Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
06 June 2017 09:05
Travel insurance is important for overseas travellers
Travel insurance claims worth around £1 million were paid out every day in 2016 on average, new industry data reveals.
According to the Association of British Insurers (ABI), some £370 million was paid out to 480,000 travellers and their families last year. And that breaks down to roughly £1 million every day.
Lost baggage and emergency medical treatment were among the costs covered by travel insurance.
The annual sum of £370 million is the highest witnessed since 2010, when many travellers were caught up in the Icelandic ash cloud incident.
Along with medical and baggage-related costs, some £130 million was paid out for cancelled holidays in 2016.
Shopping around
With the traditional summer holiday season fast approaching, the ABI has urged people to shop around for a travel insurance policy that is suited to their needs.
While typical medical claims amount to £1,300 and cancellation claims come to £816, it said travel cover usually only costs Britons around £37. And single trip policies can be particularly inexpensive.
Warning over unexpected costs
Mark Shepherd from the ABI said medical costs and repatriation fees can ultimately amount to tens of thousands of pounds.
He said: "Travel insurance is not a nice thing to have but should be an essential purchase. Insurers support and help thousands of travellers and their families should the worst happen, paying nearly nine in 10 claims that are made."
The association is now recommending that people shop around for the right travel insurance - with the cheapest policy not necessarily the best for their needs.
It adds that a valid European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) can also come in handy for those holidaying on the continent, while checking the official Foreign and Commonwealth Office travel advice and information pages is also a good idea.
The ABI believes people should inform their insurer of any medical conditions they have up-front, so that their policy remains valid.
17 January 2019
Campaigners are protesting outside the High Court in London as the legal challenge against Heathrow Airport's controversial expansion ramps up.
[more...]
16 January 2019
A new way to predict a woman's risk of breast cancer has been unveiled by scientists - and it's the most comprehensive method yet.
15 January 2019
NHS commissioners could be slapped with a £2,500 fine for every patient left waiting more than a year for vital care, new proposals suggest.
12 January 2019
All UK airports should buy anti-drone technology and not rely on the Royal Air Force to help out, Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson has said.
10 January 2019
The military was brought in on Tuesday night after police officers saw a drone operating at Heathrow Airport, forcing departures to be suspended for an hour.
11 January 2019
A so-called "drug sponge" that mops up leftover drugs from cancer treatment could improve the effectiveness of chemotherapy, new research has claimed.
09 January 2019
A hormone released during exercise could help protect the brain from Alzheimer's disease, new research suggests.
08 January 2019
Ryanair has been labelled the worst airline operating in the UK for the sixth year running in a leading consumer group survey.
05 January 2019
Anti-drone technology will be deployed at the UK's two busiest airports in response to the disruption caused before Christmas.
04 January 2019
A new cancer-detecting breathalyser test is being trialled in the UK - in a move that could revolutionise the way the disease is diagnosed.
03 January 2019
The average 10-year-old child will have already eaten more sugar in their life than the maximum amount recommended for 18-year-olds, a new study reveals.
01 January 2019
The number of travellers satisfied with flying has fallen over the last two years over frustration with how airlines handle complaints, new research reveals.