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

Very simple on a phone. Just hold your finger down on the e and you get all the options for accents. On a laptop you press AltGr and the vowel you want to add the fada to so no need to remember the number codes.

It’s generally a good idea to stick to the English name if you have no understanding of the language you are attempting to use.

My worry would be getting her back if something went wrong- medical transportation isn't easy. A family member needed it between Scotland and England and without travel insurance it took a long time to organise (and costs a lot)....

I say Ireland when I’m speaking so am not asking because I’m worried I’ve got it wrong, but just out of interest can you explain why it’s a problem to say Eire when otherwise speaking in English? Is it just because it’s weird to suddenly switch languages?

Try AllClear insurance. They insured me while I had cancer.
It might cost more than the trip, but it’s cheaper than a medical repatriation which often has to be by air ambulance. Air ambulance would be around £20k minimum, higher if need ICU level care on board.

Donegal

Why do you call it Eire?
It's Ireland.

It's just Ireland. No need for Southern or anything else you want to put in front of it. Just say Ireland.

That's brilliant. I never knew this. Just goes to show I never type in French on my phone.

If you are talking about Ireland just say Ireland. If you are talking about Northern Ireland then say Northern Ireland.
Ireland is a country there is no confusion.

The issue is if she becomes unwell in Ireland and needs medical repatriation to Great Britain, that can cost thousands. Up to 30k? Or else she stays in hospital in Ireland, away from her family, for possibly months until she recovers enough to be brought home.

I have just googled it, and for those who want to know you press Alt 0201 on a laptop to get this É. I'm not sure how you would get this on a phone.

@RampantIvy If you press and hold a letter key on your phone a range of accented forms of the letter will pop up for you to choose.

No. There's an agreement between the UK and Ireland that each gets whatever the local treatment is at no additional charge when visiting. And there's a maximum charge of €120 for a hospital admission in Ireland. And that's waived if you're referred there by a GP.

Unless you a) Knew the E had an fada accent and b) Knew how different it would sound with the accent and c) Knew how to find out how to do it I think you are being unfair.

I have just googled it, and for those who want to know you press Alt 0201 on a laptop to get this É. I'm not sure how you would get this on a phone.

It’s a pejorative term about a hundred years out of date, often used these days when being deliberately offensive

I didn't know this and I suspect a lot of non Irish people don't either.

Just copied this from AI:

The British government and media largely stopped using "Eire" (often written without the fada accent) after the 1998 Good Friday Agreement, transitioning to the official name "Ireland". While "Éire" (with the accent) is technically correct in Irish (since 1937), British usage transitioned to "Republic of Ireland" after 1949 before finally adopting "Ireland" in 1998

An idea, I managed to negotiate with my insurance that I’d use my ghic card and only use insurance if it wasn’t covered by ghic eg repatriation due to some health issues picked up recently, also excess is £500 now bit ouch but at least I have catastrophic cover

It’s really not. Please take our word for it. Don’t want to go to the whys too much as the thread has been derailed enough already.

It’s a pejorative term about a hundred years out of date, often used these days when being deliberately offensive, so it’s not a bad idea for them to be aware of it, but obviously not the main point of the thread and apart some eye rolling no one will making an issue out of it while there! I would definitely explore insurance a bit more to see if it’s feasible and hope they have a great trip! FYI - if they need mediation while in Ireland, they can use their NHS number for prescription which will be much cheaper - potentially for GP visits too, but clarify that.

They will get insurance it will be costly but check out companies for older people like saga, and .they are with a coach company they will look after them, Ireland isn't far away less than an hours flight if anything happens.

it would be pronounced differently so I suspect he did use the fada when pronouncing it. And your keyboard does accents if you want to do them.

Hairsplitting and petty.

Yes in know that but it is technically the southern part of Ireland so makes as much sense as the op’s use of Southern Ireland to mean Ireland.

It's not really about her age, it's her health. A recent stroke.. how recent? Like less that 3 months? She's at a higher risk for another one and that's before sitting on a coach for 5 days. If she gets insurance and feels up it...fair enough but there is a risk to going without insurance or against medical advice.

Well guess what, just like my keyboard, he didnt have little things above the E when he spoke

Stop derailing this thread, which so far has been helpful for OP.

When will people realise that just because they're older they shouldn't be enjoying life. Get an ehic card but all will be fine and if it isn't. Cross that bridge then

That’s the South of Ireland and never called Southern Ireland @OchonAgusOchonOh!
Like Galway is in the West of Ireland not Western Ireland iyswim.
(Proud Corkwoman here 😁)

I suspect he said Éire…