TRAVEL INSURANCE All of the following information is taken from our latest leaet No.16 ‘Travel Insurance for Liver Patients’ revised May 2021. Any diagnosed health condition you have will be taken into consideration if you apply for travel insurance. SHOULD YOU INSURE? Could you afford to pay the costs if: Ÿ you are made redundant? Ÿ you become ill or have an accident on holiday? Ÿ a family member becomes seriously ill? Ÿ your travel company or airline goes bust? Ÿ your baggage or other belongings are lost or stolen? For peace of mind, you should insure against the risks mentioned above. What level of cover you need depends on the type of travel and your individual circumstances, but you should ensure you have the best cover for your needs. If you are on holiday in the UK and you need medical treatment you can rely on the NHS. You may already have private health insurance in the UK, however, this does not usually cover treatment abroad. Cover Most policies will cover risks such as: Ÿ medical treatment, Ÿ loss or damage to baggage and personal belongings, Ÿ cancellation, curtailment or delay, Ÿ personal liability (you injure someone or their property). When/Where You can tailor your insurance for: Ÿ A single trip or annual cover for multi trips, Ÿ European or worldwide travel. LIVErNEWS No. 75
Sums insured The amount of cover you should have depends on many factors such as your heath condition, destination, holiday duration, belongings and other personal circumstances. For example: Ÿ £2million medical cover for Europe or £5million for worldwide. Ÿ Cover for cancellation depends on the cost of the trip. Ÿ Cover for belongings depends on the value of the personal items you take with you on holiday. Remember, it is better to be over insured rather than have too little, make your own decision on what you need. Destination Your destination(s) can affect the availability and cost of cover. EUROPEAN HEALTH INSURANCE CARD (EHIC)/THE ’NEW’ UK GLOBAL HEALTH INSURANCE CARD (GHIC). An EHIC entitles you to the same medical cover which is available (and may not free) to the citizens at your destination. Many countries expect a contribution towards the cost e.g. prescriptions, ambulance use and GP visits. Even if treatment is free, you may have to pay then claim a refund of the costs on your return to the UK. For more information contact the Overseas Healthcare Service on 0191 218 1999. Most EU countries are part of the scheme, however, the following European countries do not accept the EHIC or GHIC: Ÿ Channel Islands, including Guernsey, Alderney and Sark Ÿ The Isle of Man Ÿ Monaco Ÿ San Marino Ÿ The Vatican To benet from the scheme you need to
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