Don’t Forget Your Travel Insurance Policy!

Don’t forget your toothbrush and don’t forget your travel insurance, if heading abroad.  Nearly one-in-five holidaymakers (19%) admit to having accidentally forgotten to buy travel insurance, at some time in the past, with this rising to almost a quarter of men (24.4%).

These are the findings of a consumer research survey, conducted for Europesure Travel Insurance, a provider of comprehensive travel insurance products to residents of the UK, EU, EEA, Monaco and Gibraltar. It says the result of this forgetfulness can be a huge bill, should you fall ill and need medical attention abroad.

Europesure also highlights how medical costs in foreign countries can be astronomical, especially as much care in some destinations is provided through private hospitals.  You might have no choice but to be taken to one of these. 

Even if you travel with a European Health Insurance Card, this will only entitle you to the same level of care provided to residents of the country you are in, within participating European countries.  You pay what they pay effectively.  But, the card again only helps you out if you are in a state facility, not a private one.  

Similarly, if you are an expat, and return to the UK, you cannot expect to receive the free treatment on the NHS, that you previously enjoyed, if you are permanently based overseas.

If you are travelling to a country notoriously expensive when it comes to medical costs, such as the USA or Canada, the cost of any treatment could be eye-watering.  A ski injury, such as a cruciate ligament injury, which required ACL reconstruction surgery, could easily lead to a bill of 17,000 Canadian dollars (over €11,500), just for the procedure. Add a stay in hospital on to that, and all the care provided there, and the figures soon mount up.

Then, if you needed an air ambulance, special flight arrangement or road ambulance to get you home, you would have to try to arrange this and pay for the immense cost of it. Unless you have a lot of savings, that could prove very tough to finance.  You might even need this sort of medical transportation if you are just returning to the UK from a permanent home abroad and experience a medical issue.

Of course, travel insurance offers you much more than this. You get the assistance of experts who can communicate in the same language as your medical team.  You also have access to cancellation cover, if you cannot travel, plus curtailment protection, if plans are cut short.  

Baggage, money, passport and gadgets can all be covered and you will get liability protection, in case you injure a third party or damage their property whilst on your travels.

The message from Europesure Travel Insurance (europesuretravelinsurance.com) is that the worst thing you can do is forget to buy a policy.  It’s bad enough to trust things to fate but even worse if you come unstuck simply because you forget to buy a policy.

Europesure says the best way to remember to buy travel insurance is to do that when you book the holiday.  It says it’s also how you can get the most from your policy, as your cancellation cover kicks in from the day of purchase with a single trip policy or the day that cover starts with an annual multi-trip policy.

Head to www.europesuretravelinsurance.com to buy your travel insurance before you forget.  Single trip, annual multi-trip and host of optional add-on options are provided and you can also delete any elements you don’t want.  Whatever tier of cover you decide to buy from the three levels available you will at least not be amongst the one-in-five who accidentally forget to buy this vital protection.                                                                                              

Ends

Editors notes

Europesure Travel Insurance is a respected travel insurance provider, offering a range of travel covers to residents of the UK, EU, EEA, Monaco and Gibraltar. With the added peace of mind of having policies backed by Lloyds of London, holidaymakers and travellers can gain peace of mind of knowing their cover will be comprehensive and ready to step in, to offer whatever level of protection was selected, in line with the policy wording and terms and conditions.