Travel
- Uk Doom And Gloom Forces One In Three Brits To Go Travelling
The misery of the recession is forcing millions of Brits to leave the country - that's the finding of new research* from InsureandGo (www.insureandgo.com), the leading travel insurance provider. It found that an incredible 3.3 million Britons have...
- 5 Reasons Why Thailand Is A Great Medical Destination
For most people, Thailand is an excellent tourist destination because of its scenic natural landscapes, delicious food, exhilarating infrastructures, and rich culture. However, did you know that health tourism in Thailand has also grown in popularity?...
- Why You Should Consider Staycation Travel Insurance
Understandably, most people do not consider obtaining travel insurance unless they are going abroad, but it is arguably still worth considering if you are travelling in your home country. Despite the fact that you are unlikely to face the medical expenses...
- Top Destinations To Ensure You Have Travel Insurance
Travel insurance should be a top priority when arranging to go abroad. It allows a certain peace of mind in knowing that, if anything were to go wrong, you are covered by your insurance. Not all countries have a national health service, and you may not...
- The Essential Checklist For European Travel. Stay Safe Abroad
You might think that staying safe abroad is a doddle. Most people do. After all, what could possibly go wrong on holiday? It’s a time for relaxing and enjoying yourself, not worrying about the unexpected. Right? Unfortunately, as travel insurers, we...
Travel
Health Cover for Longer Periods Away From Home
Everyone knows the benefits of having travel insurance for a holiday, whether it is a cheeky weekend city break or a longer jaunt further afield.
![Koh Ngai [ShotHotspot.com]](travel/travel-57107d42a75f4.jpg)
Photo by ShotHotspot.com via Flickr CC
However, more people than ever are choosing to spend longer periods abroad, sometimes for work reasons and often for pleasure or adventure. Being an 'expat', however temporary, means there are different approaches needed for insurance needs.
No one likes to think that there new life in a new location may turn out to have unexpected problems to do with their own health, but sometimes people are unlucky enough to have an accident or become ill whilst in a foreign country.
Complications
When something happens to you when you are abroad it can be extremely worrying and have extra complications at a time when you don't need them. Not many countries have a health service that is set up in similar ways to ours and even other member states in the EU might only offer limited services to you as a fellow citizen.
Although each person from a member country is entitled to access to the health system of the EU country they find themselves in on the same basis as if they were a native of that country, in practice things can be more complex.
The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) basically allows you to claim state healthcare at a reduced cost or sometimes for free in any European country and it will cover you for treatment that is needed to allow you to continue your stay until your planned return.
It also covers you for treatment of pre-existing medical conditions, which are often problematic for insurance policy cover unless you have specifically made sure it applies.
You can get one of these cards free by applying online. However, in many cases the 'reduced cost' part applies rather than 'free' as you would expect from our own NHS.
Insurance
Of course most people realise the importance of having the right travel insurance but this will have in built time restrictions and other limitations which means it may not be the right choice for someone spending a longer period of time abroad.
Expatriate medical insurance is specifically designed for people who are based in a different country for a length of time and will cover you for all eventualities.
Medical costs, even for the most simple kinds of treatment that we take for granted in an A&E department in the UK, can be extremely expensive abroad so making sure you are covered not only makes good financial sense it can give you the peace of mind to really enjoy your expat status.
Photo by ShotHotspot.com via Flickr CC
- Uk Doom And Gloom Forces One In Three Brits To Go Travelling
The misery of the recession is forcing millions of Brits to leave the country - that's the finding of new research* from InsureandGo (www.insureandgo.com), the leading travel insurance provider. It found that an incredible 3.3 million Britons have...
- 5 Reasons Why Thailand Is A Great Medical Destination
For most people, Thailand is an excellent tourist destination because of its scenic natural landscapes, delicious food, exhilarating infrastructures, and rich culture. However, did you know that health tourism in Thailand has also grown in popularity?...
- Why You Should Consider Staycation Travel Insurance
Understandably, most people do not consider obtaining travel insurance unless they are going abroad, but it is arguably still worth considering if you are travelling in your home country. Despite the fact that you are unlikely to face the medical expenses...
- Top Destinations To Ensure You Have Travel Insurance
Travel insurance should be a top priority when arranging to go abroad. It allows a certain peace of mind in knowing that, if anything were to go wrong, you are covered by your insurance. Not all countries have a national health service, and you may not...
- The Essential Checklist For European Travel. Stay Safe Abroad
You might think that staying safe abroad is a doddle. Most people do. After all, what could possibly go wrong on holiday? It’s a time for relaxing and enjoying yourself, not worrying about the unexpected. Right? Unfortunately, as travel insurers, we...