Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30 | Sat 09:00 - 16:00 (GMT)
06 February 2013 10:00
A poll shows that many people believe wrongly that travel insurance is unnecessary
Travel insurance is wrongly thought to be unnecessary by many people who believe the Government will pay for any treatment if they fall ill while overseas, according to Abta. The UK travel trade association for tour operators and travel agents produced a poll which said 16% of consumers hold this mistaken view, and 17% assume wrongly that they do not require insurance in Europe as they have a European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
However, this just provides for basic state medical care, not costs for returning home. The poll adds that one-third of 15-24s believe the ETHIC will cover returning-home costs. An ETHIC provides access to free or reduced cost basic state-funded care, although private treatment or repatriation are covered by full travel insurance.
Travellers must take out comprehensive medical travel insurance for travelling abroad as the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) cannot pay medical bills. Lynda St Cooke, of the FCO, said: "We also advise reading the small-print to check that your policy covers you for everything you want to do on holiday. If in doubt, contact your insurance provider." The foreign office website provides advice on what travellers need to do at www.fco.gov.uk/travel.
19 April 2018
A self-injected smart drug may be the key to easing and preventing pain for migraine sufferers.
[more...]
17 April 2018
Despite its reputation as a party drug, ketamine is licensed as an anaesthetic. A recent US study found use of the drug via a nasal spray led to "significant" improvements in depressive symptoms in the first 24 hours.
Simple brain-training exercises carried out at home have been shown to reduce emotional stress in female breast cancer survivors, it's recently been revealed.
13 April 2018
Drinkers who consume more alcohol than UK guidelines suggest could be cutting years off their lives, according to new research.
12 April 2018
A recent study has revealed that people who sustain brain injuries are at an increased risk of developing dementia later in life.
11 April 2018
Scientists have announced their latest breakthrough in the battle against Alzheimer's disease, after neutralising a high-risk gene in a human brain cell for the first time.
07 April 2018
The Philippines is set to shut its most famous holiday island of Boracay for six months, after the President described it as a "cesspool".
05 April 2018
Taxes on soft drinks, alcohol and tobacco - nicknamed "sin taxes" - could be a powerful step towards combating rising rates of chronic diseases worldwide, research has suggested.
New "one-stop shops" to speed up cancer diagnosis are being trialled across the country for the first time.
30 March 2018
Doctors should tell patients that e-cigarettes are less harmful than smoking but not without risk, according to new national guidance.
29 March 2018
Young people suffering from mental health problems are finding it hard to get the support they need, a survey has revealed.
28 March 2018
Children exposed to epilepsy drugs in the womb may achieve poorer test results at school, a study has suggested.