All Policies Include Coronavirus Cover
Call for an instant quote 0345 90 80 161
Open Mon to Fri 09:00 - 17:30
20 July 2012 09:21
Last year an average of 10 Britons a day had to be admitted to hospital while abroad, according to official figures
A minister has urged holidaymakers to take out travel insurance after new figures released by the Foreign Office revealed a rise in the number of people requiring help from British consulates when abroad last year.
Figures for 2011/12 revealed that Spain and the USA were the countries with the most cases of consular assistance required by Brits, with 5,405 and 1,822 respectively.
Excluding statistics for passports, the number of consular assistance cases rose 3% - from 19,228 in 2010/11 to 19.874 in 2011/12.
The statistics, referring to holidaymakers and ex-pats, showed that an average of 10 Britons per day were admitted to hospital last year. There were 3,739 hospital admissions in 2011/12 compared with 3,752 in 2010/11.
Hospital admissions recorded a 132% rise in Majorca when compared to two years earlier, with car accidents and balcony incidents among the most common causes for a trip to the hospital.
The Philippines needed the most consular assistance when the number of British visitors and residents was compared to the number of people requiring help.
Consular services minister Jeremy Browne said: "We witness many cases where people have invalidated their policy - perhaps by not declaring a pre-existing medical condition or not checking their policy covers a particular activity, such as hiring a moped.
"I urge anyone heading overseas this summer to research their destination, take out comprehensive travel insurance, and carefully check the small print of their policy."
Martin Rothwell, Managing Partner at Rothwell & Towler, said: "Medical emergencies abroad can cost a fortune and holidaymakers need to remember that without adequate travel insurance they will be left to foot the bills if they fall ill or have an accident while on holiday.
"But you also need to make sure your travel insurance covers you, so check the policy carefully especially if you have any pre-existing medical conditions or intend to partake in sports such as banana boating, jet skinning or scuba diving - all of which can sometimes be excluded under the terms of standard travel insurance policies."
17 March 2020
Escape it all with a visit to one of the world's hidden island gems.
[more...]
02 July 2021
It's time for some Mediterranean sun and unforgettable sights. Here are five of our favourite must-sees in Malta.
Take your pick of the best beaches in Portugal, spanning more than 500 miles of the Portuguese coastline.
Holidays are back but not quite as we know them. Here's a quick guide to what to expect when travelling to and from green list countries.
28 February 2020
From tulip-filled trips to rose-tinged rests, these destinations are the perfect way to see in the new season.
04 January 2021
Join us on a journey to Ancient Greece to discover more about history's most revered statue.
Head north for a light show like no other. Discover how you can see the Northern Lights for yourself.
Discover more about the magnificent waterfall perched on the border of Zambia and Zimbabwe.
10 December 2020
Don't sleep on the world's most impressive dormant volcano.
A destination that stands head and shoulders above the rest.
19 November 2020
Take a tour of one of South America's most captivating natural landscapes.
Discover the hidden depths of the world's most recognisable desert gorge.