gad33

My son and his girlfriend have Alberta health care but no supplemental insurance. They are going to the UK and Italy in March and I wondered if they needed some sort of medical insurance. (Because, of course, people always tell you Alberta healthcare paid for Dr care when they went to the UK and you just don't know how true it is.)

CanadaJimmy

"Alberta paying for it" sounds more like when you arrange to be treated overseas rather than travel insurance.

It's very inexpensive anyway, take a look on travel underwriters.

37100

Popping in from Italy here. You'll only get the basic urgent care. Break a leg and they'll plaster it, but crutches are extra -for Italians too- as will a doctor's note permitting you to fly. And if you have to delay your flight, without insurance, you'll be out of pocket.

gad33

That's a good idea about no coverage if you have to delay a flight.

And when I have been told about Alberta healthcarer covering Drs costs in the UK it is for unexpected visits but then again who knows the full story and when this actually happened.

A few pointers to travel insurance providers would be helpful as we're paying for the trip so I guess I'll be nice and pay for the insurance too.

ArthurBrit

My medical benefits at work covers overseas medical costs.

But it doesn't cover for flight delays etc...

CanadaJimmy

As I mentioned, Travel Underwriters is pretty much the cheapest you're going to get, most other companies go through them anyway.

http://www.travelunderwriters.com/

gad33

Thanks - I hadn't realized from your first post that Travel Underwriters was a specific company.

leeloo

Italy is a potentially dangerous country! Two friends of mine (they are young sisters) had their passport stolen while on a trip to Italy. they had many problems because it was a bus tour and they couldn't live Europe without their passports so they stayed there waiting for their father. So, take necessary precautions!

Auld Yin

There's a reason UK visitors to Canada buy travel insurance. The NHS doesn't cover them when they're out of country in NA.

Zoe Bell

I'd reckon compared to say, Afghanistan, then Italy isn't exactly a hotbed of danger!
That kind of stuff can ( and does) happen in almost any country

but yeah , I'd want travel insurance

iaink

Unless they are independently wealthy or have some coverage automatically via work or a premium credit card they should get the insurance.

MarylandNed

Depends on what they are doing and their comfort with risk. For example, if they will be skiing in Italy, then travel insurance is probably a must have. Personally I would highly recommend taking out travel insurance anyway. It's not that expensive and there is more to travel insurance than just medical insurance.

Here's one provider. I'm not endorsing this one in particular but it's a useful read and gives you some idea of what is and isn't typically covered.

https://www.ab.bluecross.ca/travel/t...emergency.html

Note this part:

"The Alberta Health Care Insurance Plan provides some emergency travel coverage, but health care costs outside Canada can be much higher than in Alberta."

gad33

Wow I didn't realise Italy was potentially dangerous. I'll cancel the trip and they can stay in London - no potential danger there.

mikelincs

Just think about a worse case scenario, if one of them is injured and needs a lengthy stay in hospital, then, although the initial emergency care mey be free, any stay in hospital would be billed along with all medicines and treatment, then if they have to be returned home only partially healthy, there would be repatriation costs, and those, between Spain and England cost £10,000 a few years ago, so to Canada would be much higher. Much better to suck up the relatively small cost of the insurance, much cheaper than the cost of a new flight for one thing.

gad33

That's the part that people have probably referred to when they've said I had to see the doctor in the UK and Alberta Health Care paid for it.

Now I just have to hope that potentially dangerous Italy doesn't on the DFAIT list to avoid potential travel otherwise there is a possibility of claims being denied.