Golf Breaks In Spain

International tourists who travel to Andalucia in 2021 will now be provided with free COVID-19 health insurance. This is thanks to a new initiative from the Andalucian Tourist Board.

Europ Assistance have underwritten the new scheme. It will provide cover up until December 31, 2021. Aiming to entice holidaymakers back to the region in the wake of the Coronavirus pandemic.

The regional government, along with the regional Ministry of Tourism hopes the new measure will help to position Andalucia as a safe holiday destination. Especially for golfers and others looking to enjoy a break in the Spanish sunshine.

In order to benefit from the new insurance, travellers must be staying in an officially regulated establishment. The cover will therefore not be available to those staying in private villa and apartment rentals.

All of the Golf Breaks In Spain packages feature accommodations are covered under the new medical insurance scheme.

It is unknown just how many people will potentially benefit from the new measure given the current travel restrictions. Under normal circumstances, around 11 million travellers visit the region each year. They would therefore be eligible for cover.

There are no age restrictions, although the cover does not include any prior conditions.

The free medical insurance covers:-

Medical, Surgical and Hospitalisation Costs

• Medical and surgical costs
• Pharmaceutical costs related to the recovery from COVID-19
• Hospitalisation costs

The above covers the patients and their companions along with their ascendants (parents, children, grandparents, grandchildren) of both members of the couple.

Medical Costs, of Transportation and Repatriation

• Ambulance costs or transportation of the patient from the place of the first diagnosis to the hospital prescribed by the attending doctor.
• Costs of returning to the holiday destination from the hospital where the patient has been treated.
• Repatriation by air ambulance if warranted by the emergency or seriousness of the case (Europe and Mediterranean Rim countries only).  Scheduled medical flights are used for passengers from other countries.

Transportation and Repatriation

• If a patient with COVID-19 needs to be transported or repatriated, their insured companions will also be covered by this insurance. Accordingly, the insurer will cover the costs of their transportation or repatriation, either to their habitual residence or to the place where the repatriated patient is hospitalised.
• The rights of the insureds’ return tickets will be exercised by the insurer.
• If the insureds are minors or disabled and have no trusted companion, a responsible person will accompany them to the patient’s place of residence or hospitalisation.

Transportation and Repatriation in the Event of Death Due to COVID-19

• The insurance covers the necessary arrangements in the place of the customer’s death.
• The costs of the companions’ transportation to the place of burial are covered, and the rights of the return tickets will be exercised by the insurer.
• If the insureds are minors or disabled and have no trusted companion, a responsible person will accompany them to the patient’s place of residence or hospitalisation.

Cost of Extended Hotel Stay for Insured and Companion

• Cover includes the insured’s stay at a hotel following hospitalisation or prescribed medical quarantine.

Please note that cover is provided up to a maximum of €4,000 for surgical, pharmaceutical and hospitalisation due to COVID-19.

Medical repatriation and repatriation are also included with a total claim up to the maximum of €5,000.

Full details of the cover can be seen at the link below.

https://multimedia.andalucia.org/

All of the details can be seen via Andalucia.org here.

https://www.andalucia.org/en/travel-assistance-insurance

Please note that the free COVID-19 cover is not a replacement for travel insurance which will cover you for other eventualities while travelling abroad such as lost luggage or flight cancellations.

Making a Claim

In the event that you need to make a claim, a 24-hour support helpline is provided.

Please call +34 915 149 841 or email gestion_pagos@europ-assistance.es

Europ Assistance must be contacted immediately in the event that you need to make a claim. You must quote reference 45G.

You will be asked to provide details including name, surname, present location, contact number and details of the claim and any assistance you may require.

EHIC/GHIC Card

Following the recent Brexit agreement, the existing EHIC (European Health Insurance Card) will gradually be phased out in 2021.

Replacing this is a similar card which will be known as the GHIC (Global Health Insurance Card).

From January 2021, anyone who does not have an EHIC can apply for the new GHIC card via the official website.

If you are already the holder of the old-style EHIC, you do not need to apply for the GHIC and will be covered while abroad until your EHIC has expired. This could be up to five years depending on when you received your card.

Both of these cards provide you with emergency medical treatment while abroad at the same cost as local residents. In many cases, this will be free.

The EHIC/GHIC cards will cover you while playing golf in Spain and other parts of Europe although they do not cover you for use in Schengen countries including Norway, Iceland, Liechtenstein and Switzerland.