flight insurance

I really like it when people say "you must get travel insurance" What if you can't at any cost? My partner has several chronic medical conditions and I have tried umpteen insurance companies, but there is no way any of them will cover her at any cost. So we have to rely on the EHIC card. We would get it if we could.

I used Staysure on several occasions

they are quite expensive, but I don't think you'll get much better or cheaper.

remember that they will not cover you while you have an undiagnosed condition, or are awaiting investigations

Also, if you are ill, have a change in  medication, operation etc after you have taken out insurance, you must tell the insurer

if you make a claim, and they find you have not mentioned these changes, your insurance will be null and void.

a disaster if this happens on holiday in America, where you are advised to take out insurance for£10,000000 !

@Tadd" The EHIC card is emergency cover only"

I can't let this go. I suppose it comes down to semantics - what one means by "emergency". Even the most expensive medical insurance will only pay for necessary medical treatment. If you wake up with a sore throat, a rash on your arm, a pain in your big toe - are you calling these emergencies? - because you are certainly entitled to visit a doctor with your EHIC card. An EHIC holder is entitled to ANY necessary medically related health care benefits during their temporary stay in EU territory (plus Switzerland) regardless of whether the purpose of the stay is a holiday, professional activity or for studying.

If you tell the doctor you are not returning to your home country for several months he is obliged to provide the same treatment that locals get. There are a few exceptions - you cannot make the trip expressly to get medical care.

Most of the NHS EHIC advice is written by idiots intended to be read by idiots. All together now, "EHIC is not travel insurance! EHIC will not pay for a charter helicopter to get you off a ski slope. EHIC will not pay your family hotel bills,etc". Presumably there are some people out there who think EHIC covers this stuff, otherwise why would the NHS keep banging this drum?

Unless you have the skills and training to compare the inner workings of the schedules of all contracts on offer, you cannot possibly claim that one particular contract is better than another, cheaper yes, but better no. My experience of a top contract, service wise, is that of Saga, a friend's wife fell down a flight of stone steps in Lanzarote and was in a very bad way, however Saga had a representitive on the island, who couldn't have done more for her.

Whenever anyone extolles the virtues of one firms goods/services over those of another I always reply, "Really, please tell me about it?", I'm still waiting for constructive answers. This also goes for the EHIC card, it's a bit like wearing a flat cap during a Gota-Fria, better than nothing, but only just.  

Guys

I have to disagree with  you specialist treatment is not covered by ehic as i saud exceptio s are head and heart you will not be referred or treated if you require specialist care without the UK nhs approving by s2 form don't confuse this with s1

We could go on and on and I am sure there are many examples either way but the advice is clear do not rely on ehic

Taken from a government website.

What cover does the EHIC give you?

The EHIC entitles you to all medically-necessary treatment for the duration of your temporary stay.

What is considered medically-necessary treatment? This is decided by the doctor and will be given to you on the same basis as an insured resident in Spain, taking into account the nature of the treatment and the length of your stay.

Please read the information from the EU on Necessary Care here. There is also a Spanish version  available here in case you would need to take it with you to the local health centre or public hospital for reference.

It can include routine or specialist treatment and the monitoring of ongoing conditions, as long as the treatment can’t wait until you get home. You can also get dialysis and oxygen treatment, although you must organise this in advance of your trip with the public health authority that covers the area you are travelling to.