travel insurance. - The Harley-Davidson Riders Club Great Britain

**Colin** · #1 31-10-2009, 08:05 PM

Regarding the reciprocal agreement on the provision of free medical treatment between the UK and the Channel Islands and the Isle of Man. On the 1st April 2009 this agreement ended, Meaning that visitors to CI and Islanders visiting the UK are now responsible for the cost of medical treatment in the visited country. This does not apply to emergency treatment. The reason being that the CI and the IOM are not members of the EU. So be warned if you go to the TT, or Channel Islands make sure you have good travel insurance or you will have a big hospital bill.

**WORMY** · #2 31-10-2009, 11:15 PM

Cheers for info.

**Battersea** · #3 01-11-2009, 12:47 PM

Does this apply to the Canaries as well? cos i don't think they are part of the EU.

**Old_Bob** · #4 01-11-2009, 05:18 PM

The majority of the Canaries are Spanish Colin (Battersea), Madeira is Portugese, so they are part of the EU.

**Battersea** · #5 01-11-2009, 09:37 PM

I know they are supposed to be Spanish Bob, but the last time we were in Lanzarote the woman we rented from told us they weren't part of the EU.

Just goes to show that you cant believe everything you're told.

coxy · #6 01-11-2009, 10:25 PM

The agreement ends on 31st March 2010.

**Battersea** · #7 02-11-2009, 12:42 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by coxy

The agreement ends on 31st March 2010.

What agreement?

**Old_Bob** · #8 02-11-2009, 12:53 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Battersea

I know they are supposed to be Spanish Bob, but the last time we were in Lanzarote the woman we rented from told us they weren't part of the EU.

Just goes to show that you cant believe everything you're told.

As part of Spain the Canaries are also part of the EU however they enjoy some exceptions in the fiscal and economic area. Because of their remoteness they are unable to compete with mainland industries etc so they negotiated special considerations such as a different VAT regime and other tax fields. So it could be looked at as though they do not fully come under the EU regulations but the European Health Insurance Card (old E111) is needed to attend a hospital/doctor etc. As a lot of the health centres are private (I think there is only one public hospital in Arrecife, Lanzarote - not completely sure) then it will always pay to have a good travel insurance cos these centres are not cheap.

Colins info about the IOM is probably very imprtant as lots of us go over there on our bikes and play silly buggers with confidence that the bit of plastic in the pocket will cover us in the event of an accident. As both he & I are partly bionic it is important to realise that repairs to our 'bionic' parts will involve a lot of specialist work and so will cost a fortune should we not be covered by an insurance. And that leads to another problem with insurances, you have to declare existing conditions and if you don't the insurance could become nul & void. When you declare those conditions, the insurance company will then write in an exception clause that negates their responsibility for that existing condition -- unless you pay exhorbitant additional amounts on the policy. And as you get older(you know all about that Colin (Battersea) dontcha

) so the cost of insurance increases.
It aint no fun being an old biker, well as far as travel insurance is concerned