At the time of writing, the weather in the UK could not be better, but nonetheless thoughts are turning to the summer and well-earned holidays abroad.
We all have slightly different ideas about what the “essentials” are when it comes to travel, and travel insurance isn’t always the top priority – in fact it is estimated that 25% of us jump on a plane without it.
Without travel insurance we open ourselves up to big financial risk in the face of a medical emergency abroad; treatment for something as seemingly simple as a broken leg could cost upwards of £25,000 in Europe, and hospitalisation for something like a heart attack could set you back £150,000 in the US.
The GHIC card entitles you to the same emergency care in the European Economic Area (EEA) as a local resident. It is free to apply for the card, and it lasts for five years. State healthcare abroad is not necessarily free to its residents like the NHS is here, so you may still need to pay to use their services, and it does not cover the cost of medical repatriation (being flown back home) should that prove necessary.
Even if you have a GHIC, you should still take out private travel insurance, and make sure to declare any pre-existing medical conditions before you go. Many people are reluctant to do so, since it will likely increase the cost of the insurance premium, but if you do need to make a claim, failing to disclose a pre-existing condition could invalidate the whole policy. The government has a very useful page on travel insurance, including the basics that a policy should cover. Click here to read more.
Click here to find out more about the GHIC and apply for a card, and if you are planning to travel and have complex or serious medical conditions, the British Insurance Brokers’ Association has a list of approved specialist medical insurance providers who will be able to help. Click here for more information.