Have EHIC card, going to Brittany for 2 weeks in September, do I really need travel insurance?

no such thing as EHIC card any more. You can use it if it's still valid, but you need a GHIC otherwise

seventhfloorregular

Brittany ferries are great but their rules are different than the Dover- Calais routes for fitness to travel. The pregnancy cut off is earlier.

Really? That's interesting. What's the latest you can travel on BF?

Ah yes, 32 weeks. I never knew that in my 50+ years sailing with them.
I guess if you end up in labour and have to be airlifted off the ferry, the bill would be quite large.
How do they actually check if you're a passenger in a car?

A salutary tale in the news today, not about taking out insurance but stating everything relevant when taking it out.
A man didn’t say he had consulted a GP about a lump which he was told was probably fatty tissue.
It was cancer and he died racking up a bill in the 10 s of thousands in hospital care.
If he had told the insurance company, while the cost may have gone up, he would have been covered.
The policy will cover cremation abroad but not the very expensive hospital stay

I don't travel abroad but if I did would never do so without insurance or without disclosure of full medical history

Absolutely yes! I used Stay Sure for my last holiday, it wasn't prohibitive in terms of cost but it gave me peace of mind

I bought Tesco insurance because I, too, never travel without travel insurance. It allowed me to use my ClubCard (not my points) and gave me a much cheaper price. It was by far the least expensive of all those I received quotes from

Definitely have insurance

I had an accident in Italy 2 year ago. The insurance was able to organise an earlier flight home etc.

Yes you do. My friend's husband died very suddenly when abroad, the travel insurance covered the cost of bringing his body home, otherwise she would have needed to finance everything herself. It is stupid not to have travel insurance, I simply cannot understand why you would consider not having it, on which planet are y living?

Yes you do

Yes you do! Never travel without insurance as you never know what is going to happen in the future! Shop around , we got annual insurance for both of us for £140 👍

I totally agree travel insurance is essential. On the back of that can anyone suggest an all round good travel insurance company please. The last time I was abroad was 25 years ago so trying to ensure all is covered. Going to kefalonia for 50th wedding anniversary. Any travel related advice would be greatly appreciated.

EHIC is no longer valid since Brexit. You need a GHIC card.

Of course you do; the EHIC (or the new version) will just cover emergency care. I pay less than £100 for annual cover - worldwide ex USA - I want to know that if I need medivaccing home dead or alive the insurance company will pay. And make sure you disclose everything.

GrammarGrandma

EHIC is no longer valid since Brexit. You need a GHIC card.

EHICs are valid until their expiry date, then you renew and get a GHIC.

The EHIC means you are treated as if you are French, which means the care is not free. And as others have pointed out repatriation is very expensive either alive or dead!

Surely the often repeated of difficulties people encounter when they do not have travel insurance, should be warning enough that it is essential. Personally I think this should be a definite requirement by law, when booking flights, holidays etc, especially in ALL Countries, then perhaps our NHS would not be paying for overseas freeloaders.

Nurseundercover

I totally agree travel insurance is essential. On the back of that can anyone suggest an all round good travel insurance company please. The last time I was abroad was 25 years ago so trying to ensure all is covered. Going to kefalonia for 50th wedding anniversary. Any travel related advice would be greatly appreciated.

Kefalonia is wonderful; I go nearly every year. I have had a Coverwise annual policy for years and was very happy with them, but I had to increase my cancellation cover this year to cover big trips and found that an RAC annual policy was better. Plus purchased through TopCashback and got about £30 cash back.

meddijess

We have just returned from a fortnight's holiday in rural Normandy. We are 80 and 79. We both have EHIC cards, and didn't bother with travel insurance as it is just too expensive - we'd rather spend that money on some lovely French lunches!

Hmmmmm. On your heads be it!

Crossstitchfan

meddijess

We have just returned from a fortnight's holiday in rural Normandy. We are 80 and 79. We both have EHIC cards, and didn't bother with travel insurance as it is just too expensive - we'd rather spend that money on some lovely French lunches!

Hmmmmm. On your heads be it!

It is actually extremely selfish not to take out insurance. Think of your poor family who would have to sort out the mess if you both had an accident. The costs would go against your estate for sure leaving nothing to your family if that was intended although it sounds like you are more keen to spend it all on French lunches!!!!

Just keep an eye open for information about the new EES system which is coming this October: travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/what-is-the-ees##
And also ETIAS which starts late 2026: travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/ltr/how-to-apply/what-you-need-to-apply##
My understanding is that you need to prove you have travel insurance as part of these. However, everything may change!!

By the way, RosieandherMaw Where did you find such cheap travel insurance? I'm your age, and can only get insurance per trip!

It was Staysure Travel Insurance

Dowsabella

Just keep an eye open for information about the new EES system which is coming this October: travel-europe.europa.eu/ees/what-is-the-ees##
And also ETIAS which starts late 2026: travel-europe.europa.eu/etias/ltr/how-to-apply/what-you-need-to-apply##
My understanding is that you need to prove you have travel insurance as part of these. However, everything may change!!

By the way, RosieandherMaw Where did you find such cheap travel insurance? I'm your age, and can only get insurance per trip!

Good reminder.
My understanding is that you need to prove you have travel insurance as part of these. However, everything may change!!
I seem to remember reading - somewhere - that this won't apply to UK travellers because we have a reciprocal agreement. But don't ask me to quote. I'm off to Amsterdam at the beginning of November, so will be interested to see how it works.

I’m 74 now - my annual multi-trip travel insurance (only Europe) was £112 for 24/25. The renewal quote for 25/26 came with a loyalty discount and I paid £88 - Virgin.
When I went to New York last month, I just took out a single trip insurance, again with Virgin at under £150.