De La Rue loses passport contract.

[Peter Mugridge]

People will still be able to travel - although going across the Channel will become more like going to somewhere outside of the EU is today.

 

[Dentonian]

People will still be able to travel - although going across the Channel will become more like going to somewhere outside of the EU is today.

I'm guessing you didn't see my reply #26.
Just to put figures on it, at present the minimum insurance premium I can get for a short (1-4 nights) stay in an EU country participating in EHIC (virtually all except Spain) is £51-£66. Doing a like for like comparison for a non-EU/EHIC country (eg. Switzerland) the minimum would be £216 ie. £150 extra or typically a 40% increase on the whole cost of a short break. As an aside a short break to New York would cost me £950 insurance. And these are just for medical treatment and cancellation. I don't have valuables and I travel light (my condition means I can't carry heavy luggage around), so I don't need insurance for those items.

 

[Peter Mugridge]

I'm guessing you didn't see my reply #26.
Just to put figures on it, at present the minimum insurance premium I can get for a short (1-4 nights) stay in an EU country participating in EHIC (virtually all except Spain) is £51-£66. Doing a like for like comparison for a non-EU/EHIC country (eg. Switzerland) the minimum would be £216 ie. £150 extra or typically a 40% increase on the whole cost of a short break. As an aside a short break to New York would cost me £950 insurance. And these are just for medical treatment and cancellation. I don't have valuables and I travel light (my condition means I can't carry heavy luggage around), so I don't need insurance for those items.

I did but how many people have conditions ( sorry to hear of yours, I should add ) of a nature which results in them having to pay considerably higher travel insurance premiums than someone with normal health, whatever "normal" health is ( serious question - I have no idea of the proportion )?

Would you be able to compare, for this thread, the quotes for someone with no conditions at all using the same providers and travel criteria?

 

[fowler9]

We are still in the EU so what has brexit got to do with the awarding of this contract?

Ask the Daily Mail.

 

[Antman]

We are still in the EU so what has brexit got to do with the awarding of this contract?

Nothing whatsoever as far as I can see.

 

[radamfi]

Doing a like for like comparison for a non-EU/EHIC country (eg. Switzerland) the minimum would be £216 ie. £150 extra or typically a 40% increase on the whole cost of a short break.

Switzerland is part of the EHIC scheme.

https://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/healthcareinSwitzerland.aspx

Your European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) allows you to access state-provided healthcare in Switzerland at a reduced cost and will cover your treatment until you return to the UK. It also covers the treatment of pre-existing medical conditions and routine maternity care, providing the reason for your visit is not specifically to give birth outside of the UK. No cost participation is required for maternity benefits.

Possession of an EHIC card still can mean that some payment is required, but that would be the same even when visiting an EU country, as EHIC means you pay what a local would pay.

Some other non-EU countries in Europe have EHIC-like reciprocal agreements with the UK and the rest of the EU, such as Macedonia.

It is debatable whether it is worth getting insurance for a trip to a developing country if you are elderly or have pre-existing health conditions, as the hospitals are quite cheap. For example, Americans retiring in the Philippines might not bother getting insurance. Some countries are geared up for health tourism. Conversely, I would be more worried about visiting the US even without pre-existing health conditions as insurance claims can be rejected, meaning that British tourists have to sell their house to pay medical bills incurred on holiday.

 

[Dentonian]

Switzerland is part of the EHIC scheme.

https://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/healthcareinSwitzerland.aspx



Possession of an EHIC card still can mean that some payment is required, but that would be the same even when visiting an EU country, as EHIC means you pay what a local would pay.

Some other non-EU countries in Europe have EHIC-like reciprocal agreements with the UK and the rest of the EU, such as Macedonia.

That surprises me, as all Insurance websites I have used do not include Switzerland as part of EHIC - hence the seperate selection (and presumably, the much enhanced cost as illustrated). Clearly, the websites are too generalist. Certainly, with Brexit causing further uncertainty (at best) it would be useful if *before* 29/3/19 some kind of table of which countries require the cheapest Health Insurance was made available. Obviously, you would still need to shop around, but it would still help with forward planning.
As regards some payment being made, presumably that can be claimed on the Insurance. Besides, the problem is not solely treatment connected to the various pre-existing conditions as I never book holidays until after regular checks suggest that they are very unlikely to cause symptomatic problems in the period until the next check up(s). Its also the general possibility of accidents that can happen to anyone. After all, if you break a limb in an accident totally unconnected with your PMC(s), your insurance is still in valid if you haven't declared all those PMC(s)

 

[Dentonian]

I did but how many people have conditions ( sorry to hear of yours, I should add ) of a nature which results in them having to pay considerably higher travel insurance premiums than someone with normal health, whatever "normal" health is ( serious question - I have no idea of the proportion )?

Would you be able to compare, for this thread, the quotes for someone with no conditions at all using the same providers and travel criteria?

It would be difficult to go back and request a quote for being in good health, as you need to provide your full personal details. Mine will already be on record with a number of insurance companies I have used or seriously considered in the last 3 years or so. Thus, apart from them badgering me afterwards asking why I didn't follow up my quote, they may also log the fact that I have previously requested Insurance based on 3x PMCs, two of which are incurable.

As regards the Stats, they came out of an article about Insurance in general for the over 50s, that appeared in the M'cr Evening News a month or two ago. Iirc, it said that about 20% of the population (the vast majority over 50) have one or more PMCs, and of those "at least half" went on holidays abroad in a given 12 month period. Thus, it potentially affects 6 million plus Britons. Of course, it doesn't mean to say that all 6 million declared their conditions fully, or took out Insurance full stop, and at the richer end of the market (and where symptoms are less chronic), many will have travelled beyond Europe. Nevertheless, it did chime with me that I am certainly not the only person in limbo over this.

Most Insurance company websites when offering to quote, ask you straight away if you have any PMCs or pending medical investigations/procedures. They then guide you fairly easily through your Yes/No options in which you have to declare all conditions. Basically, it is obviously serious conditions or ones which give you (potentially) regular practical problems, and for which you are under on-going specialist care.

 

[Domh245]

Leaked images of the new front cover design:

Spoiler

A blue passport, but the writing on the coat of arms has been replaced by "Your mother was a hamster" & "Your father smelt of elderberries"

 

[SteveP29]

A lot of people are soon going to realise a lot of the stuff they blame the EU for is our own governments fault. It will be too late then though.

Farage and Boris did their job well eh??

Not the point. I'm talking about demand for new Passports dropping if a large number of people can't make use of them - or indeed, don't know if they will be able to make use of them. Its like saying a rural bus service will be completely and permanently withdrawn from next month, but don't worry your annual ticket will still be valid.

You said you'd potentially only be able to use it for 1 year, that IS the point of THAT comment, not the preceding or subsequent comments you made

 

[AlterEgo]

Leaked images of the new front cover design:

That's brilliant.