Oh I don't doubt that whatsoever. But what it would do is support the government, travel companies & insurers in that they all can say you had adequate warning and were aware.
I cannot criticise those who decide to travel abroad - that is their own individual choice given their personal circumstances - family, financial and work-wise, based upon their own risk assessment given all the information and advice that they have been provided with. But that information and advice needs to be clear and unambiguous. Otherwise risk of misunderstanding and confusion.
It will certainly invalidate the insurance. Not that companies need much of an excuse not to pay out
Yes it does. This is a massive thing that people really should be taking notice of. Double check with your insurers but potentially it means you have no medical cover, no theft cover, no cover for anything.
It would not be a summer without a story on your local news about someone looking sad in a Spanish / Portugese hospital who 'did not think they needed insurance' and now has a huge bill they can not pay and is asking via FB for people to pay it. Happens every year, crackersI’d say that’s a racing certainty. And anyone who travels uninsured in these uncertain times, frankly, deserves all they get.
Still, I suppose anyone who travels now to Benidorm against government advice can always set up a crowd funding page to pay their medical and repatriation costs when it all goes horribly wrong.
Totally agree. Financially dangerous to go abroad without insurance. It is bad enough how many go without it. Now you are throwing in those who have it but don't realise it is invalid.
Your insurance would cover you for Covid treatment though surely, if you go somewhere where your insurance is still valid of course? That would come under general illnesses, or whatever phrase they use. The only Covid related matter that may not be covered is cancellation cover if your insurance was taken after the pandemic. If taken before, and your holiday was booked before then many policies will cover you still, although not all.
If that is for medical treatment then that is pretty scandalous. If it is about cancellations then I can understand that.
Does our EHIC card not still give us medical cover in Spain - no matter what the UK government says about travel to specific countries...?
It gives basic cover but no more than that. It also advises that you may be required to pay towards some of the treatment required. As that could be thousands or tens of thousands of Euros then it should not be relied upon to get people out of trouble if ill abroad.