Why would you take you family on holiday without travel insurance?!

[IsitaHatOrACat]

AIBU to think that this is part of the cost of the holiday.

Yet again there's a family raising funds to pay for medical care abroad. This time for a 15 year old old. This must be a terribly distressing situation to be in however why take the risk?

The article on the BBC website says they hadn't taken out travel insurance.

Even having insurance, I wouldn't necessarily be confident that the insurance company wouldn't have some reason not to pay up.

2 years ago, we had a 3 hour visit to a paediatric ER in the US, USD7,000 as we were leaving, in fact, they took my credit card details as we arrived and before we were even seen. Thank god we had travel insurance, although it is important to be sure the US is included in your travel insurance.

Everyone's arguing about the validity of EHICs and GHICs without noticing the girl was in Turkey - they aren't valid there

https://www.gov.uk/foreign-travel-advice/turkey/health

I have annual holiday insurance and I don’t leave the UK.
Trip, break a leg 300/400 miles from home I don’t think I’d be up to trundling my case into Edinburgh airport for my flight home.

Goodness knows! I can't even book train or theatre tickets without some sort of insurance just in case.

We hear of go fund me appeals like this all too often. Does nobody learn from them?

In a word, no - not least because GoFundMe and the like exist and some will always pay up (I see they've raised about £27k out of the £45k target already)

Wonder if it'll turn into another of those where a third party (the hang-glider's insurance?) pays and they don't need the money after all ...

News articles are reporting no insurance

I think it should have to be purchased with the holiday.

For those with annual policies (me) there's little point in having one unless it's updated as your health changes.

When you buy the policy the details will be correct up to that point. If you're then a proscribed a higher dose of a declared medication or anything else changes the insurers should be told.

Historically I have not done this and so presumably would not have been paid. It's so important though - I don't know why there aren't reminders (by email for example during the policy term).

Bloody irresponsible parents! It's one thing not to book travel insurance for yourself but when you have kids it's totally unforgivable not to protect them.

I would never travel abroad without travel insurance. It's all factored in to the cost of the holiday, like airport parking.

Sad those this accident is, if the family had travel insurance in place, there would be no need to get out the begging bowl. I don't contribute to GFM on principle, there are a lot of scammers out there.

Some people are just irresponsible

It’s reckless to do it as an adult but if you are responsible for children and still don’t bother then it’s neglect and should be illegal.

Insurance is something you should pay for, and hope never have to use.

When we cruised with Marella a couple of years ago it was the same. We were not allowed to board without proof of insurance and Marella offered insurance so as long as you declared everything you knew you were covered correctly.

Surely in the case of the poor girl who was hit by the paraglider, the family should claim off the paraglider's /club/hire company insurance?

(But yes, I always have appropriate travel insurance, and dangerous sports cover, even in the uk).

DH's cousin and her DP visited from NZ and, quite unexpectedly he died.

Thankfully, the insurance covered the cost of extra car hire, extra nights in a hotel and repatriation.

Without it, she would have been completely stuffed.

But how on earth would they do that and get the money required 'now' so that the immediate hospital + related costs could be covered?

If they had insurance, they provider would cover everything and then chase the paraglider.

I don’t mind paying extra. My condition sometimes isn’t covered by the main providers so just glad I don’t have to get specialist cover

PIL's are in their 80's and won't fork out for travel insurance. They go on at least 3 holidays per year. Won't listen to anyone's worries, they just don't want to "waste" their money

At one time there were machines at the airports selling insurance, very expensive insurance though, not sure if they still do, I've not seen them in years.

YABU! This really does piss me off and then they do a gofundme! 😡
i don’t get it! Pay £4k for an all inclusive and can’t afford the £30’insurance??
My girls are in their 20’s and going away often with friends. I insist on them showing me proof of insurance in case anything happens!

I’m pretty certain when I went to Cuba we had to show details of our travel insurance. No idea why they don’t do it in other places.

That’s true!
however, think about it like a car accident claim. Your insurance would sort the damage out and pay the bill etc and THEN PURSUE the other insurer.

what if the paraglider is a big liar that doesn’t want to lose his job and makes out it was a parachute failure so that his insurance company want to pursue a claim against the parachute manufacturer.
The insurance company of the family would sort out the claim initially and medical bill and illness and then take things further
Personal injury claims can take years!

I mean mum was stupid for not getting the insurance. She took a risk and now her daughter is paying for it.

For everyone of you who moans and said how dare she set up a gofund me maybe go and put a few quid in there and then have a pop. It’s not mum you’re helping it’s a 15 year old girl.