FCO: Don't get caught out without travel insurance

19 July 2012 15:09:38

Brits should always buy travel insurance before heading overseas.

If you're about to jet off without travel insurance, new figures from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) might make you think again. The department's latest report on Brits abroad shows that 70 Britons were hospitalised each week last year. And those without travel cover are likely to have been handed large bills for their treatment, with even higher costs incurred by those needing repatriation to the UK.

Holiday hotspots record rise in cases
The Foreign Office figures show that traditional holiday hotspots such as Spain, Greece and Egypt have witnessed an increase in the number of hospitalisations involving Brits. On average, 10 UK citizens were hospitalised abroad each day in 2011, according to the 'British Behaviour Abroad' report.

Figures contained in the report reveal that more than three in 10 hospitalisations involving British holidaymakers occurred in Spain. And of these, more than half took place on the party islands of Majorca and Ibiza, which have witnessed a significant rise in cases over the past two years.

Brits unaware of need for travel cover
One of the main problems is that many Brits assume they are entitled to free hospital care while overseas. Research by the Foreign Office found that 48% of people did not know they would have to pay their own medical bills if taken ill or injured abroad, unless they had purchased travel insurance in advance. Overseas medical treatment can cost thousands of pounds and the cost of flights home could be prohibitive for those needing an air ambulance.

FCO urges holidaymakers to buy insurance
Jeremy Browne, minister for consular services, said that many people regret not taking out comprehensive travel insurance. He also revealed: "We witness many cases where people have invalidated their policy - perhaps by not declaring a pre-existing medical condition or not checking their policy covers a particular activity, such as hiring a moped. I urge anyone heading overseas this summer to research their destination, take out comprehensive travel insurance, and carefully check the small print of their policy."

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