Another day, another person with inadequate travel insurance

I think the point the PP is making is not everyone feels that strongly about repatriating a body. If i die abroad not fussed what my family do with my body i certainly wouldn't want them incurring huge costs trying to bring my dead body back!
So its just not a priority for everyone and maybe some people who buy cheaper insurance that covers less have a similar point of view to me.

Lots of hot countries do, even with modern infrastructure. A relative of a friend living in Spain died while we were visiting them and the funeral was the next day.

The widow probably wasn't in the right state of mind to start reading travel insurance policy small print or get help from a rep or the consulate. I'd find it very surprising that travel insurance doesn't cover repatriation, there's a certain level of cover that's included as standard.

And despite what people have said, I don't think it's the default that they'll refuse to pay out unless there's been significant negligence or failure to disclose, eg if he went abroad with an undeclared terminal illness. DP was diagnosed with a condition that caused him to have to cancel a sporting holiday and the insurance company paid out without quibbling, despite him not saying he'd been to the doctors in the past two years when he had and him being a poster child for the condition he developed as an unhealthy middle aged person.

Anyway, I imagine that most places where cremation is available would send the ashes to a relative if the relative paid for that service.

That's got very out of hand. And there are remembrance benches everywhere now, regularly replenished with bunches of flowers. It all feels very superstitious.

I know people who take a lot of comfort from visiting the graves or where the ashes were scattered of loved ones. I think it's not unreasonable for those grieving to have a bit of a say...

If I was unable to obtain insurance, or it was extremely expensive, I personally would take the risk of going to a country in the EU without insurance, unless I had a serious health condition which was likely to escalate. I would pay the one-off cost of repatriation if necessary. If I died, I'd be happy to be buried or whatever abroad. We have the protection of the European health card in the EU, which covers emergency healthcare. I was actually recently on a 1.5 year waiting list to see a consultant over a possible medical condition, which I turned out not to have. You can't get insurance cover if you're waiting to see a consultant. I did the sensible thing and didn't travel, but regret it. Even if I'd had the condition, it wasn't particularly serious and wouldn't have impeded travel - but they refuse to insure if you're waiting for any kind of diagnosis.

We never travel without insurance, but I’ve never checked if it covers dying/repatriation. It’s always getting ill/hospital/luggage/flight cancellation or delays thats worried me. Must read closer next time!

I don’t see the problem being buried abroad ? I’d be dead.

To be honest though is that not something you need to consider before travelling?

Especially when you choose to go to a place like Cape Verde, where the local population lives in unbelievable poverty and the entire islands are basically just the hotel industry? We went there about ten years ago and did a tour of the town. It was awful, there were kids who looked like something out of a UN advert and people begging for money off us in the streets. The tour guide bragged about how they’d be adding a cruise ship terminal soon and it would mean more tourists would come - for what?! It’s awful.

It's quite possible that they knew that repatriation of a dead body wasn't included in their insurance, and took the risk, because of the additional cost. I personally don't think that repatriation of a body is important - that person is dead, regardless of where they are buried or cremated. So I would see that as a risk I was prepared to take.

I have a health condition and pay for insurance.
And if you cant afford to protect your family then you dont go.
Why on earth would you think otherwise.
How irresponsable.

There is no crematorium on Cape Verde.

I actually think that we British people are very often safer abroad than we are in the UK. Because in many parts of the world they have a health service that actually works. You don't have to wait 10 hours for an ambulance and then spend 24 hours sitting on a hard chair in A and E. However, if you don't come from the country, you expect to pay for the medical treatment you receive (one of the problems the NHS has is that people who are on holiday or whatever just seem to be able to turn up at A and E and get free treatment).

Yes because there is a big box of information about repatriation. And oh yes, i rang and asked. What happens if one of us dies ? I had the conversation. I didnt wing it and hope it didnt go tits up. Cos im a grown up who doesnt try excuse my shit decisions.
Im fully aware being sick and being dead are 2 diffwrent things.
Thats rather the point.

Apparently Cape Verde has a strict 24 hour local burial policy as they lack the infrastructure to store bodies. I can see how under a time limit and in shock / grief this would be a struggle. Insurance companies are excellent at telling you to claim upon return etc. If you don’t have 5k+ on hand or however much it costs then I’d say the sensible decision would be local burial.

I think the travel insurance system needs to be more regulated. As it’s based on risk there should be a way for them to access your medical record and give you a price based on their assessment. That way no wriggling out…

Yes because you’re on medication.

I’m surprised they got the money at all given that they would have had to pay for it themselves if he had died at home.

I declare HRT but it has made no difference to the premium.

It is medication with a possibility of serious side effects, so I’m not surprised they want to know.

I've just checked our (packaged with a bank account) travel insurance due to this thread and it does cover repatriation of a dead body or ashes. I wonder if some of the cheaper ones I've used in the past have....

It's a strange one this - I would rather repatriate than leave a relative somewhere thousands of miles away in an unmarked grave.

Insurance companies are not known for being helpful.
The husband of a friend died whilst abroad.
My friend arranged for his cremation & a small ceremony in that country.
When she claimed on the insurance, she was told that she was only covered for repatriation of the body, not funeral expenses.
The costs bear no comparison - £x000 v. £x00

It took a long fight to get the money.

travel insurance companies are awful for not paying though.

We had to pay 5k for flights and hotels when our DS ended up in hospital while away. We had travel insurance, but they refused the claim.

Luckily for us we could put it on a credit card, but many people couldn’t do that.

We also fought the insurance company when we got back and won. They paid the 5k plus compensation for the credit card interest and the stress. One of their staff members basically said they deny most claims first time round as policy.

That's interesting, I had no idea.

I always get travel insurance, but I must admit I've never thought to check whether anywhere I'm going on holiday has a crematorium/what funeral type facilities they have in general.

And one of the pre-existing conditions is.....drumroll....menopause! You have to declare if you are on HRT (I am not but I still find it outrageous).

Why do you care OP - how does it affect you if someone doesn't buy adequate travel insurance?