Travel Medical Health Insurance

A key reason to find quality travel insurance.

Falling ill overseas can cost you and your family dear if you have neither an EHIC card for European travel or Travel insurance for travel further afield.

Healthcare in Europe

The Free European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) is provided via the NHS. It replaces the E111 and allows you to access state-provided healthcare in all European Economic Area countries and Switzerland at a reduced cost and sometimes free of charge.

The Government advises that the EU medical card should not be seen as an alternative to travel insurance which covers additional risks such as: repatriation home, cancellation, sports, lost or stolen property.

The cost of falling seriously ill on holiday can run into £1 million-plus in the USA so it's vital to have good travel insurance cover for health and medical mishaps.

According to the Foreign & Commonwealth Office in Mediterranean countries just 2 days in a general ward could sting you £1,600.

For 2 days in intensive care £5,000 is nearer the mark.

That may bring tears to your eyes.

But if you fall ill in the USA a busted leg or wrist could take you to the cleaners to the tune of £20,000-30,000.

Even something as simple as a stomach bug or sunburn can sting you big time - expect to cough up around £35 for each visit to the doctor in Mediterranean countries and £200 - 400 in the States (USA).

The cost of bringing you home to the UK depends on just how sick you are.

Pre-Existing Medical Conditions

If you have an existing medical health condition such as a heart problem, hypertension (raised blood pressure), stroke etc. you may well be given the opportunity to cover the condition against further problems for an additional premium.

Insurers generally provide a medical screening service to accurately assess your conditions.

You can then get quotes for insuring the condition and for not insuring the condition (i.e. paying for treatment yourself if you need it). By weighing up the possible cost of treatment and risk against the premium you can reach a more informed decision....just as you do when deciding on fully comprehensive or 3rd party car insurance.

It is essential that you declare existing medical problems to the insurer so they can assess the risks and to prevent your policy becoming void, which would mean you would not be covered.

Over 75 to USA Video

On buying comprehensive holiday medical insurance for traveller aged over 75 with heart probems to visit family in Miami.

Medical Costs

If you need a stretcher as opposed to an ordinary seat on a normal flight, take a deep breath.

The latest figures according the Foreign & Commonwealth Office are:-

• £30-35,000 Air ambulance (Jet) - East coast of USA
• £16,000 Air ambulance (Jet) - Canaries
• £8,000 Air ambulance (turbo-prop) - Balearics
• £2,000 Air taxi (propeller driven light aircraft) - Northern France
• £8,500 Scheduled flight, stretcher and Doctor escort - Australia
• £4,000 Scheduled flight, seated club, with a nurse escort - West coast of USA
• £1,300 Scheduled flight, seated economy with a Doctor escort - Mediterranean
• £300-£500 Scheduled flight, seated economy without an escort - Mediterranean
• £3,000-£4,500 Scheduled flight, stretcher and Doctor escort - Mediterranean

The approximate figures above are supplied by the Commonwealth Office's partners, FirstAssist in 2005.

Accepted medical conditions list

Many insurers hold a list of accepted health problems that are not excluded, do not have to be declared and will not increase the cost of travel insurance. The list below is from the Citybond Suretravel policy (full details available during online quotation):