Holidaymakers are well aware there will be spending involved on their trip, but this is usually reserved for evening dinners, cocktails on the beach and souvenirs to take back home. However, it has been revealed that forgetting to invest in one small item could see them with eye-watering fees maxing out more than the cost of the average wedding. Brand new research has revealed that one in 10 Britons risk going abroad without appropriate travel insurance. This figure was uncovered by travel insurer CoverForYou, who analysed data from real medical claims to reveal the shocking sums foreign medical care can total.
One of the most shocking incidents saw one British traveller faced with the devastating news of a brain tumour while enjoying a holiday in the US.
With immediate surgery a necessity, the patient was transferred to a more equipped medial facility and operated on, before being repatriated back to the UK.
Without the cushion of travel insurance this dramatic incident would have cost the traveller a whopping £102.6k.
It isn’t just major surgery that can result in scary medical bills.
The result of a taxi fender bender left a tourist in Thailand with a bill of £100.4k, meanwhile a skiing incident in Austria stung another traveller £20k worth of fees.
Even something as simple as slipping over in the rain while exploring the sites of Spain can result in a hefty bill – £14.8k to be exact.
Healthcare costs are reportedly on the rise, having soared 9.7 percent globally last year.
Meanwhile volatility for the pound as a result of current political changes means exchange rates could further impact these creeping health care costs.
Neil Wright, CoverForYou Managing Director, said: “We Brits take healthcare for granted on holiday, forgetting that it won’t be there for us in the same way when we’re abroad.
“As our stats show, without the right travel insurance even an innocent fall on holiday could cost thousands.
“With healthcare costs increasing 9.7 per cent globally last year – three times the rate of general inflation – and the pound continuing to suffer against the Euro and Dollar (meaning you have exchange rates as well as hospital bills to contend with), there’s never been a better time to get covered with the right travel insurance.”
Aside from medial coverage, travel insurance policies offer additional support for all kinds holiday nightmares.
Certain packages also offer protection for personal possessions, cancellations and repatriation should you be stranded overseas.
This is particularly relevant for travellers who recently found themselves trapped in over 50 countries around the world following the collapse of British travel agent Thomas Cook.
While the British government did step in to repatriate stranded tourists world wide, many holidaymakers ran into trouble as the result of unpaid bills incurred during their stay.
One key thing to be on the look out for is ATOL protection.
Following Thomas Cook’s administration The CAA said in a statement: “If you received an ATOL Certificate, you should check the section: ‘Who is protecting your trip?’
“If the company stated on your ATOL certificate is not part of the Thomas Cook Group you should contact that company directly to seek advice on your booking.”
