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AIBU?

Share your dilemmas and get honest opinions from other Mumsnetters.

Original poster

... to go on holiday without travel insurance?

106 replies

AngelaoftheNorth · 31/07/2017 14:54

I have a number of pre-existing medical conditions, the severity of which appear to have scared the hell out of everyone's insurance algorithms: to insure me fully would cost over £400, and that's the cheapest quote so far. That said, the likelihood of any of the said conditions causing problems whilst I am abroad is vanishingly minimal... and if I were to become ill, I would almost certainly be able to get a quick flight home for about half the price of what I'm quoted for the insurance.

AIBU simply to take my chances and travel uninsured? I can't decide...

OP posts:
Lalalandfill · 31/07/2017 15:00

Where are you going? In Europe with an E111 you should be OK. The US - no. Anywhere far from an airport or with few flights? No

How quickly could you deteriorate?

Only you can decide ...

cariadlet · 31/07/2017 15:01

You could have an unrelated illness or an accident while abroad. Suppose you were mugged or were in a serious road accident, needed immediate hospital treatment and then to be airlifted home.

Think about the worst case scenario, no matter how unlikely. and think whether you could afford the costs. Most people travel abroad with no problems and chances are you'll be one of them. But there are also lots of people who do get ill or injured while on holiday.

Unless you are completely confident that you could fund any emergency treatment that you might need, then you should take out insurance.

Elphame · 31/07/2017 15:01

And if you are (say) hit by a car or suffer a medical emergency not related to your existing conditions which puts you in hospital you will be in deep trouble financially.

Really not worth the risk The EU EHIC card gives you some cover within the EU put won't get you medically repatriated and not all EU healthcare is equal.... I was mighty glad to have private insurance when taken ill in Greece

exLtEveDallas · 31/07/2017 15:04

Unless you know for certain that your family could pay for your body to be flown home (around £10k from mainland Europe) should you suffer a completely unexpected fatal heart attack, then get insurance, no matter what it costs.

(Trust me, I know.)

Jaxhog · 31/07/2017 15:05

Depends on where you're going and what you plan to do while there. If you're going to the US or Canada, get insured! Medical treatment for even minor stuff is horrendously expensive, and they'll turn you away without at least a credit card. Even then, they could own your house.

If you're going to EU Europe at least get an EHIC (free reciprocal treatment). These are free.

Keep in mind that while your underlying condition might not be a problem for you, insurance also covers you for treatment following accidents - which could be anything from stepping on a nail by the pool to a major car crash. A quick flight home won't be cheap if it's an air ambulance or you're strapped to a body board.

Stuffofawesome · 31/07/2017 15:05

Can you get insurance that excludes your preexisting conditions but cover accident theft etc?

Neuroticwoman · 31/07/2017 15:06

Don't risk it. We recently had to bring back a patient to our hospital from abroad who hadn't declared a pre existing condition on his insurance so they refused to pay out - his daughter ended up with an 8000 bill and no help with repatriation so they had to go on a normal flight and pay for a private ambulance to bring him back from Heathrow.
Was a nightmare for them, and I bet he didn't think he would get ill abroad either Sad

Batteredoldchesterfield · 31/07/2017 15:06

It's not just your pre existing conditions you need to think about. A colleague's relative had an accident and the cost of the hospital and air ambulance back to the UK ran to the tens of thousands. Had to crowd fund to cover it.

picklemepopcorn · 31/07/2017 15:06

It depends where you are, what your condition is and what support you have. Without that info, we can't really judge. Some conditions would prevent you from flying for example.

My family were tempted to do this recently, and the worst case scenario did in fact happen. I'm very very glad they were covered, partly because they organised support for them where they were.

alibongo5 · 31/07/2017 15:06

What the other pps have said. Insurance isn't just there to cover your pre-existing conditions otherwise anyone without them wouldn't bother would they? It could cost you thousands if you were in an accident etc. You could be in hospital for weeks and have to have medical repatriation, air ambulance etc etc. There was a thread on here recently where medical bills had gone into the hundreds of thousands, not just a few thousand. Don't do it.

Unicorn81 · 31/07/2017 15:06

Have you had a look at slecialist companies for pre existing conditikns. There are a few out there now if you google. Medicaltravelcompared.com etc

I wouldnt risk going without as it could bankrupt you should something happen

EyeHalveASpellingChequer · 31/07/2017 15:07

If you're going to EU Europe at least get an EHIC (free reciprocal treatment).

Depending on which country you visit, healthcare and medication may not be completely free. This is especially true in countries like Spain where ambulances often take people to private hospitals. EHICs come with a warning which says that they do not replace comprehensive travel insurance.

SunnySkiesSleepsintheMorning · 31/07/2017 15:09

Absolutely ridiculous and selfish for your family/friends if you became ill and they needed to deal with it. How would you get home if you broke your neck or needed intensive care?

I get that it's a pain in the arse when you have complex health problems I am in the same boat. However, it's really not fair on others who are left to pick up the pieces if something does go wrong.

Sirzy · 31/07/2017 15:09

As long as if anything happened you don't expect friends and relatives (or random strangers!) to cover the costs which could be massive!

Original poster
AngelaoftheNorth · 31/07/2017 15:09

I think I phrased my OP very badly, for which I apologise. I wouldn't be travelling completely uninsured, but the insurance I already have attached to my bank account would exclude the pre-existing conditions. So if we were in a car accident or I got food poisoning, I would be covered.

Also to clarify, it's a non EU, non EHIC country, but not the US. I wouldn't chance it in the US, no!

OP posts:
punkpuffin · 31/07/2017 15:10

To save money my dh (before we met) went on holiday without insurance. Bad weather grounded his flight in America and he was stranded there for a week, he had to pay for accommodation/food etc and never made it to where he was supposed to be going. It cost him a fortune and it would have all been covered if he didn't get and save a few quid by not paying for insurance. The insurance covers more than medical costs.

Bluebellevergreen · 31/07/2017 15:10

Sorry to jump on your thread OP Does anyone kmow if postnatal depression counts as pre existing condition? Or amxiety?

somewheresomehow · 31/07/2017 15:16

I wouldn't but I guess it depends on where your going to go to
insurance is a minefield as my DD found when looking for it to go to America but to there it was non negotiable with the cost of their hospitals etc
could you get it through your bank or credit card would that be cheaper ?

HemanOrSheRa · 31/07/2017 15:17

Blue I take citalopram for depression and anxiety. I declared it when taking out holiday insurance and it just added a small premium on top. I can't remember how much - it was an annual policy I took out last year.

Original poster
AngelaoftheNorth · 31/07/2017 15:17

@bluebellevergreen, I think PND would count, but I'm not sure about anxiety. Someone here will know, I am sure.

OP posts:
Hillingdon · 31/07/2017 15:19

Please please don't do it or think the British Embassy will help you out. I was in the Far East and sadly had to go to hospital. Whilst I was in reception a couple of drunken British people turned up demanding some medical care. They claimed to have no cash or credit cards but the chap had a nasty gash on his leg.

The staff asked them to call a relative to get them to pay for their care but they claimed to not have a phone (even though there was one sticking out of their pocket!) and then that it wouldn't make international calls.

Evenutally they started quoting their 'human rights' and to speak to the British Consulate. Their voices got louder and then the Thai police turned up and chucked them out!

Bluebellevergreen · 31/07/2017 15:20

Thank you!! So sorry to jump on post but baby wont be put down and need to book! I leave now Halo

HoofWankingSpangleCunt · 31/07/2017 15:20

Get insurance. Seriously.
My Dp ended up dying when on holiday last year. I had bought insurance but as bad luck has it , the circumstances of his death were uninsurable. However, my point is I didn't expect DP to be dead four hours after landing at the airport. Life throws curveballs at you.Please get insurance.

Cretan intensive care was an unwelcome and eyeopening insight into the Greek economy. @Elphane hope things worked out OK.

We had to crowdfund to get him home. We raised £20 grand in 3 days. Memories are a bit hazy(lovely Greek pharmacist gave me xanax as did doc in clinic. And they didn't charge me when I told them what had happened. Lovely people.)

We had tocrowd

tilligan · 31/07/2017 15:21

Not sure about PND but yes you should declare anxiety.Most insurers will accept pre existing conditions for cover, surely that's the whole point of insurance, you want cover for things you already have, plus anything unforeseen!

NannyR · 31/07/2017 15:22

I wouldn't. I recall reading a news story where a man had travelled on insurance without disclosing pre existing conditions, he needed treatment for something unrelated and they wouldn't pay out because he hadn't been upfront about his health. I think you have to declare pre existing even if you don't want to be covered for them.

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