Ultreia_61
New Member
- Time of past OR future Camino
- Camino francés (planned)
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No.Is there a go-to provider for the Camino?
Thank you! I thought that and hadn’t sought any special coverage on my 3 caminos but wasn’t 100% sure!No.
Walking is not a high hazard activity, so you shouldn't need any special coverage.
Thanks Ant. Sounds reasonable. Yes I have pre existing (GHIC covers these) and have walked 3 Caminos without insurance. I had undiagnosed symptoms so become tricky / expensive. I would have got insurance otherwise as very cheap. Calculated risk in that the only things not covered are 1) repatriation (unlikely to need given top notch facilities in Spain), and 2) if you are taken to a private facility! Level of risk was reasonable to me,I've walked 5/6 caminos with a pre-existing condition. I never bothered with private health insurance and made sure my E11 card, or whatever it is called now, was up to date. I only ever had occasion to use it on one trip, after a bad fall just outside Valencia. I soldiered on for over 6 weeks with a constantly infected shin, stopping every 3/4 days at a local clinic (like the old cottage hospitals in the UK) to get it cleaned and re-dressed. Usually with a letter/note from the previous one, telling the next one, what they had done. I was amazed at how quick it all was and how fantastic the treatment was. Miles better than what would have happened in the UK. Names of insurance companies that do pre-existing conditions that I know of are Staysure, All Clear, Aventi & Puffin Insurance. Good luck
Thanks for responding Chef66! I normally use payingtoomuch.com in the UK as they're great for leisure and business trips. However the last two times I've pulled up what seemed like a reasonable policy, buried in the small print about activities not covered (for example maximum elevation for a walk etc) is an exclusion for "self-guided" walking / hiking. I've contacted them about that and after describing what I was going to do they told me the Camino would probably be excluded from the policy as I was walking solo, their advice was not to chance it as it was at best ambiguous - that was their sales department too. So I've taken out a policy through a company called Campbell Irvine which does cover 'Trekking / Rambling / Hiking - under 5000m (recognised routes only)'. I found them through a walking holidays specialist agency (whom I'm not using). It's a bit more expensive than the original proposal and excludes pre-existing conditions but for those I've got a GHIC card which I reckon should be OK.You are probably best getting several quotes and starting my using someone like moneysupermarket.com as costs of pre existing will vary by insurer. Also there is slight variance around health questions often in terms of the period
the questions relate to. If you only have pre diagnosed symtoms there should be plenty of choice depending on condition. It’s more tricky if you have undiagnosed symtoms.
I don’t know if walking a Camino means you need special insurance (ala mountain climbing!) but others will!
Thanks for this, as posted above I've opted for an insurance policy plus the GHIC Global Health Insurance Card. I get what you say about not having insurance but a family member had to be medevaced back to the UK from France a while ago and since then I've taken out cover. Personal preference I guess, based on indirect experience!Thanks Ant. Sounds reasonable. Yes I have pre existing (GHIC covers these) and have walked 3 Caminos without insurance. I had undiagnosed symptoms so become tricky / expensive. I would have got insurance otherwise as very cheap. Calculated risk in that the only things not covered are 1) repatriation (unlikely to need given top notch facilities in Spain), and 2) if you are taken to a private facility! Level of risk was reasonable to me,
I wouldn’t go anythere outside Europe without insurance unless we had reciprocal health insurance! I.e Australia.
The Spanish health care system is really good in my experience. The GHIC is really handy although I've been seen by a GP in an urban clinic with just my passport - I doubt that work now after Brexit, GHIC would do the trick in most cases, easy to update and free.I've walked 5/6 caminos with a pre-existing condition. I never bothered with private health insurance and made sure my E11 card, or whatever it is called now, was up to date. I only ever had occasion to use it on one trip, after a bad fall just outside Valencia. I soldiered on for over 6 weeks with a constantly infected shin, stopping every 3/4 days at a local clinic (like the old cottage hospitals in the UK) to get it cleaned and re-dressed. Usually with a letter/note from the previous one, telling the next one, what they had done. I was amazed at how quick it all was and how fantastic the treatment was. Miles better than what would have happened in the UK. Names of insurance companies that do pre-existing conditions that I know of are Staysure, All Clear, Aventi & Puffin Insurance. Good luck
Thank you! Good work! Sounds like a good plan! As you say GHIC is a real a fantastic thing to have and Spain has great health care. Small print you saw was interesting. May surprise a few folks… maybe I didn’t know! My challenge recently as well as medical was residency. Even though I class myself as a UK resident have been very nomadic over last two year SL and most insurance companies ask for a customer to have physically been in UK 6 of last 12 months!The Spanish health care system is really good in my experience. The GHIC is really handy although I've been seen by a GP in an urban clinic with just my passport - I doubt that work now after Brexit, GHIC would do the trick in most cases, easy to update and free.
You're welcome! I wouldn't have noticed it if I hadn't checked the exclusions when I was planning my first walk (didn't happen thanks to the "bicho" that is Covid). And your point about UK residence is important, it now seems very prominent on websites, I don't remember seeing it as much before. ¡Buen camino!
Thank you! Good work! Sounds like a good plan! As you say GHIC is a real a fantastic thing to have and Spain has great health care. Small print you saw was interesting. May surprise a few folks… maybe I didn’t know! My challenge recently as well as medical was residency. Even though I class myself as a UK resident have been very nomadic over last two year SL and most insurance companies ask for a customer to have physically been in UK 6 of last 12 months!
Great advice! I have enough time to get it. I hope....Yes I am so glad the only thing that changed after Brexit was the name from EHIC to GHIC. I had to renew mine as the previous EHIC had expired in 2021, and just a warning for future pilgrims from the UK: the admin can take some time!
I applied on 22nd April, got an email to say it’s approved on 29th April, and the letter with the card only arrived on 16th May! And the date on the letter was 29th April. Maybe it’s just a one off “oopst the letter was misplaced”, don’t know. But don’t leave it until late!
Sorry, Medicare will not cover your overseas costs. There may be exceptions, but it's not clear what they are. In general, if you have Medicare, you're advised to get a separate overseas medical insurance policy.If you are of a retired age on the US, medicare will cover 80% of health care if needed. Never was concerned, perhaps I should have been. With that said I haven't a clue to a good provider.
Thanks for getting back to me, and buen camino!You are probably best getting several quotes and starting my using someone like moneysupermarket.com as costs of pre existing will vary by insurer. Also there is slight variance around health questions often in terms of the period
the questions relate to. If you only have pre diagnosed symtoms there should be plenty of choice depending on condition. It’s more tricky if you have undiagnosed symtoms.
I don’t know if walking a Camino means you need special insurance (ala mountain climbing!) but others will!
PS I am wary of extending cover with another company in case of legal wrinkles from having two insurers, obligation to start from UK etc- you just don't know what they could find to make difficult.Just throwing my experience on this. UK resident, mid 50's, one pre-existing condition. I have an annual Admiral multi-trip which works for up to 30-ish days. For my upcoming 6 to 7 week trip they have sold me a one-off extension for £30. Do your own research as they say but the best place to start might your existing provider.
Absolutely right! It’s an absolute mindfield. Pre - existing, undiagnosed symptoms, obligation to notify changes in health post policy purchase, residency, where you start journeys. It’s an old thread but really check it out throroughly!PS I am wary of extending cover with another company in case of legal wrinkles from having two insurers, obligation to start from UK etc- you just don't know what they could find to make difficult.
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