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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

Travelling without insurance

80 replies

LifeIsBetterInFlipFlops · 06/07/2013 17:45

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?

OP posts:
LadyBeagleEyes · 06/07/2013 21:08

Why on earth wouldn't he get insured?
It's a couple of clicks on the internet, and no more than £20.
Your DH is a twat.

lljkk · 06/07/2013 21:15

I get not wanting to bother, it's the principle of knowing it's probably one of the more pointless purchases of the year. Just tell your DH that you'll leave him in France on his own until the house is sold in case he does need repatriating.

2 yrs ago My dad broke his upper arm badly & very painfully in Malta. In Italy they Xrayed & set it for $100... Dad had insurance but saw no point in claiming the value was so low (in his mind). Worst part is he didn't believe they could have known that they knew what they were doing they charged him so little. Back in the USA the hospital gave him no extra treatment, but was so rough when examining dad that he fainted from pain at which point they declared that the fainting meant he was at very high risk of DVT and promptly put him on some expensive meds for 6 months.

Gotta love the American medical system.

ClayDavis · 06/07/2013 21:16

lljkk, I think you are right. The small print on most of the policies I've taken out has always stated that if you are travelling within the EU you have to have an EHIC card. I'm not sure whether travelling without one would just mean you weren't fully reimbursed or whether it would invalidate your claim completely.

FelineFurry · 06/07/2013 21:21

I wouldn't put too much faith in the EHIC. When i broke my ankle in Switzerland they weren't in slightest bit interested in my EHIC. I was told by a relative in the medical profession in that country that they have no faith in the EHIC and never get back what they're netltled to so won't accept it.

I've heard the same stories with Greece and Romania. Also despite the fact I was insured the Swiss said i had to pay upfront. They wouldn't even accept a credit card payment and I was left in the foyer with a broken ankle (my relative had kindly x-rayed it for free and just asked the local hospital to set it and put it in plaster)whilst my DP was dispatched to find a cash point and get the equivalent of £300 in Swiss francs.

Also get your DH to read this. Very topical. This man did get insurance but obviously thought he'd get it cheaper by not bothering to mention a pre existing medical condition.

FelineFurry · 06/07/2013 21:21

'entitle' not netltled!

Lweji · 06/07/2013 21:29

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.

halcyondays · 06/07/2013 21:29

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.

MrsPinotGrigio · 06/07/2013 21:43

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.

Christelle2207 · 06/07/2013 22:08

ehic is emergency treatment only

Mockingcurl · 06/07/2013 22:20

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.

Jan49 · 06/07/2013 22:25

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.

WorrySighWorrySigh · 06/07/2013 22:45

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.

Numptywallice · 06/07/2013 22:52

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.

ZillionChocolate · 06/07/2013 23:08

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

Jan49 · 06/07/2013 23:37

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

holidaysarenice · 07/07/2013 00:30

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.

Wuldric · 07/07/2013 00:39

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.

Turniptwirl · 07/07/2013 01:13

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

DizzyPurple · 07/07/2013 01:39

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??

Original poster
LifeIsBetterInFlipFlops · 07/07/2013 07:47

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.

OP posts:
Sirzy · 07/07/2013 08:44

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.

Janek · 07/07/2013 09:05

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.

SolomanDaisy · 07/07/2013 11:07

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.

ProudAS · 07/07/2013 19:48

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

ProudAS · 07/07/2013 19:49

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