E111 v Travel insurance

[Buddy]

My daughter is of to Spain tomorrow.She is on a tight budget and I told her that the E111 would cover her medically and our house insurance covers her for any losses.

I have just had a horrible thought - what if she has to medically repatricated does the E111 cover this?

[galaxy]

I dont think the E111 does cover medical repatriation.

Thats certainly why we get travel insurance anyway.

I always go to www.insureandgo.com for my travel insurance. Dirt cheap and does the job.

[the>one]

you must get travel insurance......e111 doesn't cover any medical expenses in spain......as galaxy says, for about �8 a week travel insurance will give you piece of mind..... 

[Buddy]

Thanks very much for your replies.We have an annual travel policy because of my husbands work -  and phoned them to see if I could add her to the policy - guess what - it expired today and we're off abroad next week and would have been oblivious.As it happens she is included free gratis.Spooky or what - glad I posted!!!

[Loosehead]

In Spain and indeed most of Europe the E111 isn't worth the paper it's printed on, despite what you may hear the rest of Europe is still primarily a private medical system. It's another example of a "benefit" of the wonderful EU that doesn't quiet work in practise. Of course the rest of the EU can get free treatment in UK using their E111's. Just another of the many way's Britain gets shafted every day by the rest of the EU. So yes you should get some medical insurance.

[Loosehead]

That's ways not way's!

[netibiza]

Yes, your E111 will cover medical emergencies in Spain (I've known several people who have actually had non- emergency babies on E111), but it's always better to have private insurance.  By the way, the medical treatment here in Spain is excellent, so no worries.

[netibiza]

Loosehead the people living in Europe CANNOT get medical treatment in UK.  Even though we pay more into the health system it only covers us in our country. I have kept my doctor in England in case I need help over there.  Of course in emergencies any country will admit you to hospital. Even English pensioners living inSpain cannot now get medical treatment in the UK, but are covered in Spain.

[Loosehead]

Netbiza, they can with an E111, that's the whole point, reciprocal agreements across the EU. Are you seriously saying that the rest of the EU does not have an E111 equivalent?

[netibiza]

No we DO NOT HAVE a reciprocal agreement and it bugs the hell out of me.  Maybe the rest of Europe does but here in Spain we don't although we have ways of getting round it.  When one gets one's pension abroad we are advised that we are not covered for medical treatment in UK. Our health card only covers us for Spain.

[Buddy]

Can I just lighten this as a mum whose daughter has just embarked on her first trip without mum.

We went to the the pub closest to the the local bus station to have our final goodbyes.

Hubby stood at the door and wouldnt let me give her a wee wave.

5 Mins later - mad panic  -she had misread the timetable and there was no local bus to connect her to the London bus.

Mum was all of a sudden the most important person in the world  - got a friend to get them there in time and they are now on their way.

I am now a happy mummy cos I am still of use!!!!

[Dudley]

I think it says somewhere on the E111 that you still need travel insurance.