The European Health Insurance Card

However, for all the limitations on travel insurance cover, where Edward's argument falls down in my eyes is on the question of medical cover. The Foreign Office travel advice pages are explicit in advising us not to travel without insurance, and the examples it uses to explain why are the potentially high cost of hospital treatment, and medical repatriation. It quotes £35-45,000 for air ambulance to return to the UK from the US east coast, £12-16,000 for an air ambulance from the Canary Islands, and £15-20,000 for a scheduled flight, stretcher and doctor escort from Australia. The chances of having to use these services are minuscule, but the costs are so substantial that they would be a significant issue for most of us and not one we would like to have to deal with in such circumstances.

Of course, the FCO wants us all to be properly insured – it makes life easier for them. But, on balance, while Edward's approach sounds temptingly refreshing, he is leaving himself open to some potentially very expensive risks. Yes it is always worth having insurance, in fact many holidays, e.g. cruise lines, demand proof of insurance before booking. It does not have to be expensive, although if you are 70+ or going for more than 30 days, take a deep breath! Some bank accounts carry automatic full travel insurance, i.e HSBC Premier, saving you the bother, but after a colleague had to extend his house mortgage to pay for repatriation after a skiing accident, I know what I would do, if I am spending hundreds/thousands of pounds for a holiday, a few more for insurance is nothing.

What he might consider when buying insurance, however, is buying a cheaper, more basic policy – one that covers medical treatment, cancellation costs and personal liability, for example – but not less crucial events, such as lost luggage or airport delays. Many insurers offer cheaper premiums for such policies and they are a good option for less risk-averse travellers such as Edward. European Health Insurance Card The European Health Insurance Card – details and applications at nhs.uk/ehic – confirms your right, as a citizen of a European Economic Area country (30 countries, including Switzerland, see website for details), to emergency medical treatment under the health system of another member country. That treatment may not be entirely free. In France, for example, you must pay to see a GP or a specialist, you may have to pay for any prescribed drugs and, while emergency treatment in hospital is normally free, ambulances are not. Also, in some countries you may be taken automatically to a private clinic for treatment. This would not be covered by the EHIC, nor would medical repatriation. Note that an EHIC must be renewed every five years.