Insurance in Gran Canaria: Getting Ill on Holiday

Do you really need travel insurance in Gran Canaria ? You’ve saved all your money for months, bought the whole of Boots the chemist in shampoo and sun creams and now you are doing that last minute packing.

Bikini, check, sarong, check, flip flops, check, passport…. Phew yes its in date, check, health insurance, won’t need that, I’ll be on my holidays!

Let’s look at that again. When you are on your holidays, your body unwinds and then decides you now have time to be ill. You trip on some uneven ground or ‘I wonder if I really should have eaten that chicken. I’m not sure if it was cooked enough!

What is the EHIC and Why You Need One?

No one wants or plans to be ill on their holiday. But it is something that you should plan for. Make sure you have a European Health Insurance card (EHIC). It used to be called the E111 and was a form, but things have been upgraded, and we now have a handy little blue card. They are valid for 5 years, so check the date. They are for emergency or necessary treatment, anything that won’t wait until you get home.

Why You Need Travel Insurance in Gran Canaria

THE EHIC doesn’t include repatriation or accommodation for a relative, if you need to delay your flight home. In some countries it may not cover all medical bills, and it certainly doesn’t cover private treatment.

So, in addition, you will need travel insurance, from a reputed company like World Nomads . Many insurance companies specify that you must have the EHIC as well. This means that if the local private facilities cannot manage your condition, you can be transferred to the public hospitals. Travel insurance will include the parts that the EHIC doesn’t cover, but you must make sure that they know about any pre existing conditions, even one that you saw your own GP about just before you left home, a chest infection for example. A few days before you leave, you develop a bad cough. You visit your GP who gives you some antibiotics. After a few days of your holiday, you take a turn for the worse. You end up with pneumonia in hospital. The travel insurance will be in contact with your GP who will confirm that this was a pre existing condition!

Where Can You Use Your EHIC

The card can only be used in the state run hospitals and clinics. In Spain the health centres are called “centro de salud” or "ambulatorios". In the south of Gran Canaria, we have one in Maspalomas covering the area of Playa del Ingles, Maspalomas, San Fernando, San Agustin, and one in Arguineguin covering the area of Arguineguin, Patalavaca, Anfi, Puerto Rico, Tauro, Taurito and Mogan. Make sure you have your passport and the EHIC with you.

Private Clinic Doctors: What to Look Out for

If you fall ill in your hotel and call reception for a home visit from a doctor, this will be from a private clinic. You will probably find that you have to pay cash for your treatment in a private clinic. They will provide you with a receipt and then you can claim back on your return home. Keep all receipts, including those for medication. You will have an excess on your policy and so may not get all your money back. Sometimes you can pay a little extra to cover the excess too, but you will still have to pay the clinic the full amount. Generally the clinics only get involved with the insurers when the costs are high or you are admitted to hospital.

Unfortunately, there are still places that may give more treatment than is strictly necessary. If you are unsure about your treatment, or feel you are seeing the doctor more times than necessary, then contact your insurers. They can speak to the clinic to confirm your treatment and your needs or concerns.

What does Travel Insurance in Gran Canaria Cover

Another thing to remember is that travel insurance usually does not cover anything related to alcohol or sunburn.

Those that think that the EHIC is enough for your holidays are also forgetting that travel insurance also covers, cancelled flights, lost luggage, stolen cameras or smartphones, and all those other things that we don’t think will happen to us.

Travel insurance: simple & flexible

You can buy, extend and claim online, even after you've left home. Travel insurance from WorldNomads.com is available to people from over 140 countries. It’s designed for adventurous travellers with cover for overseas medical, evacuation, baggage and a range of adventure sports and activities.

7 things you should know about travel insurance from WorldNomads.com

1. Trusted reliable underwriters
   WorldNomads.com is backed by a suite of strong, secure, specialist travel insurers who provide you with great cover, 24 hour emergency assistance and the highest levels of support and claims management when you need it most.
2. Value for money with the cover you need
   WorldNomads.com provides cover for what's important for travellers from over 150 countries. By focussing on what you need and leaving out what you don't, World Nomads prices are some of the most competitive online.
3. Flexibility when you need it most
   Had a change of plans? You can extend your policy or claim online while you are still away. You can even buy a World Nomads policy if you're already travelling.
4. Cover for a range of adventure activities
   From skiing & snowboarding in New Zealand to whitewater rafting in Colorado, WorldNomads.com covers a range of adventure activities, giving you peace of mind to get the most from your travels.
5. World Nomads keeps you travelling safely
   All WorldNomads.com members have access to up-to-date travel safety alerts, as well as travel safety advice and tips online through the World Nomads Travel Safety Hub.
6. More than just great value travel insurance
   All WorldNomads.com members can learn the local lingo through a series of iPod & iPhone Language Guides and can stay in touch with family and friends with an online travel journal.
7. Commitment to exceptional customer service
   We want to make sure you get the most from WorldNomads.com. You can find out more about why travel insurance is important for your trip. If you have any questions about your travel insurance or travel safety in general, please contact WorldNomads.com directly.

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