How many people travel without insurance?

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I have an annual policy so I'm insured without really thinking about it.

I have lots of weekends away with a group of friends, almost always in Europe.

I have realised only about half take insurance for these trips, with the others believing it's not needed for these short trips, they'll take the hit on any cancellation/ lost luggage and rely on GHIC for anything medical that can't wait until they get home.

I don't love this as I fear it will be me trying to get their bodies repatriated!

I was talking to a colleague who is very well travelled and she agreed it's not necessary for European travel...

Always, always, always get insurance. From the moment you book to cover any emergency change of plans as well as the healthcare element. Get the best policy you can afford. For Europe, some policies can cost as little as £15 per person per week. For the sake of a cocktail (or two depending on your destination and hour of happy) it is just added peace of mind.
If you're doing something a bit different or you have specialist conditions, it is worth talking to a broker who can tailor the policy and get the best quote.
I travel regularly with my job. I would not be without it.

I wholeheartedly agree with this ^ .

A friend's mum went on holiday from the UK to Spain without insurance. She died in Spain. My friend's mum had been on benefits for a long time, and had no savings etc. It cost a lot to bring her body back to the UK and my friend had to foot the bill.

I honestly think this is how the majority of policies work in the uk.

I don't think so, hence why you have to disclose HRT which again i wouldn't have made that connection until I read here.

I have experience of Barclays. You must tell them of any conditions that have arisen in the year to be on the safe side as they may want to exclude.

They are definitely one of the much better ones though.

I'll get through a lot of books. What do you think will happen?

Other home country is not free at point of delivery and I don't yet spend long enough periods to transfer fully into their system. It is my plan to move there when my familial responsibilities in the UK cease.

I always have it (annual through bank) but for city breaks (low risk activities) if you are willing to take the hit on cancellation and have all risks through your contents then it is up to you. I do not understand why people go on long haul trips or undertake higher risk activities without insurance, plus past a certain age/with underlying health conditions it’s just higher risk to not have insurance than say a well 40 year old. Ultimately if you can’t afford £50k in an emergency then you need cover.

in the past I’ve been to France without but between ehic as it was then and how close it is, the situation is just different to say Greece

I declared HRT (me), broken arm within last 6 months (DS2) and autism (DS1) and got declined! Only wanted UK cover, so had to decide to book without it.

Check out if it is in your NHS record if you ever mentioned it to a GP or they unilaterally decided to put it down in your notes that you had ‘anxiety’.

That's crazy that you got declined!!?

Personally I wouldn't worry about travel insurance for UK travel though.

@2024onwardsandup

from nearby countries it’s possible to hire an ambulance to bring you home or perhaps just a family member can come by car if flying is the issue (emergency eye surgery for instance is no fly for 6 weeks but you could take a train)

Friend of ours is Finnish. Came over here for a visit and had what, at first, appeared to be a stomach upset. But it got really bad and turned out to be bowel cancer. The theory was the air pressure changes on the flight had caused the tumour to shift and it had completely blocked her bowel causing necrosis. She'd had no symptoms before. The emergency surgery was covered by EU agreements (pre Brexit) but the cost of medical evacuation back home was eye watering. Thankfully covered by her insurance.

You sound as though you will be fine. But having seen someone in hospital in Spain, you are left a lot on your own as family there would normally be involved. Would you have someone to bring you the books?

Some people might like insurance so a travelling companion ( you may be alone) could stay with them a bit. Some might like repatriation as soon as possible.

You also need to be sure you hadn’t ended up in a private hospital in an emergency.

But your approach is good for you I am sure.

We are presuming EU. What about a car accident in say, Morocco, with no top orthopaedic surgeons in the local hospital to piece together the shattered bones?

Ive worked in an adjacent industry and seen multiple people have to sell or remortgage their houses to repatriate (living) loved ones. Thats what really pisses me off, take the risk for yourself, fine, but they end up putting their families in awful situations to bring them home.

And I’m afraid saying you’d be fine to travel to Europe without it is terribly naive, perhaps unless you’re travelling to a country where you can easily reside. It doesn’t take a huge incident to leave you unable to travel without medical assistance, or an illness which delays your return can easily cost hundreds or thousands just in accommodation and new plane/train tickets.

Ah, having said in my previous post that I never travel without insurance, I don't get it for UK trips. I can afford to lose the cost of the holiday or luggage, it's medical care/repatriation that are the big worries for me.

@ScrollingLeaves you have a wonderful imagination! If I were to go to Morocco, or anywhere without my trusty top orthopaedic surgeon beside, me I would get insurance. I promise you.

Who would provide your nursing care? How would you pay for and source your meals? How would you pay for your overnight stays?

Prostitution? Or an instant best seller titled "MN Knows Best"?

@ScrollingLeaves I've never needed antidepressants but a lot of my friends have particularly post dc & none of them thought ito declare it.

I definitely did high risk activities when I travelled as a young adult & never even thought to check my travel insurance!

An example. This happened in Wales so it was all covered, but a friend fell down the stairs in a holiday cottage. He spent 3 weeks in hospital in Wales, then was transferred by ambulance to a hospital closer to home, then after 3 months in hospital transferred home by ambulance, where he had carers in to support his wife looking after him...indefinitely. He still couldn't get on a plane without medical assistance, two years on.

What would that cost if it wasn't covered by the stante/insurance? How would he have got the care if he'd been abroad without funds?

what happens if the fall is caused by you being drunk or on drugs?

does travel insurance cover that?

Some don’t.

I know, it is shocking!

I found out by chance recently as I was trawling through a lot of travel insurance application forms on-line trying to find cover for some pre-existing conditions. That’s where you see the questions for that sort of thing.

Not all ask that question about depression or the ‘were you ever…’ questions.

It may be that they’d still agree to cover you, but they still want to know and might want to make exclusions.

Barclays just asks about the last 12 months. It seems a good company.