Travel insurance claims for Britons without insurance – or with faulty and incorrect insurance details – have rocketed to an average £2,300 bill per trip. This could see the price of their actual holiday doubled or even trebled, according to worrying statistics revealed by the Association of British Insurers. They showed the figure passed £1,300 for the first time ever in 2018 – reaching £1,368. Equally concerning is the amount of Britons needing medical assistance abroad, which has surged to 3,000 a week.
In light of that, the ABI is urging consumers to buy cover sooner rather than later, with the correct requirements covered.
ABI’s Senior Travel Policy Adviser, Charlie Campbell, said: “The fact that a quarter of Brits travel abroad without the right travel insurance is incredibly worrying.
“Few people have the luxury of being able to afford a surprise £800 bill, let alone one that runs into the tens or hundreds of thousands if they fall ill abroad.
“Anyone travelling this summer should avoid unnecessary financial and emotional stress by ensuring they have the right cover in place.
“As not all policies are the same, people should look for cover that meets their needs, rather than the cheapest option.”
Meanwhile, the figures also revealed how claims can easily reach the tens of thousands of pounds.
One recent example flagged by the body saw a couple in America require nearly £600,000 worth of support from their travel insurer.
The ABI’s figures also show that the total amount paid to Brits abroad in 2018 – at £400 million – was at its highest level since 2010.
In the past 10 years, the average medical claim has nearly doubled from £768 in 2008.
As well as travel insurance, pet passport warnings have also been issued in a similar urgent warning for British pet owners.
