Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
16 March 2015 08:43
Uninsured travellers can be left out of pocket
British holidaymakers jetting off to sunnier climes in Europe this year are being urged to be prepared.
The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) warns that travelling abroad uninsured can cost thousands of pounds if something goes wrong.
A sprained ankle in a popular holiday resort like Corfu could leave you £500 out of pocket, while a serious incident that requires the call-out of an air ambulance in southern Spain could set you back up to £25,000.
Travel insurance is therefore essential for any trip overseas, whether you are going away for a weekend or a couple of weeks.
It gives you peace of mind to enjoy the sun, sand and sea with your loved ones.
High costs
To help sun-seekers understand the money involved, the FCO compared the costs of medical treatments abroad without insurance with what you could spend the money on, if you take out insurance.
It claims you could spend the £500 saved on a sprained ankle on a designer handbag, and the £25,000 on calling out the air ambulance on a deposit for a house.
Stitches in Tenerife would also cost you £500, while an MRI scan in Ibiza would leave you £1,000 in the red.
That is the equivalent of a yearly gym membership and a high specification laptop.
Emergency surgery for a broken leg in Palma would leave your wallet £6,145 lighter - money that could be spent on a brand new car.
Avoid nightmare trips
John Heppenstall, FCO head of consular campaigns, says investing in travel insurance and understanding what you are covered for can make all the difference between the holiday of a lifetime and a nightmare trip.
He claims travellers looking to bag cheap holidays could end up getting more than they bargained for, if they fail to protect themselves.
Figures show that over two million young people between the ages of 18 and 30 took out travel insurance in 2013.
But the FCO wants to see more individuals - both young and old - follow suit this year.
16 February 2019
Holidaymakers were left fuming after a "lack of clarity" over Brexit led a Romanian airline to cancel flights from Liverpool's John Lennon Airport.
[more...]
15 February 2019
British Airways celebrated Valentine's Day with a special flight where all members of the cabin crew were couples who work for the airline.
14 February 2019
The "concerning" level of stigma surrounding the human papilloma virus (HPV) could be putting some women off going for vital check-ups, campaigners are warning.
13 February 2019
Older people living with depression should be given better access to community activities and therapy instead of being prescribed antidepressants, researchers have urged.
12 February 2019
The Government has been criticised for failing to act on warnings about the link between processed meats and cancer, by the scientist who co-authored the original advice.
09 February 2019
A grandfather who has battled three types of cancer is cycling from Twickenham to Tokyo in time for the Rugby World Cup - all in aid of charity.
08 February 2019
Lovers of traditional fish and chips are embracing a more health-conscious version of their favourite food, a new study suggests.
07 February 2019
Two thirds of UK adults don't know they're able to lower their risk of developing dementia, new research has shown.
06 February 2019
More than 600 people a day are quitting their jobs to care for relatives, a charity has warned.
05 February 2019
Millennials in the US face an increasing risk of developing an obesity-related cancer, a new study has revealed.
02 February 2019
More than 100 people sought refuge at a pub high on Bodmin Moor overnight after heavy snowfall hit the A30, leading many stranded motorists to abandon their cars.
01 February 2019
Smokers are almost twice as likely to quit with the help of e-cigarettes than if they rely on nicotine patches or gum, a study has found.