Do you think holiday insurance is a necessity or a luxury?

[faithfultoGeorgeMichael]

Where I live there are an increasing number of crowd funders every year for people who have an accident on holiday and have no insurance. I have always thought this was a minority of people willing to accept this risk but yesterday I spoke to a younger colleague (I am 51, she is 32) who said that no one she knows ever buys insurance and it is seen as a foolish waste of money to her and her friends.

She is off to Indonesia for a month in August with her children - with no insurance!

YABU: I would go abroad without insurance
YANBU I would only go abroad if I had insurance

I’d never leave the country without travel insurance.

I used to work for one of the firms that bring you home if you have an accident / are ill.

a ‘small’ ear infection can equal massive costs if you cannot catch your planned flight home, broken leg can mean 9 seats on a plane for a stretcher plus a nurse……

interesting job but certainly drummed into me never to travel without insurance.

This is so true!

30 years ago, I was taking a shower in my very nice US hotel and decided to shave my underarms with a complimentary disposable razor.

The razor disintegrated and I slashed my underarm. 😱. DH rushed me to the health centre just down the road. First thing they asked for was a credit card despite me dripping blood everywhere, (This was a really nice clinic too but it was obvious no credit card/no treatment.)

I ended up paying USD650 for 4 stitches but was able to reclaim against my travel insurance later.

Never used a complimentary shaving kit since. 😁

I see the go funds begging for help….. drives me nuts. Actually met 2 relatives in a small online group for families of TBI suffers. 2 had accidents in Thailand and no insurance and no money to get back to the U.K. Travel insurance should be mandatory IMO.

Necessity. My mum had an accident abroad about 30 years ago and all her treatment and a flight home were completely covered. Would’ve cost a fortune if my parents didn’t have insurance!

Some cruise companies have in their T&C's that they will decline boarding if you do not have appropriate travel insurance. Seems reasonable.

Agreed, that isn't suggested in this instance. I was clarifying your point that it's broadly considered a relatively cheap addition to holidays when - while still necessary - it often isn't for disabled/chronically ill people. Thanks.

My mother will buy insurance but only put certain things on there! I keep telling her they won’t pay out but she’s like ‘oh that was years ago’ 💁🏼‍♀️ whatever, crack on

I spent 5 days in hospital in a cheap SE Asian country in 2000. They wouldn’t admit me until I could prove I had funds or insurance. That call to the insurance company was one of the scariest I’ve ever made, but they were amazing and dealt with the hospital finance dept.

I paid £50. The insurance paid the rest, which was more than I’ve spent on travel insurance in my entire life. And that was one x-ray and a room for a few nights!

I don't understand people who don't take out holiday insurance. I also don't understand people who don't take it out at the time of booking.

Holiday insurance not only covers the costs of medical help and things like lost luggage, it also covers holiday cancellation.

These irresponsible people clearly lack intelligence and critical thinking.

Depends where I am traveling. We are largely travelling within EU to places with family nearby so lot of health care is covered by ehic/ghic, EU flight delay/cancellation protections are good and we don't have to worry about accomodation costs or visa issue should we need to stay longer (and wouldn't likely push for repatriation). So I generally wouldn't bother with insurance.

For trips outside EU, especially longer trips then yes absolutely I'd get insurance. Even though it can get expensive because lot of the more affordable policies have a lot of exclusions so if you are doing any activities you really need to read the fine print with a magnifying glass to make sure you are covered.

Not just a double seat -
I jad a medicated flight with two pilots , a paramedic, a doctor .
There was another passenger and his wife on the flight too .

My DH was flown to UK with our luggage .on a standard flight

I once forgot insurance about 18 years ago, it was a last minute holiday, friends and using a family friends villa. Wasn’t until my husband and I were rescued from the sea and I had calmed down I remembered I’d forgot to do it. I have never forgotten again. Imagine how much that would have cost us or our parents should the worst have happened, just total stupidity but a lesson learned.

Mmm I can see why they wouldn't want lumbered with an uninsured passenger in an emergency. It's quite a different situation to a flight or hotel company.

I’d never travel without it. I have an annual policy which auto renews and the date is in my diary. I just update with any new medical conditions (literally EVERYTHING) and on we go. I have seen far too many people have accidents/medical emergencies abroad to ever risk it. A friend had a heart attack in Barcelona with no insurance. Treatment was covered but repatriation was £34k which they had to pay. It’s no joke.

It’s a luxury until you need it, then it’s a necessity, but too late if you don’t have it!

To me its just part of the holiday cost.
I would never travel without it.

I always check what’s covered, winter sports for example. My son ended up in ER in the US after an allergic reaction. It could have cost $$$. I’d never go without insurance.

I would never travel without insurance anywhere. My friends husband had a stroke in Tenerife and she was stuck there for a month while he recovered..luckily he had insurance

I think stupidity is a factor!

Necessity.

We've used our insurance twice, and got back probably 4 times what we've paid in all insurance ever.

Iits never going to work to " make insurance complusary" though. People could just lies about their ailments/ activities etc and get the cheapest policy just for the paperwork even though it would never pay out

Why did they need to be repatriated from Barcelona if they were being treated there?

Or rich. Insuring against costs you couldnt afford is wise. Insuring against costs you can afford is stupid.

That's true. I know of an elderly gent who went to the phillipines regularly He was quoted thousands for travel insurance. He paid outright for any treatment he needed while there at a reasonable price ( mostly minor stuff)

If anything major had happened he could afford hospital treatment from savings and didn't care about being " repatriated" which is what so many people say is the expensive bit