Anyone used a GHIC card

[woody1]

to get medical treatment when travelling abroad*? (I'm particularly interested in Spain)

Anyone rely solely on this, and not bother with travel insurance? Does it complicate things if you have a GHIC card and insurance?

I've read stories of insurance companies trying to wriggle out of paying up, especially with pre-existing conditions even when they were declared.
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* only covers EEA countries and a couple of others eg. Australia

https://www.nhs.uk/using-the-nhs/hea...ance-card-ghic

[mudskipper]

Yes, fell on ice and hurt arm and wrist in Lithuania (actually it was in Luton on the way to the airport, but shhh....)

Wanted to get it checked out - hotel looked for private clinic (I had insurance) but no joy, so went to the state hospital and got seen, x-rayed and out extremely efficiently with my GHIC card (which I'd left at home but Mr ms sent me a photo). Was very impressed by it all - puts our A&E to shame.

I've got a cheap annual policy and definitely will keep that, but it did the basic job and I'd have been stuck without it.

[Netraider]

I used mine in Cyprus about 18 months ago. I had a bad accident while walking in Cyprus and ended up in hospital for 4 nights. I was asked for my health card and ended up paying about 30 Euros for the entire visit. I did have insurance, but it was never asked for. The stay included a bunch of X-Rays, CT Scan and a bunch of other stuff.

[woody1]

As I understand it, insurance gives you the main extra benefits, over GHIC, of covering you for:

• cancellation/curtailment of holiday on medical grounds
• emergency medical repatriation
• loss or theft of personal possessions, cash etc

Anything else major?

[WTFH]

As I understand it, insurance gives you the main extra benefits, over GHIC, of covering you for:

• cancellation/curtailment of holiday on medical grounds
• emergency medical repatriation
• loss or theft of personal possessions, cash etc

Anything else major?

It depends what sort of insurance you have.
The insurance I have covers 30 days global winter sports. I frequently stick medivac on when going to Africa, and pay a supplement in ski resorts for a similar quick way off the mountain.
GHIC, while "global" is very limited in where it covers, and many personal bank accounts throw in free travel insurance with their accounts.

...of course, if you're going away for trips of longer than the limit on the insurance, then either you need to get insurance that covers the length of your trip, or decide to go without.

Not knowing your circumstances or real reason for asking the question, there's not going to be a simple answer.

[northernladuk]

Don't wanna be rude but why on earth would you go anywhere without insurance? It costs peanuts and you are covered for everything. Playing 'what if' statements and ending up with GHIC 'should' seems a bit short sighted. So yes, good idea to check what the GHIC card offers so you know which to use in whatever event but trying to weigh up the pro's and cons to drop one or the other? Not good. Check the worst end of the scale. Will the GHIC repatriate you to the UK? I doubt it. Fancy paying the 80k out of your pocket because you saved £50 quid on the insurance.

Don't forget that insurances can also cover you for lost luggage, flight cancellations and everything else. Good luck claiming that on your GHIC.

GHIC is not a replacement for travel insurance.

[woody1]

Not knowing your circumstances or real reason for asking the question, there's not going to be a simple answer.

We only ever do short breaks (3 or 4 nts) to Spain/Canaries. We travel light, and take little of value with us (other than passports, cash, credit cards).

My wife has pre-existing conditions, which are either excluded or bump up the premiums. We usually book last minute(ish), so it's unlikely we'd ever make a claim for cancellation.
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As you know, when you take out insurance, you have to declare anything* in the past 12 months (or 24 with some companies).
In the period between taking out the insurance and travelling, if you see a doctor for any reason, watch out. I don't know if this is true or not but I've read that companies want access to your medical records if you make a claim.

Best to check the small print, or else wriggle, wriggle.

* treatment, seeing GP, hospital visits, tests

[northernladuk]

We only ever do short breaks (3 or 4 nts) to Spain/Canaries. We travel light, and take little of value with us (other than passports, cash, credit cards).

My wife has pre-existing conditions, which are either excluded or bump up the premiums. We usually book last minute(ish), so it's unlikely we'd ever make a claim for cancellation.

But that is what insurance is there for, to cover 'unlikely' situations and cancellation is just one of them.

As you know, when you take out insurance, you have to declare anything* in the past 12 months (or 24 with some companies).
In the period between taking out the insurance and travelling, if you see a doctor for any reason, watch out. I don't know if this is true or not but I've read that companies want access to your medical records if you make a claim.

What you need to declare is either covered in the questions on application or a side note. They aren't going out of their way to trick you. Follow the prompts and answer truthfully and you'll be OK.
Of course insurance may want to check your medical records but they can only do this if it is reasonably necessary to proceed with the assessment of the claim. Quite understandable in theory. They need to check if you've not declared something for a start. How it works in reality I don't know but understandable they'd want to check.

Best to check the small print, or else wriggle, wriggle.

You mean people buy insurances without checking?

You do know that everything you've been a bit woolly about like what GHIC covers, what the comparison between that and travel insurance, when insurance companies etc can check medical records is all easily findable on google. You have a nice new smart phone. Use it it to check, you'll learn a lot along the way.

[woody1]

They aren't going out of their way to trick you.

Possibly not but, if you read other forums, they often do go out of their way to wriggle out of paying.

[northernladuk]

Possibly not but, if you read other forums, they often do go out of their way to wriggle out of paying.

That's for sure but that's true for all insurance. Car, home you name it. My dad was a car insurance broker a long time ago and even through they didn't go to the same lengths to invalidate claims as they do now he had some horror stories of cancelled claims. Insurance petrifies me, to the point I'll often speak to a company to clarify 'what ifs' and grey areas. Oddly enough that now works against you. As soon as you speak to your insurer nowadays it is likely to be a flag against you.
I was thinking about buying a Rolex I've always wanted for my 50th and rang Admiral to check what the score would be if I did. They pointed out it was more than their limit and may need specialist insurance. Decided not to bother getting one and went on my happy way. Shortly after when my autorenewal should have been I checked and they had cancelled my auto-renewal. Reason was I had made an enquiry about an expensive watch.. Am like WT actual F. I spent a week with no house insurance, no letters, nothing because I asked a question. It's a minefield.