Have Asthma, Will Travel

[anaxcrosswords]

It's my road trip again!!!
OK, my daughter is quite severely asthmatic. We're driving from Calais, through Belgium/Luxembourg to Strasbourg, then on through Switzerland and into Italy. The return journey is through France, including a couple of nights in Paris.
She'll have what we hope are all the necessary meds with her, but if there's a severe attack and I need to take her to hospital, how do we stand? Should I be looking to take out some sort of medical insurance? Have to be honest - since this is the first time we've done this sort of trip I just don't know what health provisions are available free of charge (if any) on mainland Europe.

[furrypusscat]

You will need at the very least the European Health Insurance card which you get free. However given your daughter's medical condition you ought to take out medical insurance as the EHIC covers the bare essentials and may not be enough.

[furrypusscat]

Make sure you have spare inhalers and ask advice from your GP as to whether she should have steroids with her as a precaution.
Apply via the link for the EHIC
http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/EHIC/Pages/about-the-ehic.aspx

[slaney]

I would take out health/travel insurance as well as an EHIC card. Some information here about France...

http://www.nhs.uk/NHSEngland/Healthcareabroad/countryguide/Pages/healthcareinFrance.aspx

You can look up Switzerland and Italy on the same site.

[anaxcrosswords]

Thanks fp - I've contacted Bupa who do recommend medical travel insurance, although the dept I need is closed until tomorrow morning.
Xana generally has enough meds with her to form a percussion band!

[sherrardk]

Check your house insurance, we get travel insurance as part of our contents insurance.

[black_cat51]

are you actually serious? A daughter with severe asthma and you wonder if you should take out travel insurance??

[furrypusscat]

It would still be advisable in addition to medical insurance to also apply for the EHIC for each family member. They last 3 years, I renewed mine yesterday on the site mentioned in my earlier posting. Hope you have a good trip.

[furrypusscat]

Sorry that should say 'EHIC lasts for 5 years'

[black_cat51]

i'm also sorry - my reply sounded much more terse than i wanted it to!

[anaxcrosswords]

Blackcat - I'm only asking because I don't know what provisions are available on mainland Europe compared with the UK.

[black_cat51]

yes, i get that but no matter how good the facilities are, what would happen if you/she needed medical repatriation?

[anaxcrosswords]

Don't quite understand EHIC. According to the website you have to be 16 or over. Xana is 15.

[black_cat51]

no, you apply on her behalf. My 2 year old has one

[sherrardk]

All my children have EHIC cards and one of them is 16, you can ring them up too, they are really helpful (when I renew ours I only have to give them my details and they automatically renew all of our cards).

[slaney]

You have to be over 16 to apply yourself..you can apply for younger children. All my grandchildren who are much younger have EHIC cards.

[furrypusscat]

On the site there are a list of questions with answers. A child has to be 16 to apply for one but you as the parent would apply, see below -

You should apply for an EHIC in your name and include your child as your dependant. You will each receive your own EHIC. You can apply for the card free of charge on the official EHIC online application route. Other unofficial websites may charge you if you apply through them. Alternatively, you can apply by calling 0300 3301350.

[slaney]

Scroll down to "How do I get an EHIC card for my child?"

[slaney]

Spot the redundant acronym in my last post...