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Medical Transport From Europe
Does anyone know if it is possible to insure against just requiring medical transport. I have a family member aged 81, with some fairly serious medical conditions, but which do not preclude him from travelling at all. He is wanting to take a holiday in Spain with all his family and is finding it very difficult, in fact almost impossible to get insurance.
He is quite prepared to use public medical facilities with his EHIC if the worst came to the worst, and to take the hit in case he has to cancel. The thing that is concerning, is the possibility of needing medical transport, or even worse, bringing his body home should he die whilst away.
I know there is a company that you can enroll on for just this eventuality but only for American, Mexican or Canadian residents. I'd be really appreciative if anyone knows if this facility is available for British residents.
He is quite prepared to use public medical facilities with his EHIC if the worst came to the worst, and to take the hit in case he has to cancel. The thing that is concerning, is the possibility of needing medical transport, or even worse, bringing his body home should he die whilst away.
I know there is a company that you can enroll on for just this eventuality but only for American, Mexican or Canadian residents. I'd be really appreciative if anyone knows if this facility is available for British residents.
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The problem is he may suffer an illness or problem that precludes him being able to travel so may need medical treatment in Spain for a number of weeks.
I recently read a book about Ernie Wise who was on holiday in the USA when he had a heart attack and was not allowed to fly back to the UK. He was in hospital in the USA for weeks before a special plane was chartered to fly him back home.
Sadly I don't think any travel insurance company would take the risk that a person can just be flown back home the minute they become ill.
Note the EHIC card only offer limited medical support if he becomes ill in Spain or any other EU country.
I recently read a book about Ernie Wise who was on holiday in the USA when he had a heart attack and was not allowed to fly back to the UK. He was in hospital in the USA for weeks before a special plane was chartered to fly him back home.
Sadly I don't think any travel insurance company would take the risk that a person can just be flown back home the minute they become ill.
Note the EHIC card only offer limited medical support if he becomes ill in Spain or any other EU country.
I think I may have put this badly. He has been in hospital in the USA, wasn't able to fly home for a couple of weeks after he should have, but of course he had medical insurance for this. Medical transport would have been paid for had this been needed.
He is not wanting to be brought home, just because he may become ill. He is happy to be treated by the Spanish healthcare system, and we have looked into what he would get. Which, at his age is free immediately necessary hospital medical treatment, which is the main concern. This is not an issue for him.
The issue is if he becomes so ill during any possible hospital treatment that they wish to have him returned home, or if he should die, and his body has to be returned. Although, actually in this case, given that pretty much all his family will be there, they would probably just have a cremation done there and bring ashes back.
This scenario is very very unlikely. He has been hospitalised a couple of times in the last year, he has been seen by doctors, monitored, had his medication tweaked, and been discharged. He has never been in more than a few days. It is a 'just in case' thing he is looking for, the kind of thing that you get included on your policy if you take out a full travel policy. I was under the impression that to insure for just this eventuality was possible, but as mentioned in the first post, I can only find reference to residents of US, Canada, and Mexico.
To be honest, having had to avail ourselves of the public spanish health system, using our EHIC for our grand-kids on a couple of occasions, it cannot be faulted. The only thing we had to pay for was a bottle of medicine, and that only because the consultation took place in the community. Had the child been in hospital the medication would have been free.
He is not wanting to be brought home, just because he may become ill. He is happy to be treated by the Spanish healthcare system, and we have looked into what he would get. Which, at his age is free immediately necessary hospital medical treatment, which is the main concern. This is not an issue for him.
The issue is if he becomes so ill during any possible hospital treatment that they wish to have him returned home, or if he should die, and his body has to be returned. Although, actually in this case, given that pretty much all his family will be there, they would probably just have a cremation done there and bring ashes back.
This scenario is very very unlikely. He has been hospitalised a couple of times in the last year, he has been seen by doctors, monitored, had his medication tweaked, and been discharged. He has never been in more than a few days. It is a 'just in case' thing he is looking for, the kind of thing that you get included on your policy if you take out a full travel policy. I was under the impression that to insure for just this eventuality was possible, but as mentioned in the first post, I can only find reference to residents of US, Canada, and Mexico.
To be honest, having had to avail ourselves of the public spanish health system, using our EHIC for our grand-kids on a couple of occasions, it cannot be faulted. The only thing we had to pay for was a bottle of medicine, and that only because the consultation took place in the community. Had the child been in hospital the medication would have been free.
Anything good here. There is a heading 'cutting short your trip' so that might help.
https:/
https:/
I looked into this in the past. I spoke to quite a few companies, including contacts in Lloyds underwriters and it just wasn't possible. One company had flown somebody home from the Canaries and it cost £30,000 so I could see why they were so cautious when someone has a complicated history. Only thing you could do is go with a company that let you exclude certain medical conditions but it depends on the conditions.
Thanks for the link. We have actually looked at all clear, we have used them before because they are specialist in insuring people with medical conditions. currently they decline to insure him because of the two recent hospitalisations, although one of them was irrelevent as it was due to requiring re-hydration following a virus!!
It kind of looks like he's going to take the chance and book, and hope that he doesn't have to go into hospital again in the next few months, after which they may insure, at a price. probably more than the cost of the holiday. Of course, also, traditional travel insurance includes stuff he could live without, and it seems that you can't just insure for certain things. You can leave off cancellation, and loss of baggage, theft etc. but none of them just allow insurance for certain elements of the medical care.
For the moment, i guess it will have to be wait and see. The holiday is only for a week, and the cost is not huge so the cancellation aspect of it isn't a major deal. None of it is actually, he has been before with these conditions just with the EHIC and taken the risk. I guess many people do just that, otherwise they have to stay at home.
It kind of looks like he's going to take the chance and book, and hope that he doesn't have to go into hospital again in the next few months, after which they may insure, at a price. probably more than the cost of the holiday. Of course, also, traditional travel insurance includes stuff he could live without, and it seems that you can't just insure for certain things. You can leave off cancellation, and loss of baggage, theft etc. but none of them just allow insurance for certain elements of the medical care.
For the moment, i guess it will have to be wait and see. The holiday is only for a week, and the cost is not huge so the cancellation aspect of it isn't a major deal. None of it is actually, he has been before with these conditions just with the EHIC and taken the risk. I guess many people do just that, otherwise they have to stay at home.
Yes there is an insurance company that will do this.
Basically you would use your EHIC to access the state health system of the EU country concerned, but may be able to claim for emergency repatriation, which is not covered.
Note that it probably means that the EU doctor would have to provide evidence that emergency patriation is required.
Do research them and read reviews before committing.
https:/
Basically you would use your EHIC to access the state health system of the EU country concerned, but may be able to claim for emergency repatriation, which is not covered.
Note that it probably means that the EU doctor would have to provide evidence that emergency patriation is required.
Do research them and read reviews before committing.
https:/
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