Travel Insurance - Yes or No?

Travel Insurance and/or EHIC?

Do we really need it?

As long as the UK is still in the European Union we are told that the EHIC card will get us treated in another member state. It might not be free but there is allegedly a way for UK citizens to claim back any expenses from the Government.

The two occasions we needed to use EHIC have been 50/50 positive.

The first when Claire developed bronchitis in France was back in 2000, the local doctor had never seen EHIC and so we paid him for coming out and for the prescription drugs.

When she had a foot problem some years later in Spain the doctor and receptionist took longer checking the card in a book than actual treatment.

But with roughly annual trips to the US meant that travel insurance seemed like a good idea. Luckily (touch wood here) nothing has required any medical treatment whilst over there.

An annual policy used to be around £60 with extensive cover and big bucks cover for the US and is sold as "worldwide'.

After my heart attack in 2015 the quotes shot up to over £400 a year. Despite the surgeon who cleaned our my arteries and installed the stent saying "you're fixed" it seems the insurance industry has other ideas...

For 2015 we were with BUPA, a private hospital etc company. They stopped doing insurance that year.

So for the last three years including the renewal that kicks off in a few days, I went with MAG Travel Insurance. MAG being the Motorcycle Action Group.

They have quite a few "badged" services underwritten by insurance brokers and Lloyd's underwriters. I renewed at £129.96.

I did worldwide although in the next 12 months the US or worldwide doesn't look to be on the cards