EU medical cover

[yachttequilla]

Hi,

Wife, 2 kids (6&8) and I are about to start 2yr cruise around Med (mostly EU) and trying to figure out best way to ensure basic emergency cover.

It appears E111 is too short term. Private medical cover seems expensive - we could always fly home, after getting basic initial treatment. We should striclty count as employed on small retainer to our own small company - may make a difference according to DSS.

Can anyone provide advice on what they have done, what's available for free via E111/106 etc, and suggest what we might do.

Thanks to all for the other useful info on this site that has helped provide ideas with our planning for the trip.

Cheers

Steve

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[davidbains]

Try Pantaenius.

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[colvic]

Don't try Pantaenius!!!


Phil

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[colvic]

Why do you think the E111 is too short term?

I was admitted to hospital in Spain, intensive care etc., and at the end of it all they only wanted a signature on a piece of paper. They took a copy of the E111 which was some 17 months old.

If worried they might "expire", try to get a blank one from the P.O. ...has been known. Also, if planning two years I think at leat one of you will end up back in the UK for a few days so renew it then. Or, fill in quite a few, get relative to take them to the P.O. for stamping and post them out to you. It worked for us.



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[charles_reed]

I am unaware from where you got the impression the E111 is short term. You have been mis-informed.

I know someone who had a triple bypass in France on an 11 year-old E111 - and, because he was an OAP, he didn't pay a thing and was out again 10 days after the need was first diagnosed.

I'd rate France and Spain 2dary care as faster and superior to the UK (I've sampled both) but Spanish primary care is inferior to the UK and France.
Both have been on E111.

I can't comment on Italy, and have heard mixed reports on Greece and Turkey, where it's probably better to go private - however I'd not take out medical insurance.

Suggest you post this request on the CA site Mediterranean section.

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[ccscott49]

Why not? I´m with pantaneius and had a problem in portugal, they couldn´t have been more helpful, it was all done without fuss and I never had to claim, they paid up front through their local agent. Have you had problems with them, I would like to know, having just renewed mine.

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[colvic]

Don't know when your claim was, but it seems that all claims over about £5k since mid 2002 are being dealt with in a less then helpful manner. Have been forced to accept a settlement best part of £10k below surveyors recomendation otherwise, to quote" we will have to go back to the start and it will take many months...we will not pay storage charges etc. after the end of this month" Blackmail.

Since heard of chap taking them to court end of last year, and winning almost £30k. Now in touch with a liveaboard whose 6month old £80k was crushed when the yacht next to it fell on him whilst on the hard at benaldemena; 3 months on and no sign of sorting things out. Thisis ridiculous as Pantaenius would be able to claim everything back from the insurers of the yacht that fell over.

Also been told by a specialist marine lawyer that "numerous" people are seeking satisfaction through the courts and Pantaenius are trying to weaken these actions by offering all the largest firms a good sized piece of their defence action.

I have been given the option of submitting an article to YM for their consideration. Have also suggested to all the mags within the stable that they run a customer satisfaction survey re insurers so that the readership can be given some really useful info for once. Or would they fudge it a bit like PBO did with the Radar reflectors?

Something is very wrong with Pantaenius, not just here but also Sweden where some cases are already in court and others to follow. See posting on PBO Further Insurance news.

Everything seemed to be OK until last year. Their company records from Companies House, £4 via the internet, show they made a half million payment into Europe last year and their profit figure fell below a million in consequence. Don't need many sizeable claims to make a big hole in a million, even if your underwriters are also German. Told by lawyer that Pantaenius in UK "leaderless" with MD/Owner living in Monaco.

All too messy for me, and though I don't expect anything more in my sailing life I'm going with Nav and Gen now, though surveyor recommended GJW, but over 20% more expensive and written quote not arrived after a week. Traffords are just as bad. St. Margarets run Nav and Gen a very close second.


Phil

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[yachttequilla]

We've sorted it now and got E111 cover, undated.

Our initial problem was that E111 form said if living abroad for period of time to contact Dept of work and pensions and that we needed a different form. So my wife did and got into quagmire with 2/3 government departments giving contradicotory advice, 3 different forms for different things, losing them on return, denying all knowledge of sending us anything, etc, etc..... Eventually she spoke to someone helpful who said they'd give us unlimited E111 - as though this was a special dispensation for us.

I think if we'd have just filled in the usual E111 we'd be in same position without all the hassle!!

Don't know whether it's true or not but Dept work/pensions was claiming that the rules/cover for E111 has changed recently. My previous experience were only for 3/4 week trips anyway so I didn't really know where I stood.

Sounds from couple of the replies that in practice so long as you have a E111 there is no problem anyway.

We are sorted now anyway.

Thanks for the replies.

Steve


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[ccscott49]

Phil,
Thanks for the info, I´m insured with Pantaneius, I´ll be aware of this when it comes up for renewal. I think they are a Geman based outfit anyway. We´ll see. I will give the others some considerable thought, you´ve given me considerable room for thought, things you don´t hear about companies!! thanks again.
Colin.

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[colvic]

Have you seen the posting on the PBO forum from Chris Rixon...being messed about worse than myself by Pantaenius.


Phil

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[gonad]

E-111s are now valid indefiitely

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