Travel insurance - a cautionary tale

Wellbeck The point is other people are guilt tripped into paying out due to someone else’s fecklessness.

That’s how I see it welbeck kicking a man when he’s down.

I just can’t see the purpose in doing that. But that’s just me in real life too.

We’ve all read horror stories of folks being so badly hurt by things said about them on social media. I will not be drawn into that. No matter what they have or have not done.

I find it hard to believe that this man was unable to obtain insurance cover.
How hard did he try? I’m sure it’s very time consuming for those with multiple health conditions but it’s madness to contemplate going abroad without it.

I’m sure in some cases the insurance can double the cost of the holiday but the cost just has to be factored in.

i don't feel guilt tripped into doing anything in regard to this man, do you ?
i still can't see why the condemnation.
people can contribute if they wish, or not.

waving to Granniesunite

It's certainly a salutary tale and makes me extra grateful for living in a country with free health care.. I wonder what the hospital can do if the money isn't found...

I'd be terrified of travelling without adequate insurance and if I couldn't afford it then I simply wouldn't go.

You could understand it more if he was a back packing youngster. No cure for stupid as the Americans would say.

As the thread title says, it's a cautionary tale, and if nothing else, perhaps it might make someone think twice about travelling without having proper travel insurance in place, especially if they have pre-existing health conditions. What's wrong with that? Some people just like to pick an argument over anything on here.

welbeck

no one is under any obligation to contribute to a crowdfunding appeal.
i don't understand some of the attitudes espoused here.
let's kick a man when he's down.
i wouldn't want to go there, wherever it is, but if going abroad equals holiday for him and partner, then he they took a calculated risk.
it was only 2 weeks.
might be the last foreign holiday he can manage.
leave him alone, if you don't want to help him.

The point is his attitude - a calculated risk which others would have to pay for if he 'mis-calculated'. Which he did.

I had my last foreign holiday years ago, though didn't know it was, at the time.

It's sad that people who have conditions that require huge amounts of insurance can't travel anymore, but lots of people suffer deprivations during their lives, too, that's how it is. He's nearly 70 and may well have had previous holidays abroad that many cannot afford at all.

Totally agree with Marydoll on this subject. My late DH was refused travel insurance the last 10 years of his life due to many chronic health problems. Although he would have dearly loved to have seen his family in the USA, he refused to take the risk.
He did manage to see 2 of his sisters before he died as we helped them to come over here.

Joseann

So, welbeck, should we take a calculated risk with driving our cars today and not have insurance?

Now that police cars so often have an automatic number plate recognition device installed, which flags up ‘no insurance’ or e.g. ‘stolen’, it’s a risk too daft to take - unless you want your car seized and then have to pay £160 or more to get it back. Not to mention having to walk home….

I don’t mind admitting that I often watch Police Interceptors while knitting in the afternoon - can’t follow anything with a plot since I usually need to concentrate on the pattern!

My distance glasses have broken and my new ones won’t be ready for a week. Without them I can’t read any of the letters on the optician’s board, but perhaps I should take a calculated risk (that I won’t kill anyone) and go out for a spin with the roof down, it’s such a lovely day.

Germanshepherdsmum

My distance glasses have broken and my new ones won’t be ready for a week. Without them I can’t read any of the letters on the optician’s board, but perhaps I should take a calculated risk (that I won’t kill anyone) and go out for a spin with the roof down, it’s such a lovely day.

LOL!

Joseann

So, welbeck, should we take a calculated risk with driving our cars today and not have insurance?

Slightly different because Third Party Car Insurance is a legal requirement. Whereas Comprehensive cover isn’t and therefore a ‘self risk’ if not opted for.

There’s always the Motor Insurers’ Bureau to compensate victims of uninsured drivers - which costs insured drivers a lot of money.

Motherduck

Joseann

So, welbeck, should we take a calculated risk with driving our cars today and not have insurance?

Slightly different because Third Party Car Insurance is a legal requirement. Whereas Comprehensive cover isn’t and therefore a ‘self risk’ if not opted for.

You have to remember it’s not the cost of car repairs that is the big risk, it’s the cost of any personal injury claim, for which your insurer would be liable.

Granniesunite

That’s how I see it welbeck kicking a man when he’s down.

I just can’t see the purpose in doing that. But that’s just me in real life too.

We’ve all read horror stories of folks being so badly hurt by things said about them on social media. I will not be drawn into that. No matter what they have or have not done.

1) I don’t believe for a minute he’s reading Gransnet from his Turkish hospital bed
2) More likely to be hurt by comments on FB on his go fund me page!
3)if a person chooses to ignore common sense and comes a cropper, are we meant to say oh dear, poor hard done by person?
He took a risk (clearly not factoring in his medical history) skimped on paying the necessary premium and, sadly for him, reaped what he sowed so to speak.
As somebody said upthread there’s no cure for stupid, but clearly a fat fee for selling your story to a national newspaper!

I’ve no sympathy with twerps like this.

If he couldn’t get insurance, he shouldn’t have gone on holiday.

I certainly wouldn’t be contributing to pay for his stupidity.

Thank you, Maytime for your advice. I will look into it.

I wonder if anyone else has a good tip for reasonable travel insurance.I really would like to see friends in France.

Calendargirl

I’ve no sympathy with twerps like this.

If he couldn’t get insurance, he shouldn’t have gone on holiday.

I certainly wouldn’t be contributing to pay for his stupidity.

This 👍

He's a class 1 fool..
I am not covered by my Bank for preexisting conditions, I have AF and had joint replacements. The Bank insurance won't cover these ( one of my Hips replaced 10 years ago) I also had Cancer 10 years ago (that's loaded too) fully understand the AF. So we pay for another company who will insure it. Yes expensive but worth it, for peace of mind.
His is now going to be eyewatering expensive vs Insurance.

Having read this thread I'm now reminded to apply for a GHIC card. We've got travel insurance as well of course but it's probably useful to have it.
Years ago DH was badly sunburnt in Madeira. He was fooled by the grey overcast skies. Anyway, the trusty EHIC card was used. Very helpful service from a local clinic and he only had to pay for dressings and meds.
I hope we never have to use the GHIC or insurance but just in case...

GHIC is also useful in emergencies, and for minor issues that need attention, but you don't want to show up as an insurance claim. But you do need to check the exact cover for each country now!

I have just applied for the GHIC for myself and Mr P. Not having been to Europe for a few years, I didn't bother to find out about it until it was mentioned on here today. Thank you GN.

maytime2

Westend Girl. Nationwide still offers insurance to people aged eighty and over. You do not have to open a current account, a savings account will suffice. Relatives of mine have taken up this offer.
I would like to say that one has to be scrupulous in being truthful when applying for travel insurance. I know of someone who suffered a bleed on the brain whilst on holiday, they had insurance but had not declared that they were on blood pressure tablets. The insurance company refused to pay out.

We have two Nationwide accounts but no longer get travel insurance with them . My friend has an account with themfor which she pays a monthly free and gets the travel insurance . She has to pay a bit extra because she is not just over 80 she is over 90 .

Just paid $950 insurance for husband and myself to go on a cruise. Also $200 excess. That was with one of our cheaper insurers. I know they are ok, though, because when I was sick on a cruise a couple of years ago they paid up very promptly, no arguments.