Chapter 4. Holiday Spain: Holiday Insurance in Spain
Holiday Spain: Holiday Insurance in Spain
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Insurance
You will be advised by different people and companies that you should take out adequate holiday insurance. Many of these people and companies have a vested interest as they are getting commission on your premium. While it may well be advisable to take out some form of insurance, make sure you aren't over-insured, that you aren't being sold insurance you don't need, and that you are being offered the cheapest policy.
The Great Insurance Myth
You must have insurance, musn't you? Travel Agents insist on it. Tour Operators insist on it. Supposing your luggage is lost or stolen?
Its all a myth! It is NOT essential to buy holiday insurance and most hoidaymakers to Spain do not need it. Why? Because they are already covered.
The E111
There is a marvellous form called Form E111 (pronounced E one-eleven) available from the post office in the UK free of charge. If you have an E111 when you go on holiday to any country in the European Economic Area (the European Union plus several other countries) you will be entitled to emergency medical treatment on the same terms as if you were a national of that country. So if you have an accident in Spain or if you are taken seriously ill, you will be treated as if you were Spanish. This means that you are entitled to free treatment under the Spanish Health Service (SHS). Spain also has a flourishing private health care system which is not free. For treatment under the SHS you must visit a surgery (consultorio), health centre (centro sanitaro) or hospital clinic (ambulatorio) operating within the SHS. If you need to call out a doctor in an emergency make it clear that you have an E111 and that you wish to be treated under the EU arrangements. You will need to present your E111. Dental treatment is not free under the SHS.
If you are unfortunate to require hospital treatment this will normally be arranged by a doctor. Free treatment is available only in a public ward at a public hospital. Show your E111 on arrival at the hospital and make it clear that you are admitted as a Health Service patient.
Note: In Spain doctors, health centres, and hospitals have separate surgery times for private patients and SHS patients. Be clear which you are attending. You will be asked to pay if you go at the time allocated for private patients.
The same rules apply in the Balearic Isles and the Canary Islands as in Mainland Spain.
Obtaining Your E111
Ask for an E111 booklet at a post office. This contains an application form and a blank E111 form. Fill in the application form at the back of the booklet and the E111 form itself. Take them back to the post office where the E111 will be stamped and signed and returned to you. The E111 is free; you will not have to pay for its issue. Keep it safe and carry it with you whenever you travel within Europe.What the E111 Does Not Cover
The E111 is a basic form of insurance that ensures you will get emergency medical care. Its free. However it does not cover the following:
Private medical care
Dental care
The same level of care as the UK National Health Service
Air ambulance to fly you home
A guarantee of an English-speaking doctorIf you think you will need any of these while you are on holiday you will either have to be prepared to pay for them, or take out Holiday Insurance.
Supposing My Luggage Is Lost?
If your luggage is lost or damaged while in someone else's care (for example the Airline baggage handlers) you will be able to claim compensation. You do not need insurance for this. You will however need to tell the company concerned as soon as you notice the loss or damage. There is usually a desk in the baggage reclaim area of most airports for this specific purpose. You will be given a Property Irregularity Report (PIR) form or a computer generated receipt. Make sure you obtain this as it is the proof of loss or damage and also contains full details claiming compensation. Provided you follow the instructions exactly and provide all the paper_work requested (eg baggage check tags, flight tickets, PIR form) the claim should be settled within a few weeks.
If you think that your luggage will be lost or stolen while in your own care you will have to decide whether you are prepared to take a risk or take out Holiday Insurance. This will probably be influenced by the value of your luggage. If you take minimum luggage with you
then it probably isn't worth insuring (or stealing, for that matter). If however you have an expensive camera or valuable sports equipment you will need to consider insurance.
Remember to check you household insurance policy (assuming you have one). Many of your belongings might already be covered for loss or theft even if the loss or theft occurs in Spain. If necessary phone your insurance company or broker to ask.
Credit Card Insurance
Many expensive items (cameras, binoculars, etc) bought with a credit card are covered for loss, theft, or damage. This cover is free and normally lasts for a specified time following purchase. If your valuables are relatively new and were paid for by credit card they may already be covered. Phone your card provider to ask.
If you pay for the travel part of your holiday (for example the flight tickets) by credit card, you may be entitled to free travel insurance from the card provider. This covers you for injury or death while you are actually travelling. It is not the same as Holiday Insurance which covers you all the time you are on holiday. However its free. Phone your card provider to see if it offers this cover.
Another benefit of paying by credit card is the concept of joint liability. For example, if you pay for an airline ticket with a credit card (not a debit card) and the airline goes out of business before you fly, you are entitled to claim your money back from the credit card company. Phone your card provider for details.
Why Do People Tell Me I Need Insurance?
Travel Agents, Tour Operators, Insurance Brokers, etc all make a lot of money selling Holiday Insurance. Don't be persuaded by someone with a vested interest; make up your own mind.
Types of Insurance
If you decide you do need insurance then consider how much you need. Do you just want basic medical cover to ensure you can be flown home if you get really ill? This is likely to be much cheaper than full Holiday Insurance which covers a whole range of things. Do you want insurance to compensate you should you have to cancel your holiday? If so check the cover carefully before you pay. Often the situations in which you are entitled to claim are so exacting (for example, if you or a close relative dies) that you will rarely be able to claim. In most cases the situations in which you will be able to make a claim are likely to be personnally devasting scenarios and you will be so upset that the last thing on your mind will be claiming a refund of your holiday. The insurance company will almost certainly NOT pay out because you "change your mind" about going on holiday, have a bad cold, or the dog dies!
Check out any "excess" before you buy a policy. An excess is the amount you have to pay for each and every claim. For example if your policy has a £100 excess and you claim for a stolen camera worth £110, you will only get £10 compensation from the insurance company. Do you really want a policy with a £100 excess when most of the belongings you take on holiday are worth less than £100?
Shop Around
The best deals for Holiday or Travel Insurance are almost certainly not available from your Travel Agent or Tour Operater. Search the advertisements in the travel section of the sunday papers, try the yellow pages, try the internet. Consider an annual policy if you go on holidays more than three times per year. We found some of the best bargains for both single trip holidays and annual poiicies on the World Wide Web. Check out http://www.gosure.com which recently offered a holiday insurance policy for five people for one week in Spain for as little as £20. A Travel Agent quoted us £60 for a similar policy.
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