GHIC Card instead of travel insurance

[bizzy55]

I was talking to someone today who had a heart attack and bypass. He recently went to Europe and relied upon his GHIC card instead of buying travel insurance.

Any thoughts on this ? Would the card alone be sufficient ?

[Milkfairy Heart Star]

No, you can't rely just on the GHIC card.

You need to take out travel insurance.

Citizens Advice has this information. citizensadvice.org.uk/consu....

[Lowerfield_no_more]

I have always bought travel insurance, and in recent years years the cost has increased as I get older with more health issues. But I have only ever claimed once, for a stolen camera now some years ago. Do I resent paying £££ for travel insurance... yes. Would I travel without it... no.

[Silvertail in reply to Lowerfield_no_more]

It's obscene the amount they charge for insurance, cruising seems to be the worst especially after the Ruby Princess debacle with the virus. (You probably didn't hear about that - it was in Sydney.) Our 7 day Qld cruise in November $1252 insurance and the cruise is $2762 . We booked around Aust. cruise for next year. Cruise for 28 days cost $8000 plus a bit. Insurance cover is $4000. Needless to say we are cancelling. (We are in our 80s, but a lot healthier than some in their 50s.) Is it as bad for you in the UK?

[Anon2023]

hi. I think one of the main problems with GHIC is that it doesn’t cover repatriation back to the U.K in the event of a medical emergency, or worse. In addition you could end up with medical expenses that aren’t covered by the EHIC/GHIC arrangement.

Travel insurance is expensive but I wouldn’t go anywhere without it.

[Loobycare in reply to Anon2023]

Please please buy travel insurance! I can't stress this enough.I was in Spain (Barcelona) in June and the treatment I had was extensive. I had to have lots of investigative work - scans and the like due to a very nasty infection. Anyhow this all culminated in kidney failure, intubation, enforced coma, due to delirium and not having slept for a week, heart attack and subsequent angioplasty where a stent was fitted. Including repatriation the bill came to over 80, 000 Euros.

And I thought I was fit & healthy before I went.

[bizzy55 in reply to Loobycare]

Wise words.

[Anon2023 in reply to Loobycare]

Hi. I always buy travel insurance. I think your reply was meant for the person who originally posted this. I hope that you are feeling better now after your ordeal in Spain x

[Loobycare in reply to Loobycare]

P.s. I did have travel insurance- thankfully.

[Prada47]

Hello

I would agree I would go with a GHIC why would you think your going to be ill ? afterall your going on Holiday. Most of us have had either bypass surgery or valve operations etc. we are well !! If I was feeling ill I wouldn't go ! It is a personal choice sorry if it offends but if I snuffed it on Holiday they could cremate me and I would come back via Ryanair as hand baggage I wouldn't care.

If I thought I needed or was going to need medical coverage I Wouldn't GO nothing wrong with Devon/Corwall/Scotland/Wales I was going to promote Dorset but we already have enough. It is a Personal Choice only you know your circumstances.

Regards

[Oldteacher in reply to Prada47]

Agreed. We would recommend Wales.

[devonian186 in reply to Prada47]

Devon is full but Dorset would be a very good choice.

[Prada47 in reply to devonian186]

LOL

[Alison_L in reply to Prada47]

Hello Prada, how are you doing? We’ve just had a wonderful fortnight in The Scottish Highlands. Still reasonably quiet, apart from Eilean Donan Castle, whose car park resembled Alton Towers on a summer Saturday. I recommend Dorset 😉

[devonian186]

GHIC has a lot of limitations and exclusions and is just not recognised in some medical facilities. Full travel insurance is totally necessary after disclosing all conditions.

[Elguajiro]

Hi bizzy55Have you looked at bank accounts that provides travel insurance,

some offer worldwide travel insurance but you pay a monthly fee, plus a little extra for pre-existing conditions.

I am looking at CO-OP bank as they will cover you up to age 79, as its for a yearly insurance I am sure its cheaper in the long run

[Desktop54 in reply to Elguajiro]

I looked at this and you still have to tell them about medical conditions, then they charge you extra. Nationwide flexi plus would have actually cost us more that AllClear.

[Elguajiro in reply to Desktop54]

Yes you do have to notify any insurance providers about previous conditions, but was it cheaper for single trip or yearly cover? With the extra premium it will cost me between £250-£300 for a years cover at 75 years old which isn't too bad I think.

[Butcharts]

Depends on your individual circumstances, as well as where and why you are travelling in Europe. My wife and I are fortunate to be able to use a family apartment in Austria for holidays. Prior to Brexit I spent an entire winter there to recuperate from a quad CABG 4 months after my op. Long term travel insurance was expensive, so I relied on EHIC card. After 4 months there, I became more breathless and ended up in a local Austrian hospital where I had an immediate angiogram and diagnosed with failure of 3 of my grafts. Spent 9 days in hospital with two further procedures with 8 stents inserted in my original arteries. EHIC card accepted in full payment for treatment and stay in hospital. Charged €9 per day for food. Superb treatment compared to my experience of overworked NHS.

Several years later, I am still well, and have returned every year for ski trips

My wife had a skiing accident at Easter this year, resulting in a broken shoulder. Treated at local clinic with GHIC. We were members of local Mountain Rescue group at a cost of €28 annually for mountain rescue, so mountain evacuation covered.

We travel with hand luggage, so not concerned about baggage delay for flights. We are retired, so no urgency to return to UK if injured. Not on a cruise, so no requirement for helicopter evacuation from a ship.

Depending on where you are going and the quality of medical provision in countries you are visiting, as well as your own peace of mind, or confidence in dealing with issues yourself, medical cover may not be essential for everyone. Travel insurance is not the same.

[MattG1875 in reply to Butcharts]

Hi, your reply really caught my interest, where you wrote "failure of 3 of my grafts. Spent 9 days in hospital with two further procedures with 8 stents inserted in my original arteries." Firstly I had assumed the original arteries post CABG were redundant and couldn't function post op but your were made to work, replied in I guess?

Secondly if you original arteries were stented do you know why this wasn't the original solution?

I have never heard of any one having 8 stents before.

Your journey is very interesting, I hope you don't mind me asking.

[Butcharts]

Hi. Like many who suddenly require these procedures, I was pretty shocked with my initial diagnosis, and did not question whether or not CABG was necessary. My understanding was that CABG was a more permanent treatment, and I had begun to experience frequent unstable angina. Interestingly, the 3 grafts which failed had been harvested from veins in my leg and my arm. The only graft which survived was from my mammary artery.

Another interesting aspect of my treatment in Austria was that the angio team there expected me to have detailed information about my grafts. I was never given anything from NHS, but when I left the Austrian hospital, they gave me two small cards detailing the placement of stents etc in case of further required procedures. I spent the first 30 minutes in the Austrian angio lab on the phone to my GP surgery at home trying to get the detail of my CABG.

[bizzy55 in reply to Butcharts]

My biggest complaint about my NHS experience has been the lack of communication or explanation. All I have ever been told is that I had a blockage which needed a stent. No details of how big a blockage or whether the stent would cure my angina.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to bizzy55]

You can ask for copies of all your test reports.

Contact the Patient Advisory Liaison Service PALS of the hospital.

I have copies of mine as I have an unusual type of angina.

[Butcharts in reply to Milkfairy]

Austrian hospitals issue a small credit card sized card with the relevant detail printed as a matter of course. Saves a lot of time and clarifies matters if urgent treatment required. Simple aid if supplied at time of treatments. We shouldn’t have to apply for these details.

[Milkfairy Heart Star in reply to Butcharts]

I agree.

I was given a copy of my angiogram with acetylcholine straight afterwards.

I think in my case it's because my vasospastic angina is rare.

[Deejay62 in reply to Butcharts]

I have a CRT-D pacemaker defibrillator fitted. I was given an identification card stating my details at the front along with my condition and symptoms. At the back it as the hospital and device clinic number. It then has the date the device was last fitted and details of the leads the type of device and a lot more jargon. I was told to always carry it around with me.

[MattG1875 in reply to Butcharts]

I guess if you were in the Uk they would have repeated the CABG and have heard of this being done. When I had my angiogram I received the results and was told I needed a CABG as a matter of fact... No option! Your fix is very interesting.

[Wooodsie]

I have travel insurance through my bank account (Nationwide), have a house in Cyprus and travel there often. I have never used the insurance, but have been treated a number of times in the hospital. My father in law has a leg ulcer which the NHS couldn't cure. Two weeks in Cyprus they had it almost completely gone, on return to UK it came back again, and was untreated again. He never used his insurance either. The only thing is, if you die, what to do with the body. Mine's staying where it stops .

[Butcharts]

I’m not sure what would have happened in the UK. I don’t think that there are any hard and fast rules about these matters. However, I felt very comfortable with the Austrian cardiologist’s decisions, as well as the UK one I saw for my initial diagnosis. I believe they all act in the best interests of their patients with the information they have at the time.

[fishonabike]

even seemingly fit and healthy people can have health issues anywhere - my 24 yr old nephew (fit cyclist aand tennis player) broke his leg on a holiday in Spain, necessitating surgery - no insurance, EHIC covered his treatment but not the additional costs of getting home with an injured leg and very restricted mobility shortly after surgery - he was lucky that he was discharged in time for his flight home, and that he was in a fit state to travel with support from his firends but repatriation is hugely expensive if you are not seen as fit to travel unaccompanied

you can't anticipate everything, that's why we have insurance

[bizzy55 in reply to fishonabike]

Yes. Repatriation seems to be most important advantage of insurance.

[fishonabike in reply to bizzy55]

that and other consequential expenses, like covering expenses if a travel companion has to stay on with you or you have to delay your return and pay for another flight etc

[bizzy55 in reply to fishonabike]

Yes. Good point.

[LaceyLady]

Well, husband has worked in finance and banking industry, travelled all over on business, so knows a lot of different countries. We do not travel without insurance, you never know if anything kicks off. 🤷🏼‍♀️

Best place go on a India, excellent care and cheap.

[Hidden]

I'm with my Bank, who use Aviva as there underwriter. Covered for a number of heart related issues including Heart Failure. I've found discussing matters with Aviva and the bank very straightforward with everything documented. I have made claims for cancellations without any problems. There is also a NIL additional cost for my conditions.

Putting not having insurance into context, in May, a good mate of mine passed away on holiday in Spain, totally out of the blue. Thankfully they had travel insurance, with the insurers dealing with everything including his repatriation three weeks later. Without the insurance his family would have had to deal with everything, and no doubt it would have taken longer to get him home. His wife believes the overall cost was in the region of £35k.

GHIC wouldn't have been much use, so quite a gamble if it goes wrong.

[LSCE]

I'd advise you get travel insurance. Just to add, sorry if already mentioned here, if you become unwell in flight and need to divert the GHIC card is of no use. And it's a hefty bill. Of course we don't expect to be ill but who knows when, if it does happen, that's what the travel insurance is for.

[Lucy61]

No I don't think it will cover illness so serious prior to travelling he should have unsecured himself