body being repatriated. Many may disagree but I admit it is a touchy subject.
The medical treatment in Greece is very good . We spend 5 months of the year there ., and this year needed gall bladder surgery . The difference is that nurses do not wash or change beds etc. That is left for your relatives to do , or you can employ a private nurse.
As for the GHIC card the medicines are charged the same as for the people of the country you are visiting . My blood pressure meds were 3 euros , my inhalers. 35 euros each .
Yes I've heard about what the nurses do etc. I couldn't believe that a 14 day course of antibiotics, antibiotic cream and prebiotics only cost €7 that's so much less than 1 prescription charge here and also 2 consultations and treatment by a doctor was free. Amazing. He was being extra careful with me as I'm diabetic too and with IPF and CLL. Very impressive
Living in Cyprus is far more beneficial weather wise for me. Stage 4 emphysema and I’ll be buried here as at the moment there is no crematorium but they are trying to get the go ahead for one.
Good for you and good luck
Thanks for the info. Because I have always used up my 90 days in Shengen by early April I have been to Protarus a few times in June and found conditions ideal. I an now in Southport at 12degrees, was 6 this morning. I cannot venture outdoors now until we reach 18 so stuck inside. After 4 weeks in January out of uk I will albeit slowly manage 2 miles walking with a few stops. Simply amazing what a difference warm air makes. Diagnosed at 59 with copd and already booked Fuertaventura for Nov.2024 for my 80th. My consultant says "keep doing it" so I will. Best regards
You have to have insurance cover with pre meds - I used to go to Corfu, Zante and even Turkey and I used All Clear, not cheap but the best I found.
thank you for such an interesting and informative thread. I’ve found it really thought provoking and helpful. Definitely a personal decision but good to hear of all your experiences.
Re expensive travel insurance, have you checked out insurance with.com?
My husband spent hours and hours researching all insurance covers and we found Saga the cheapest last time. I wanted to go to the Caribbean and that was completely too much money, around £4000. So we stick to Europe now.
I’m glad you had such a lovely time despite the toe. I’ve done cruises stopping at the larger Greek islands but the tiny ones sound amazing. I have yearly travel insurance & have lots of health conditions including RA Epilepsy Asthma & Bronchiectasis being the major ones & cost £120 for both of us. We go to Cyprus a lot & have been in hospital there for 3 days. It was pretty basic & only 1 cup of tea a day at breakfast & virtually no food. As sandraelizabeth says family are expected to bring food in. I kept calling hubby to bring me a Costa & a muffin! But I got what I was admitted for which was IV antibiotics. Anyway 3 days in hospital cost 10 euros. Glad you are home & all is well ( apart from the cold weather here).
That sounds very reasonable but I have so many conditions I cannot get cheaper insurance. We also go to Grrece for 4-6 weeks and that pushes prices up. Also my husband is 73 and I'm 70 so that goes against you.
That’s an amazing price for insurance. Which company is that?
Hi yes we went with LV ( Liverpool Victoria) this year. Think it was Staysure previously.
LV wouldn't cover me at all
Thanks for that Otto. We had staysure previously bu they wanted almost £500 for annual. My husband’s cost was about £40. The rest is me 🙄
So we changed to insure.com for about £350 But in March I will check out LV 🤞🏼
how’d it get that cheap! are you sure you’re covered? Very often its down to how many hospitalisations in the last year or so and the destinationwithinEuropebut that does sound too cheap .
No idea. As I said maybe I should look at what hubby has written. I havnt had any hospitalisations since 2019 (touch wood) & always fly to Cyprus as we have a house there.
Glad you had such a good time and glad that the medical service was so efficient. xxx
so pleased you had a lovely time and that your breathing was good. Hope you stay well now that you are back. Xx
Thanks Hazel. Had covid and flu vaccines yesterday and am feeling rough atm xx
Glad you had a good holiday and felt so much better. My Aunt used to say she wasnt paying so much for health insurance and travelled without it and only once needed treatment for an infection which cost alot less than the insurance, it is a gamble and is a personal choice x
envy you spending so much time in greece but insurance is a worry in some places.
we spent every summer hioliday there but my husband died not long after i finished work ing so I went on cruises instead, but have very fond memories of many small islands there . you go to schinoussa every year ?
Pleased everything was OK sounds nice place
It’s probably a bit different in Europe and you took a chance. My insurance for USA and South America was £450..I would not take any chances over there.
No, nor would I as insurance to the Caribbean for me was around £4000 , no way was I paying that
Really? That’s astronomical! Have you been hospitalised for COPD? That was one of the questions I got asked and I never have been. I’m guessing if you have then you would get a much higher premium.
No I dont have copd. I've had aortic valve replacement, I've got IPF and leukaemia as well as diabetic. I've only been hospitalized for the valve replacement when I had that quote and that was 2 years post op
IS THE ACAPELLA (NOT FLUTTER) FREE ON THE NHS OR DO YOU HAVE TO PAY.
JUST SAYING HI
Stories from a hospital volunteer - A lesson learnt 
Worried 🙁
