FCO urges Britons to get insured

07 June 2011 10:11

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is calling on people to get insured ahead of embarking on a trip abroad

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office is calling on people to get insured ahead of embarking on a trip abroad

The Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) is calling on overseas travellers to make sure they have a comprehensive travel insurance policy in place ahead of embarking on a trip to stay with family and friends.

According to statistics, around 12 million Britons are likely to visit friends and family abroad this year.

Nearly eight in 10 (77%) of those who are visiting friends and family this year but are not planning to take out travel insurance said saving money is an important factor in this decision.

The FCO warned that avoiding medical travel insurance can be a false economy, as overseas medical costs could be high. Meanwhile, loss of valuable possessions may also cause financial problems.

It is encouraging British nationals to take out travel insurance as part of its Know Before You Go campaign.

Research by the Foreign Office showed that a third of those who stayed with loved ones overseas did not take out insurance on their last trip.

Young travellers are more inclined towards buying a gift for their hosts overseas than getting insured.

Jeremy Browne, minister for consular affairs, said: "Take the same steps before you go as you would for any other holiday, such as taking out travel insurance and doing some pre-trip research, to ensure you are prepared if something does go wrong."

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