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AIBU?

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Original poster

AIBU to worry about elderly relative travelling to Eire without insurance?

192 replies

PlayingGracesByMyself · 09/04/2026 21:54

Elderly relative (mid 80s) with complex health problems - heart, blood pressure, very recent stroke. All being well managed through complex cocktail of medications and they are actually brighter than they have been for ages.

Determined to accompany their friends on a 5 day coach trip to Dublin and Cork. Insurance not looking possible though we will keep trying.

Family feel strongly that they should go and the benefits outweigh the risks. They will be covered for any hospital treatment while they are there.

So the risks are basically their friends having to fend any initial health problems , one of us having to fly out to support them if there is any serious issue, managing a long stay in a hospital outside the UK and at the worst repatriation.

I feel it's endearingly optimistic but a bit bonkers. Everyone eise thinks it's their life so their decision. Obviously we can't stop them but we could try to persuade them if we thought it was really unwise.

Any thoughts?

YABU - YOLO, encourage them to go for it
YANBU - could end in (expensive) tears

OP posts:
ProfessorBinturong · 10/04/2026 10:47

mathanxiety · 10/04/2026 00:55

So this £80k problem didn't happen in Ireland?

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The point is that medical evacuation costs a lot more than most people realise [edit: from Ireland it would of course be less than £80k, but a lot of people assume it's hundreds and then get a nasty surprise when it is actually thousands] , and can require you to pay out a significant amount of cash even if you do have insurance. This is true for any country.

TheBroonOneAndTheWhiteOne · 10/04/2026 10:46

Why on earth have you started another thread?

ProfessorBinturong · 10/04/2026 10:42

Thechaseison71 · 10/04/2026 10:32

Don't people have life insurance?

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A lot of people don't have life insurance. Those who do won't get an instant payout - it can take months. It would be no help at all with medical evacuation for a living person.

Original poster
PlayingGracesByMyself · 10/04/2026 10:40

AgathaHoccleve · 10/04/2026 10:20

Why would it make no sense? Also, why do you need another one? Your question has repeatedly been answered. Your relative will receive any medically necessary or urgent care for free.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/healthcare-for-uk-nationals-visiting-ireland

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That wasn't my question. I stated in the OP that I understood that.

OP posts:
Original poster
PlayingGracesByMyself · 10/04/2026 10:38

Thechaseison71 · 10/04/2026 10:32

Don't people have life insurance?

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Life insurance is not really the issue for travel. And actually I don't think most 80 year olds have life insurance and if they did the premiums would be astronomical for obvious reasons. They may have death insurance but it probably wouldn't cover international repatriation.

However, as I've said multiple times on the thread, death is not the biggest concern. A protracted hospital stay in a different country would be highly challenging so medical repatriation is the real concern.

OP posts:
Original poster
PlayingGracesByMyself · 10/04/2026 10:35

Thechaseison71 · 10/04/2026 10:29

Why would that be any worse than a funeral for an expat? And of course you can be cremated in another country. People are not left to rot on the street

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If you read the updates, death is not the issue. The biggest challenge would be a long hospital stay. Which is not an impossible scenario at this point.

OP posts:
Thechaseison71 · 10/04/2026 10:32

Bjorkdidit · 10/04/2026 03:30

This. Which raises the question, what if the trip was instead going to Belfast and to see the Giants Causeway?

She's not leaving the UK but if she died repatriation would still be needed, so who would pay for that? Presumably
there's a cost?

Also if she ended up in hospital, she might need specialist transport when she's discharged.

Although if the cost is closer to the £4k mentioned instead of £80k she/her relatives might be happy to suck it up if either of these happened.

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Don't people have life insurance?

Thechaseison71 · 10/04/2026 10:29

likelysuspect · 10/04/2026 08:52

Presumably you then have to arrange a funeral etc in another country for your relative? Is that ideal? How do you get buried or cremated if you're not a citizen of that country, I dont know what the rules are to be honest

And repatriation isnt just for dead people, you may be in a coma or cant take a usual normal flight so have to have medical transport.

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Why would that be any worse than a funeral for an expat? And of course you can be cremated in another country. People are not left to rot on the street

AgathaHoccleve · 10/04/2026 10:20

PlayingGracesByMyself · 10/04/2026 10:16

Have been advised by Mumsnet to start a new thread as this one will make no sense if I change the title. Link here:

https://www.mumsnet.com/talk/am_i_being_unreasonable/5515046-aibu-to-worry-about-elderly-relative-travelling-to-ireland-without-insurance?reply=151609784&utm_campaign=thread&utm_medium=share

Why would it make no sense? Also, why do you need another one? Your question has repeatedly been answered. Your relative will receive any medically necessary or urgent care for free.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/healthcare-for-uk-nationals-visiting-ireland

Healthcare for UK nationals visiting Ireland

How to get state healthcare when you’re on holiday or travelling to Ireland.

https://www.gov.uk/guidance/healthcare-for-uk-nationals-visiting-ireland

OP posts:
Original poster
PlayingGracesByMyself · 10/04/2026 09:09

Changename12 · 10/04/2026 09:04

An elderly relative told me that ashes were cheaper to bring home than a body if they died abroad.

I think it's more the scenario of long term hospitalisation that is a worry. Bringing their body or ashes back would be horrible but straightforward. Having to manage long-term hospitalisation and rehab in another country would be really challenging, which is where medical repatriation might be wanted.

OP posts:
Changename12 · 10/04/2026 09:04

An elderly relative told me that ashes were cheaper to bring home than a body if they died abroad.

EskarinaS · 10/04/2026 08:55

PlayingGracesByMyself · 10/04/2026 08:35

Thanks for this. Do you know of any specialist brokers for insurance of complex health conditions?

I do agree quality of life and having something to look forward to is really important. But there will come a time for many when travel is too much and life becomes more limited. I know several people for whom that happened in their 60s, not their mid 80s.

I think in this case, there is a real risk it will just be too much for them, they won't enjoy it like they think they will, and the people with them will have to do a lot of looking after them.

It's completely their decision but they do basically assume other people will sort it out if it all goes wrong. And they don't have the kind of savings that mean they wouldn't notice a £60K - £80K repatriation bill. But the rest of my family is very much assuming it will be fine so I think I just have to accept their decision and support them to get insurance if at all possible.

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I found Macmillan had some good advice on their website re trying to get insurance - good luck.

likelysuspect · 10/04/2026 08:52

Thechaseison71 · 10/04/2026 08:29

Why would repatriation definitely be needed though if someone one dies? I spent months each year abroad ( much further than ireland) If I was to die while I'm away what good would it do me or anyone else lugging my body back to the UK?

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Presumably you then have to arrange a funeral etc in another country for your relative? Is that ideal? How do you get buried or cremated if you're not a citizen of that country, I dont know what the rules are to be honest

And repatriation isnt just for dead people, you may be in a coma or cant take a usual normal flight so have to have medical transport.

Johnogroats · 10/04/2026 08:51

likelysuspect · 09/04/2026 22:25

My travel insurance for a year is 150ish and Im 30 years younger!!!

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It was for a 5 day trip.

OchonAgusOchonOh · 10/04/2026 08:36

RosaMundi27 · 10/04/2026 01:25

It's Eire or Ireland, according to the Irish Constitution.

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Nope. It’s Éire or Ireland.

Original poster
PlayingGracesByMyself · 10/04/2026 08:35

EskarinaS · 10/04/2026 00:23

Have you tried a specialist broker for insurance?

Quality of life is really important. My parent had terminal cancer and really wanted one last trip to Europe. Both the planning of the trip and the trip itself brought them a huge amount of joy. They were uninsurable and this was pre-Brexit. We discussed in detail what this meant and they went ahead with the trip with an EHIC but no insurance. We knew that the worst case scenario would be medical repatriation (much more expensive than repatriating a corpse) and ensured we had researched hospitals near where we were travelling and got information regarding their medical history and medications in the local language (as well as copies of prescriptions and a doctor's letter) as well as having details of companies offering medical repatriation. We were fortunate to have a relative who was willing and able to cover medical repatriation costs if necessary, and even more fortunate that none of our research was needed and the trip went very well.

Thanks for this. Do you know of any specialist brokers for insurance of complex health conditions?

I do agree quality of life and having something to look forward to is really important. But there will come a time for many when travel is too much and life becomes more limited. I know several people for whom that happened in their 60s, not their mid 80s.

I think in this case, there is a real risk it will just be too much for them, they won't enjoy it like they think they will, and the people with them will have to do a lot of looking after them.

It's completely their decision but they do basically assume other people will sort it out if it all goes wrong. And they don't have the kind of savings that mean they wouldn't notice a £60K - £80K repatriation bill. But the rest of my family is very much assuming it will be fine so I think I just have to accept their decision and support them to get insurance if at all possible.

OP posts:
OchonAgusOchonOh · 10/04/2026 08:35

RosaMundi27 · 10/04/2026 01:24

Eire is the official name of the Republic of Ireland according to article 4 of the Constitution of Ireland, so it's correct.

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No it’s not. Éire is the official name of Ireland.

Magnificentkitteh · 10/04/2026 08:32

Thechaseison71 · 10/04/2026 08:29

Why would repatriation definitely be needed though if someone one dies? I spent months each year abroad ( much further than ireland) If I was to die while I'm away what good would it do me or anyone else lugging my body back to the UK?

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I don't think it is definitely needed. I know a couple of people cremated abroad and who had a later funeral in the UK. Obviously none of this is nice to think about but insurance doesn't actually prevent horrible things happening, so you do have to decide if the insurable risks are worth the cost.

Teaandwater · 10/04/2026 08:30

PlayingGracesByMyself · 09/04/2026 21:59

I thought it was clearer that I meant Southern Ireland, am I wrong?

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Southern Ireland is not a country. Its called The Republic of Ireland.

Thechaseison71 · 10/04/2026 08:29

Bjorkdidit · 10/04/2026 03:30

This. Which raises the question, what if the trip was instead going to Belfast and to see the Giants Causeway?

She's not leaving the UK but if she died repatriation would still be needed, so who would pay for that? Presumably
there's a cost?

Also if she ended up in hospital, she might need specialist transport when she's discharged.

Although if the cost is closer to the £4k mentioned instead of £80k she/her relatives might be happy to suck it up if either of these happened.

Show quote history

Why would repatriation definitely be needed though if someone one dies? I spent months each year abroad ( much further than ireland) If I was to die while I'm away what good would it do me or anyone else lugging my body back to the UK?

Malasana · 10/04/2026 08:27

I would tell them that they either need insurance or shouldn’t go and that, if they go without insurance, on their head be it.
It’s selfish of them to go thinking someone else will sort it all out for them if something goes wrong.
I might sound harsh but they need to use some sense.
I don’t have a lot of patience for people that don’t think about consequences because they’re sure someone else will pick up the pieces.

Thechaseison71 · 10/04/2026 08:25

OchonAgusOchonOh · 09/04/2026 22:49

Eire is not used on stamps etc. it’s Éire

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How is ring so bloody pedantic providing useful info to the OP. Honestly some people on here. About 2 sensible replies at 15 nitpicking

AgnesX · 10/04/2026 08:21

WednesdaysChild73 · 09/04/2026 22:02

Yep wrong Eire is the Irish language name for Ireland

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So what's so bad about that?

RampantIvy · 10/04/2026 08:19

PlayingGracesByMyself · 10/04/2026 07:15

Honestly, I understand people don't always RTFT but in the OP I said clearly that I understand she will get full healthcare while she was there, and listed my concerns very clearly. None of them were in the slightest implying the Irish healthcare would be inferior. I was concerned about repatriation or an extended stay in hospital without nearby relatives to support. And still am.

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Ignore the sarcasm. I know your intentions were well meant.