Health insurance
 

A question for European riders (including UK).

Obviously you have some health cover from your EHIC/GHIC while riding in the region covered by it. Do you take out additional health insurance, if so why?

Because you are only entitled to health cover that’s provided in the country you are in. In Bulgaria, for example, you may have to pay for your own medication and food isn’t provided in hospitals so if you want to eat someone will have to bring you food.

Some countries charge for emergency services And it may not cover long stays in hospital which you end up being billed for.

Also, you may have to pay upfront and then claim back when you get to the UK.

Some countries -France for example- require visitors to have insurance. I don’t know of anyone who’s ever had that checked but theoretically they could check at the border and refuse you entry.

Lastly, and the big one, EHIC doesn’t cover repatriation. So if you end up with a serious illness or injury that requires time in hospital you’re stuck there unless you pay for repatriation with can run to thousands or even tens of thousands.


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Yes for the above reasons.

There are a few good reasons having extra travel insurance.
- First some countries require it to let you in
- Insurance pays directly to hospital or doctor (with Austrian insurance you have to pay upfront and then claim it back - you then only get a fraction. Paying a few thousands or 100 thousand in the you US can ruin you)
- Repatriation not covered


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