My understanding is that basic medical cover is provided on the European Card but should you need an operation or further treatment then without insurance you'd need to pay your self. It also covers you for cancellations, theft and loss. If you cancel a flight because you're poorly or have a bereavement you loose the money- with a medical certificate you can claim on your insurance. Thats with the standard cover. Also if you have had treatment using the European card but are not fit to travel then your insurance will cover your additional living costs, extra flights etc.
If you have pre -exisiting medical conditions then they add further costs to your cover. If you haven't told them about those then your standard cover is void.
As we are planning a major trip which will include a wedding on board a cruise ship and someone has a pre existing medical condtion we have to organise insurance- its a requirement of the company.It would certainly temper then enjoyment of the holiday is someone fell ill then you have to stump up thousands to pay for treatment and ambulances etc.
If you travel without insurance and pass away then your family have to foot the bill for any treatment beyond what is offered on the European card and then fund all the costs of repatriation of the body. This would run into many thousands of pounds.
There has been a case just recently where an elderly man went to Spain, had a stroke and was ill in hospital for many weeks before passing away. He had a standard medical insurance but hadn't told the company about a specific medical condition- so his cover was void and the family ended up in the news papers asking for donations to help them pay thousands of pounds of costs and so they could fly his body home..
On the other side of the coin my colleagues son went to Mexico at Christmas and on day 3 of his holiday, broke his neck in a diving accident. He received the best possible care including being flown by private plane into the USA for treatment by a world renowned expert, many weeks being cared for and then was flown home to the UK 1st class with a nurse. Plus he got financial recuperation for loss of his clothing and property whch all went missing during his transfer from Mexico to ther USA and refunds of all the holiday costs that he hadn't been able to make use of. The insurance also covered the cost of one adult and their living costs, flight costs coming out to support him.
I know most of us never have to make a claim so it can seem unnecessary but sometimes it just pays to be sure.
This message was last edited by Jann on 07/10/2011.