Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

We're a family of four. All have British passports, have been in Canada for 6 years now and are permanent residents of Canada. When we go back to England for a 2 week holiday do we need travel insurance to cover us for medical purposes? I've been hearing on the news recently about the NHS trying to clamp down on health tourists and it got me thinking.
I need to check but I think our HSBC premier credit card that we booked the flights on covers us to a certain extent for lost luggage, delays etc.

Thanks in advance.

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

Of course you do. Why do you doubt you wouldn't?

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

The Canadian Gov., web site www.travel.gc.ca recommends that all permanent residents purchase travel insurance for travel outside of Canada. That includes the US and UK. Also, make sure your PR documents are current. They, I believe, have to be renewed every five years. The information is on the web site as well.
Travel insurance is also a good idea for Canadians citizens as well.

As an aside, if you are over seventy five, it is difficult to get coverage for over 30 day periods. I mention this because I fall under that category. I was covered under my former employers group policy except this year. I am sure it doesn't apply to you and your family but for anyone reading this post be aware of the restrictions that come in to play when you get to that golden plateau.

You can purchase insurance for a reasonable cost. Even banks are selling it. Check with HSBC, they may have a plan to suit you.

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

Isn't the E111 Card linked to your passport?

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

http://www.nhs.uk/chq/Pages/1086.aspx

http://www.nhs.uk/nhsengland/aboutnh...-services.aspx (see exemptions)

Yes, because you have been living outside the UK for more than 5 years you are not entitled to free health treatment (other than emergencies where you have been admitted to hospital from an accident or similar).

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

... and if your luggage gets lost, miss your flights, drop dead and need to be flown back in a box (or jug) etc.

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

The E111 (if my hazy memory serves) is to get free healthcare in another EU country while travelling in Europe. Of course, Canada not being in the EU puts it in the chocolate teapot category for the Canadian PR/Citizen travelling to UK.;)

Ensure you have health coverage - either purchase it specially, or you may, like me, have coverage through your employers extended benefits. Whether you want to purchase trip cancellation insurance depends upon your risk tolerance and whether your airline tickets are cancellable/changeable or not.

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

I looked into this a while ago as I'm currently in Europe. It turned out that my partner's extended health coverage that he gets through work (and that also covers me) also includes travel insurance. Maybe you have this too?

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

the HSBC PREMIER CARD GIVES GREAT TRAVEL INSURANCE

oops caps lock sorry x

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

As others have said, travel insurance is recommended anyway for purposes other than just medical. All good travel insurance policies cover medical as well.

If you go without it, you'd probably be OK getting free emergency treatment but you may get handed a bill for more routine stuff. IMO it's not even worth trying this - especially for a family of 4 that presumably includes kids. My advice would be to purchase travel insurance.

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

Thank you all!

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

So does the RBC Infinite, but you do have to pay for the trip on the card and they only cover 15 days at a time, any more and you have to pay.

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

Agreed with this and the other comments upthread. I have worldwide cover through work, but not all that many of us have this. I wouldn't rely on a credit card etc.

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

Same here....which is handy.

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

Do you all have national insurance cards?

I have relatives who moved to Canada in the 60's and have traveled back to the UK on Canadian passports and had no problem accessing healthcare. They are British citizens by birth and the NHS rarely if ever makes a distinction despite stating otherwise.

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

Yes as you are no longer entitled to use the NHS.

Why...what difference does it make?

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

There was a program on Channel 4 a few weeks back about how the NHS would check you eligibility for free healthcare. Interestingly the charge for a normal vaginal birth was £1,800, which is roughly 20% of the cost in the US from what I've read.

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

normal birth or c-section ; is there any other type

am not up to speed on these things

are the NHS exploring other orifices these days ?

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

Well they should. A non resident is only entitled to emergency care in AE, once admitted they could be billed for everything after that.

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

I think the word normsl was used in the sense of uncomplicated.

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

If you have a relatives' address you can use when you're visiting, how would the NHS ever know you're not entitled unless you tell them. Does anyone really think the NHS has a budget for investigating this sort of thing.

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

Has anyone ever heard of a British citizen being charged to avail of the NHS?

If so, I've never seen it/read about it.

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

That's interesting, people receiving the UK state pension who have lived in the UK in the past for 10 years and now live outside the EEA are eligible for NHS care (except for routine treatment for a pre-existing conditions).

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

So it appears.

Re: Do we need travel insurance for a holiday back to the UK?
 

I have billed patients who have given foreign addresses. I have no idea of their citizenship as it wasn't relevant.