Latest news with #GHIC
Scotsman
2 days ago
- Scotsman
Spain, Italy and France dominate Scots holiday choices for Summer 2025
The beauty of Spain Despite Brexit, Scots are heading to Europe in droves. New research from AllClear Travel Insurance reveals that Spain (33%), Italy (16%) and France (14%) are the top-choice holiday destinations for Scots this summer. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... With schools soon closing for summer - and holiday peak season just weeks away - AllClear Travel Insurance surveyed a nationally representative sample of 2,000 adults about their holiday choices for this summer – with 71% of Scots planning a break in mainland Europe. Top country choices for summer 2025: Given the dominant popularity of Southern and Northern Europe for summer holidays this year, AllClear also asked UK holidaymakers what their top European country choices would be for an overseas getaway this summer, and which places they rated highly for having good medical facilities. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Plan to visit this summer Rated best for medical facilities Spain 33% 43% Italy 16% 30% France 14% 36% Portugal 7% 25% Greece 7% 11% Germany 6% 41% Turkey 8% 9% Cyprus, Malta 8% 19% Switzerland 6% 37% Netherlands 4% 30% Scandinavia 4% 28% Croatia 7% 6% Finland 3% 23% Monaco 3% 16% Garry Nelson, Head of Corporate Affairs at AllClear Travel Insurance commented: 'Spain has always been a popular choice for guaranteed sunshine. What we see from our research this year is safety considerations are also important to Scottish holidaymakers. The safety record of a country and having good medical facilities are factors that more closely align with the top country choices - more so than how cheap or affordable the country is to visit.' 'That said, whilst UK holidaymakers acknowledge the importance of good medical services in the countries they plan to visit, in some countries, this can also mean medical costs are higher too. "Spain, for example, can have higher travel insurance costs than some other European countries because many clinics and hospitals - especially in tourist areas - are private and often don't accept GHIC. With safety top of mind for many this year, we encourage all holidaymakers to ensure they take out travel insurance with comprehensive medical cover before they head off abroad this summer.' The AllClear research also revealed that for UK holidaymakers with medical conditions, 69% of survey respondents said they would be having a European holiday this summer. Their top destination choices - Spain (28%), Italy (18%), France (17%), Portugal (15%), Germany (10%) and Switzerland (9%) – align with destinations they regard to be safe and having good medical facilities. For this group, safety factors are more important than price. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad European countries that people with medical conditions plan to visit this summer – and which countries they rate highly for safely, medical facilities and for being relatively inexpensive to visit [column percentages]
Daily Mirror
06-06-2025
- Health
- Daily Mirror
10 medical conditions you must declare to travel insurer when going on holiday
Admiral Travel Insurance have listed the top 10 most common conditions declared on travel insurance policies over the last year - failing to disclose all conditions can lead to higher costs Travel insurance is an essential part of holiday planning, providing a safety net should you require medical assistance while overseas. Experts are warning holidaymakers that failing to disclose all medical conditions when securing travel insurance could lead to higher costs. With medical repatriation fees potentially exceeding £100,000, Admiral Travel Insurance advises customers to fully inform their insurer about any medical diagnoses. Despite the availability of GHIC or EHIC cards for many UK travellers, these offer only limited protection and are not substitutes for comprehensive travel insurance. Cosmin Sarbu, Admiral's head of travel insurance, said: "For peace of mind and to ensure you are covered, it's always best to declare all medical conditions when taking out a travel insurance policy, before you travel." He added that while the likelihood of filing a medical claim is low, the financial and emotional toll of illnesses or injuries abroad can be significant. Sarbu warned: "If you haven't declared all medical conditions, you won't have insurance in place to cover all of the costs, this can mean you are responsible for paying tens of thousands to be treated and returned home safely should you try to make a claim." It's important to note that a GHIC or EHIC card does not cover the cost of medical repatriation, reports the Daily Record. Cosmin said: "Generally, we need to know about all medical conditions someone currently has. "With some conditions, such as heart problems, we need to know if someone has ever been diagnosed with them, even if they've now recovered and are no longer being treated for these." He emphasised the importance of full disclosure when seeking travel insurance quotes: "At Admiral, we ask about these when someone gets a travel insurance quote. "It's always best to include all medical conditions you've had or check with your insurer before you take out cover, if you're not sure." Cosmin also highlighted the company's efforts to ensure customers don't overlook any details: "We prompt customers when they go through a quote with us to remind them what medical conditions they need to tell us about. "Travellers need to tell us about what even might seem like a minor visit to a doctor or GP for advice, treatment or prescriptions, any ongoing investigation into their health or if they're waiting for a diagnosis. "They also need to declare if they're on a waiting list for inpatient treatment. If you're not sure what condition you were seen for, check with your doctor to ensure you include an accurate description when you buy your policy." Admiral's data found that the top ten most common conditions declared on travel insurance policies between May 2024 and March 2025 were: High Blood Pressure High Cholesterol Anxiety and/or Depression Asthma Diabetes Osteoarthritis Underactive Thyroid Coronary Angioplasty Hypertension Heart Attack Cosmin added: "Although insurance costs vary depending on the type of condition, how much a medical condition affects your premium also depends on other factors, like the number of people travelling on a policy, how long you're going for and the travel destination. "While it's not possible to say specifically how particular medical conditions can impact on premiums, Admiral has provided some examples to indicate how much a premium could increase by when adding some common conditions." Currently, Admiral provides cover for over 3,100 different medical conditions. There are some conditions that can't be covered, but Admiral said it's always worth running these past your insurer first, as it does vary case-by-case. Admiral will recommend specialist travel insurance alternatives through the MoneyHelper directory if they're not able to cover a medical condition. Cosmin said: "We ask our travel insurance customers to declare all medical conditions, including any ongoing treatment, when taking out a policy. This is to ensure we can provide cover at an appropriate price for the customer based on their medical needs. Not doing so could leave someone underinsured if they make a claim or could invalidate their insurance entirely. "If a customer requires medical treatment while abroad which is related to medical conditions that haven't been declared to us, we may decline their claim. Or if someone has failed to declare medical conditions which would have resulted in a higher premium, we may pay the claim on a proportional basis. "This means we will only cover the claim up to the percentage of the premium they have paid, and the customer will be responsible for any costs over and above the proportional settlement. "We never take the decision to refuse or proportionally settle a claim lightly and we will always work with the customer to ensure they receive adequate support in these cases. "However, they could end up having to pay medical treatment fees themselves and these can run into hundreds or even thousands of pounds." Cosmin continued: "We completely understand that some travellers might be worried about declaring medical conditions because they think it will increase the cost of their insurance. Declaring a medical condition doesn't always result in a higher premium and even if it does, the additional cost will ensure they are protected should the worst happen while they are away. "Some travellers might not be aware of what they need to declare. So, the best advice is to check with your travel insurer and to let them know about any medical conditions you have. "We always want to look out for our customers and encourage you to reach out if there's anything you're unsure of in the process of buying travel insurance." And there is one thing you don't have to declare. Cosmin said: "We don't consider menopause, whether requiring HRT or not, to be a medical condition and don't require customers to declare it."
Daily Record
04-06-2025
- Business
- Daily Record
10 medical conditions that must be declared to insurers when going on holiday
Holidaymakers must be up front about all diagnoses when buying their travel insurance Travel insurance is a crucial part of booking a holiday in case the worst happens and you need medical help while abroad. And experts have warned that when taking out cover, there are a list of medical conditions you must declare or risk a hefty bill. With the cost of medical repatriation estimated at £100,000 or more, Admiral Travel Insurance said that it pays to make sure your provider is aware of all medical diagnosis. Although many Brits may have a GHIC or EHIC card, these only provide limited cover and therefore shouldn't be seen as a replacement for travel insurance. Cosmin Sarbu, Admiral's Head of Travel Insurance, said: "For peace of mind and to ensure you are covered, it's always best to declare all medical conditions when taking out a travel insurance policy, before you travel. "Although the chances of having to make a medical claim are slim, illness or injuries can be both very distressing and expensive to resolve. "If you haven't declared all medical conditions, you won't have insurance in place to cover all of the costs, this can mean you are responsible for paying tens of thousands to be treated and returned home safely should you try to make a claim," reports Lancs Live. Medical repariation is not covered by a GHIC or EHIC card. Cosmin said: "Generally, we need to know about all medical conditions someone currently has. With some conditions, such as heart problems, we need to know if someone has ever been diagnosed with them, even if they've now recovered and are no longer being treated for these. "At Admiral, we ask about these when someone gets a travel insurance quote. It's always best to include all medical conditions you've had or check with your insurer before you take out cover, if you're not sure. "We prompt customers when they go through a quote with us to remind them what medical conditions they need to tell us about. Travellers need to tell us about what even might seem like a minor visit to a doctor or GP for advice, treatment or prescriptions, any ongoing investigation into their health or if they're waiting for a diagnosis. "They also need to declare if they're on a waiting list for inpatient treatment. If you're not sure what condition you were seen for, check with your doctor to ensure you include an accurate description when you buy your policy." Admiral's data found that the top ten most common conditions declared on travel insurance policies between May 2024 and March 2025 were: Ranking 1 High Blood Pressure 2 High Cholesterol 3 Anxiety and/or Depression 4 Asthma 5 Diabetes 6 Osteoarthritis 7 Underactive Thyroid 8 Coronary Angioplasty 9 Hypertension 10 Heart Attack Cosmin said: "Although insurance costs vary depending on the type of condition, how much a medical condition affects your premium also depends on other factors, like the number of people travelling on a policy, how long you're going for and the travel destination. "While it's not possible to say specifically how particular medical conditions can impact on premiums, Admiral has provided some examples to indicate how much a premium could increase by when adding some common conditions." Currently, Admiral provides cover for over 3,100 different medical conditions. There are some conditions that can't be covered, but Admiral said it's always worth running these past your insurer first, as it does vary case-by-case. Admiral will recommend specialist travel insurance alternatives through the MoneyHelper directory if they're not able to cover a medical condition. Cosmin said: 'We ask our travel insurance customers to declare all medical conditions, including any ongoing treatment, when taking out a policy. This is to ensure we can provide cover at an appropriate price for the customer based on their medical needs. Not doing so could leave someone underinsured if they make a claim or could invalidate their insurance entirely. 'If a customer requires medical treatment while abroad which is related to medical conditions that haven't been declared to us, we may decline their claim. Or if someone has failed to declare medical conditions which would have resulted in a higher premium, we may pay the claim on a proportional basis. "This means we will only cover the claim up to the percentage of the premium they have paid, and the customer will be responsible for any costs over and above the proportional settlement. 'We never take the decision to refuse or proportionally settle a claim lightly and we will always work with the customer to ensure they receive adequate support in these cases. "However, they could end up having to pay medical treatment fees themselves and these can run into hundreds or even thousands of pounds.' Cosmin continued: 'We completely understand that some travellers might be worried about declaring medical conditions because they think it will increase the cost of their insurance. Declaring a medical condition doesn't always result in a higher premium and even if it does, the additional cost will ensure they are protected should the worst happen while they are away. 'Some travellers might not be aware of what they need to declare. So, the best advice is to check with your travel insurer and to let them know about any medical conditions you have. 'We always want to look out for our customers and encourage you to reach out if there's anything you're unsure of in the process of buying travel insurance.' And there is one thing you don't have to declare. Cosmin said: "We don't consider menopause, whether requiring HRT or not, to be a medical condition and don't require customers to declare it."
Local Spain
21-05-2025
- Health
- Local Spain
What Brits in Spain need to know about the GHIC health card
GHIC stands for UK Global Health Insurance Card, it enables those who are usually resident in the UK to get necessary healthcare in the European Economic Area, including Spain. This is not be confused with the EHIC which is the European Health Insurance Card for citizens or residents in the EU. If you have residence in Spain and are covered for public health here, you can apply for this instead and use this when you travel to other countries participating in the scheme. Who is GHIC for? It's designed to be used for UK nationals on holiday or who are temporarily in Spain. It could also be used during your first three months of living in Spain before you get issued residency permit or visa such as before you apply for the digital nomad visa. It cannot be used if you live here full time and have residency. In this case you will either have access to the public healthcare system if you pay into the social security regime or you will have to get private health insurance. What type of healthcare does the card cover? It's important to remember that it is not a replacement for travel insurance and the UK government still recommends that you don't travel without some type of health insurance. This is because the card does not cover: Repatriation or flights back to the UK for treatment Treatment in a private medical facility Ski or mountain rescue It's also not designed to be used for regular visits to the doctor for minor health complaints like a GP appointment. It should instead be used for emergency healthcare. It specifically covers: Emergency treatment and visits to the emergency room Treatment for routine medical care for long-term or pre-existing medical conditions Routine maternity care, but not if you're deliberately coming to Spain to give birth If you do need treatment for ongoing pre-existing conditions such as kidney dialysis for example, you will have to organise this in advance of your trip, you can't just turn up to a hospital in Spain and expect to be treated. The same applies for maternity care, unless you feel like there's a problem, in which case you can go to the emergency room. How to apply for the card A UK GHIC can be applied for through the NHS website and every member of your family needs their own card. It is completely free if applied for through the official channel and lasts for up to 5 years. According to the website, you must include the following data: full name address date of birth National Insurance number Health and Care number (if you're from Northern Ireland) After you've submitted your application, you will be e-mailed within 24 hours to say whether it has been approved or not. Once it has been approved, you will receive your card in the post within 15 working days. If your card has expired, you can apply for a new card up to nine months before your current card runs out. If you are already in Spain and you need emergency treatment, but haven't applied for your GHIC card or forgot it, you can request a Provisional Replacement Certificate or PRC from the Overseas Healthcare Team. You or the hospital can request one by emailing: Remember, when getting treated you will need to show your card along with your passport. How to claim a refund if you've been charged incorrectly If you have been charged for treatment in Spain even though you have GHIC or PRC, the NHS says that you should ask for a copy of your invoice and make sure you get a receipt. To claim a refund for healthcare that is supposed to be covered, you can download the form here and send it to NHS Overseas Healthcare Services. You need to attach your receipts and any other necessary documents from the hospital. You may need to include information such as: The NHS Overseas Healthcare Services will then decide whether or not you are eligible for refund.
Evening Standard
20-05-2025
- Health
- Evening Standard
Is the European Health Card still valid under the new UK/EU deal?
UK residents do have to apply for the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC), but under what will be Britain's new agreement with the EU, UK residents' rights to emergency and medically necessary healthcare will still continue when travelling in the EU.
