Travelling without insurance

[LifeIsBetterInFlipFlops]

DH is going to follow (on his bike), some of the mountain stages of Tour De France and says he's not going to bother with travel insurance.

Am I being unreasonable to be upset about this, seeing as it will be me who would have to sell the house find £30k if he needs repatriating.

How would you handle the conversation?

[mrsjay]

he could bloody well fall off his bike break something is he mad, go to the post office it costs buttons the mans an idiot obv

[SarahBumBarer]

I'm writing this from Bambino Gesu in Rome where my 12m old has been hospitalised with complications from chicken pox. We were on a 2 day trip and if ever there was a time to be tempted not to bother with insurance this was it. Have your DH pop along and deal with all the crap and paperwork there is when you actually have EHIC/insurance and then see how he fancies trying to get along witrhout them.

[SomeBear]

I worked for the repatriation side of travel insurance. I can share horror stories til next week but all I will say is that no one ever goes on holiday intending to have an accident or fall ill. I have seen families have to pay for a relative's care by selling their houses, cars, begging for money in pubs. The Consulate will not pay and the EHIC only covers some of it.

It's not his decision to make now he has a family, take out the insurance on his behalf and tell him to grow up.

[StingingNettle]

DS (6) was rushed into French hosiptal last year having suffered a massive seizure. He spent the first night at a small town hospital, but then had to be ambulanced to a larger city hospital with a childrens intensive care unit, where he spent 3 further nights. Thank god we had insurance, because although we had nothing to pay whilst we were there, we got a bill through the post when we got home for just under £3,000, this was with the EHIC contribution knocked off. I can't imagine how much it would have been if he'd needed repatriation.
Does he have a bank account with freebies? - our travel insurance was just this, we paid no extra for it.

[ProudAS]

OP ask him how he is planning to pay for any medical and repatriation costs without insurance.

[ProudAS]

I got a severe chest infection whilst in the Canaries. Would have been over £300 without medical insurance and I didn't need hospitalisation.

[SolomanDaisy]

My family had never made a claim on travel insurance, then we had three in one year, all unexpected emergency medical. One involved a medically escorted repatriation. Believe me, it is not worth the risk.

[Janek]

On travel insurance i have had (i presumed it was the same on the current policy, but tbh i haven't checked...) the EHIC covered my excess in the event of a claim. So that alone makes it a no-brainer to take the ehic with you.

[Sirzy]

His decision? His decision to potentially leave his family without a home? His decision to leave his family with extra worry at a potentially horrible time anyway?

Sorry it's nothing short of selfish.

[LifeIsBetterInFlipFlops]

Wuldric...you say it's his decision - but the impact on me is huge. Should the worse happen, I would need to find 30k to repatriate him. It's incredibly selfish to go and then let others pick up the pieces.

[DizzyPurple]

I know someone who went to Europe for a conference. Didn't bother with travel insurance but went for a walk and managed to slip on a waterfall and sustain a nasty head injury and a broken arm. He had to be repatriated home at great expense to his colleagues who helped him. Luckily they were all well paid professionals which helped but it was a nightmare for all concerned at the time!
Why wouldn't you get insurance??

[Turniptwirl]

He's being ridiculous and should absolutely get it and the ehic and make sure the insurance covers cycling

[Wuldric]

Going against the grain again ...

Your DH is an adult. I don't know how many holidays I have been on over the years, but I have never ever made a claim against holiday insurance. He is just weighing up the risk and deciding it ain't worth it and wanting to save the £25 or whatever it is.

His decision.

[holidaysarenice]

I'd give him my email address and ill tell him the sheer hell involved in bring a body home.

And that was with travel insurance.

I'll also rip him a new arsehole for considering it while I'm at it.

[Jan49]

Zillion, that would be covered by the personal liability section of their household insurance probably, not necessarily by travel insurance.

[ZillionChocolate]

What if he cycles negligently and knocks someone else off breaking their leg and they sue him?

[Numptywallice]

I got sick in France.. EHIC only allowed me same treatment as locals and they have to pay!! Cost a fortune for treatment but thank god I had travel insurance to covet it. Please take out insurance for him.

[WorrySighWorrySigh]

If the worst comes to the worse:

EHIC card will cover the cost of emergency treatment - dont belittle this, this could be the emergency treatment which saves your life.

Insurance can cover you for the weeks of recuperation in hospital until you are fit to travel.

Dont forget the third party cover and also the legal cover as well.

[Jan49]

I think it's very selfish if you travel abroad without travel insurance. You risk putting yourself in a position where friends or family may feel obliged to pay to help you out if you have an accident, such as to get you home. There's also the non-medical side of the cover, such as having to pay for another flight if something happens that leads to you needing to return home early.

Whilst travel insurance is obviously a much cheaper option than paying the medical bills, it isn't necessarily just a case of £20 and easily arranged at the airport. If you have any pre-existing medical conditions it gets complicated and more expensive. But I'd never travel abroad without it.

[Mockingcurl]

I know someone who went to Europe on holiday, fell and broke her leg in 6 places. Had surgery, and had her leg out straight in a plaster. No airline would fly her home as she had to keep her leg out straight. She did not have insurance and so had to stay where she was for another six weeks until they could alter the plaster. It cost them a fortune in extra hotel bills.

[Christelle2207]

ehic is emergency treatment only

[MrsPinotGrigio]

I spent 1 night in hospital in Florida a couple of years ago - the bill was about £3500. I would never travel anywhere without insurance.

[halcyondays]

He'd be mad to go without insurance and EHIC card.
Has he never seen those stories about people who thought they'd be ok without insurance, then something happened and the cost was astronomical.

[Lweji]

I only didn't use to take out insurance when I lived in the UK and traveled to my home country.
Otherwise, it's best, also because it doesn't cover health only, but problems with the travel itself as well.

If (knock on wood) anything happens to him, let him sweat for a few minutes.

The EHIC may mean you don't have to pocket out before making a claim to the insurance company.
Check insurance policies, as some insurers might require that he has a EHIC card and pay for the rest.