Travel insurance emergency

[BottleBeach]

Please don’t shoot me. I arrived last night for a week’s holiday in a French city with DS10. We’re staying in a friend’s flat. I’ve woken up this morning and remembered I completely forgot to get travel insurance. I haven’t travelled out of the UK in years and this had totally fallen off my ‘things to sort out when you’re going on holiday’ list. I haven’t even brought our EHIC cards, and don’t know whether they are still valid.

I’ve just looked around online to try to get some insurance starting today, but everywhere says it has to be purchased before the trip starts.

We’re here for sightseeing, not adventure sports. But DS is an active child. What do I do if he falls off a climbing frame or something? Does anyone have any advice for how I can get insurance when we’re already on holiday? Or what would happen if we find ourselves in a hospital with no insurance or EHIC cards?

If you travel to Europe without your EHIC but then need medical treatment during your visit, you can be issued with a Provisional Replacement Certificate (PRC) to prove your entitlement to the EHIC.

You will need to apply for a PRC by calling Overseas Healthcare Services at the NHS Business Services Authority on +44 (0)191 218 1999, Monday to Friday, 8am to 6pm. It's a good idea to save this number in your phone. Someone else can apply for a PRC on your behalf. If you need it outside opening hours, you should call as soon as possible the next working day.

The PRC will give you the same cover as an EHIC until you return home.

When calling for a PRC you will need to provide:

National Insurance number
name
address
date of birth
name of the treatment facility
email address for the specific department of the organisation providing your treatment

Can't you just say your trip starts tomorrow?

You could ring a UK travel insurance company.

I would ring a company now and see what they say. If you speak to someone in person they may be able to help

Great advice above. We travelled frequently to France when kids were young and though we had travel insurance and EHIC cards were never once asked to show them on the odd occasion we needed treatment ( emergency dentist, allergic reactions, minor injuries). So I wouldn't worry too much but try to follow advice above so you are covered.

Ps the best place ever was Disneyland Paris where we went on two separate days as visitors and on both occasions needed urgent treatment from their doctors. They were brilliant

Don’t give fake dates. YOu have to give flight details etc if you claim
A quick google has brought this co up

www.towergateinsurance.co.uk/already-travelling-insurance

A quick Google

www.towergateinsurance.co.uk/already-travelling-insurance

Seems like it's a thing

Do not lie and say you have different dates! It's fraud

OP ring companies right now

but unless things have changed, in France you will be charged right away for certain things. I was. Including crutches! I had to claim back on insurance later.

Yes insurance fraud is a fantastic idea.
Your EHIC still covers you, it lasts for 5 years but you can renew it online for free www.ehic.org.uk/Internet/startApplication.do

Then if you do need medical treatment, you apply for the PRC as a I posted above.

We are still in the EU at the moment so don't panic. www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/healthcare-abroad/healthcare-when-travelling-abroad/healthcare-in-france/

@RosaWaiting
Currently, your EHIC enables you to access the necessary state-provided healthcare in France at a reduced cost, or sometimes for free, if you are staying there temporarily. If you are asked to pay for health services upfront, it is likely that you are not being treated under the state system.

Thank you all for the reassuring advice and links. I will try and sort it out now. Don’t worry- I won’t be lying to anyone!

Loch oh quite possibly. I don't know. A passerby had to ring for an ambulance and I was taken to the nearest hospital.

Do you have a package bank account or union membership? You might be covered under those

Just get it online now. Maybe even a yearly one.
@ Sooverthemill I had an ambulance at Disneyland Paris drive me underground. They were brilliant. Was a bit disappointed the doc wasn't dressed as Mickey though !

Just to be clear I wasn't saying lie about the travel dates. Surely it will just cover you from the date it starts? Ie. Today? I don't really see why it wouldn't. They are already at less risk as the travel to get there part has been successful.

Just to be clear I wasn't saying lie about the travel dates

That was me - the forms usually state when do you want the insurance to start.

It's in the small (ish) print about not starting when you are abroad. Or it's also invalid if you buy it at the airport in some cases....

Covered with Towergate. Thank you to those who googled for me. My anxiety and guilt-ridden searching was not coming up with anything. And my ex is going to send pictures of EHICs to assist with PRCs if needed. And relax!

A few years ago we were in France. We were only covered for certain countries and we were going to Switzerland for the day. I wouldn't go to Switzerland until I had rung up the insurance company and asked them to add it to our cover much to DS's annoyance!

Hope your trip goes ok

summersunshine I am now jealous that we only needed bandages and nebulisers! Ambulance driven by Mickey would have made my DSs holiday!