Why You Shouldn’t Forget To Pack the Travel Insurance

EU residents who travel within EU member countries are entitled to receive free medical assistance with their European Health Insurance Card (EHIC). However, if they happen to be in a non-member country, they may run into difficulties. This is why travelers should not rely solely upon their EHIC for medical coverage. Additionally, there are many other benefits in carrying a travel insurance policy. 

Travel Medical Care

The EHIC issued health card provides Switzerland and residents of certain EEA (European Economic Area) countries with reciprocal health privileges. For instance, UK residents holding an EHIC may receive medical services when they need treatment while visiting a participating country. The treatment available and the costs generally depends upon the health care system of each specific country being visited.

Photo by Ed Garcia

If residents are expected to pay for treatment, then there will also be costs for travelers in those same cases. Since there is no guarantee of what those additional charges may be, travelers could face costs for their health care that far exceed what they would have anticipated in their country of origin.

Also, the EHIC only provides state run medical care that does not include any type of medical care from the private sector. Therefore, a person with an EHIC card will only have access to NHS types of services which are sometimes less than inadequate. This is why the type of comprehensive care a traveler may need is often only available through a travel policy. For this reason, it is recommended that individuals carry specific insurance policies along with their EHIC so that all eventualities are covered. NHS care may also cause delays and subsequent health risks.

Other Travel Insurance Benefits

There are many other benefits that traveler insurance offers and a quick look at insurance comparison websites like www.monkey.co.uk will show what they are. In addition to these, there also comes the peace of mind that a traveler will have should they need medical care not covered by their EHIC. For example:

a. Should it be necessary to cancel or delay a trip due to health or related reasons, cancellation fees or costs that occur due to premature holiday interruptions are covered.

b. Medical costs not covered by the EHIC such as for certain doctor visits, hospital stays and medical treatments are covered. However, some travel insurance policies will not cover pre-existing conditions when the traveler has an EHIC, such as for chronic illnesses like asthma or diabetes.

c. Repatriation services, including those by plane can be problematic and extremely costly without insurance.

d. Family members may be included in the same coverage.

e. Rescue efforts while skiing and going on other adventures is generally covered.

f. Misplaced or stolen belongings or luggage losses can be recovered by travelers .

g. Assistance for family members death while abroad, such as for transportation back to the country of origin, and other costs may be paid.

Of course, the precise coverage of each policy differs according to the insurance carrier and terms and conditions of the policy. Therefore, fully review a travel policy and ensure that all specifics are understood prior to entering into the contract. The bottom line is that the benefits of travel insurance far outweigh its cost. 

As a regular traveler, author Georgina Clatworthy enjoys the peace of mind travel insurance brings and finds that searching for the best coverage through websites like www.monkey.co.uk gives her the best overview of the market and the option to find the best policy for her needs. The website can return quotes from a wide number of providers, enabling you to find the best policy and premium for your needs whether it’s for a single trip or annual coverage.

Tags: ehic, travel, travel insurance, travel tips

Category: Travel Tips