FCO urges Brits to upgrade travel insurance

With recent data from the Association of British Insurers (ABI) revealing that the average travel insurance medical claim rose by nearly 10% last year, the Foreign & Commonwealth Office (FCO) is highlighting the risk of taking the ‘Getaway Gamble’ of travelling overseas without adequate insurance. 

Travelling abroad with inadequate cover can cost thousands of pounds if things go wrong – the average cost of a claim for medical expenses rose to £1,022 in 2014 (from £930 in 2013).  This contrasts sharply with the average cost of an annual travel insurance policy, which is £32.

“Rolling the dice, not hedging your bets and being left with a £1,022 bill is no way to start or end a holiday,” the FCO said in a statement.

The FCO is encouraging British nationals to make travel insurance an essential part of their holiday preparation.

As a part of being #TravelAware, the FCO is advising travellers to:

         Ensure they have the level of insurance cover required for their needs and the activities they have planned;

         Answer questions about their medical history fully and honestly with the insurer; they may not be covered if they need to make a claim;

         Bear in mind that travel insurance policies may not cover accidents that occur when someone has not taken reasonable care or had excessive amounts of alcohol;

         Carry an up-to-date European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) if travelling in the European Economic Area,  in addition to valid insurance cover.