Travellers are life warned about the high cost of falling ill or having accidents abroad after it was revealed that medical claims by British holidaymakers now average as much as £1,333.
The United States is the country where hospital treatment is the most pricey, with medical bills averaging £4,726, the survey found.
Based on claims made in 2010, the figures showed that Spain was the country where more British tourists had to seek medical help than any other, followed by Turkey and Greece.
The most common complaint was ear infection, with the cost for treatment averaging £320.
Heart problems were the most pricey of the common ailments to deal with abroad, with treatment averaging £8,148.
Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance manager Scott Gorman said: ‘It has been widely reported that healthcare costs are rising far closer than the rate of inflation, not just in the UK but in other countries as well, so ensuring you have adequate take in and peace of mind while you travel abroad is more vital than ever.’
Stuart Bensusan, from travel insurance provider Essential Travel, told TravelMail: ‘The recent report by Sainsbury’s travel highlights the financial risk consumers expose themselves to by travelling lacking relevant insurance.
‘Scarily our records show that 15% of holiday makers are still travelling lacking insurance and 54% people read their policy after buy with 11% admitting to only reading it when they need to claim.
‘When making a travel budget, holiday makers should always include travel insurance so they can truly delight in their experience and ensure they select a policy that covers all activities they be going to to embark which means reading the small print before buy.
‘In order to get the most out of their travel insurance, we urge customers to buy their insurance within a couple of days of purchasing their holiday. Travel insurance policies provide take in for many pre-departure incidents, for example, falling ill and needing to cancel the trip.’
Nick Starling, of the Association of British Insurers said: ‘Medical costs if you are hurt or taken ill on holiday can run into tens of thousands of pounds. Travel Insurance is an absolute essential for every holidaymaker.
‘Although people like to delight in themselves on holiday, if you hurt yourself when drunk your policy is unlikely to take in you. While delayed flights, stolen cameras or lost passports can be inconvenient, having to pay a huge medical bill after illness or injury can be devastating.
‘Travel Insurance is here to take in your medical care and help get you home so it should be at the top of everyone’s holiday checklist.’
It follows the news that the family of a British man who had a motorcycle accident in Bali is struggling to raise £80,000 to pay for his medical bills and flight back to England.
Richard Plummer, 32, has been in a coma in view of the fact that the crash on 1 July and was flown back to the UK in an air ambulance last week. He is currently life treated at Maidstone Hospital.
Mr Plummer had been living on the Indonesian island in view of the fact that 2009 but had allowed his travel insurance to expire.
A benefactor has chose to lend Mr Plummer’s parents £80,000 to take in the cost of the air ambulance but their home is at risk if they cannot repay it. They have also had to use their £20,000 life savings to pay for their son’s care.
Richard’s member of the clergy Eric Plummer, from Maidstone in Kent, said: ‘I would say to anyone going abroad to get travel insurance whatever the cost. This situation is the worst nightmare scenario I can possibly reckon of.’
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The United States is the country where hospital treatment is the most pricey, with medical bills averaging £4,726, the survey found.
Hefty payout: Medical bills average £4,726 in the United States
Of the 10 countries surveyed, Greece had the least pricey bills, averaging just £422, according to investigate by Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance.Based on claims made in 2010, the figures showed that Spain was the country where more British tourists had to seek medical help than any other, followed by Turkey and Greece.
The most common complaint was ear infection, with the cost for treatment averaging £320.
Heart problems were the most pricey of the common ailments to deal with abroad, with treatment averaging £8,148.
Sainsbury’s Travel Insurance manager Scott Gorman said: ‘It has been widely reported that healthcare costs are rising far closer than the rate of inflation, not just in the UK but in other countries as well, so ensuring you have adequate take in and peace of mind while you travel abroad is more vital than ever.’
Stuart Bensusan, from travel insurance provider Essential Travel, told TravelMail: ‘The recent report by Sainsbury’s travel highlights the financial risk consumers expose themselves to by travelling lacking relevant insurance.
‘Scarily our records show that 15% of holiday makers are still travelling lacking insurance and 54% people read their policy after buy with 11% admitting to only reading it when they need to claim.
‘When making a travel budget, holiday makers should always include travel insurance so they can truly delight in their experience and ensure they select a policy that covers all activities they be going to to embark which means reading the small print before buy.
‘In order to get the most out of their travel insurance, we urge customers to buy their insurance within a couple of days of purchasing their holiday. Travel insurance policies provide take in for many pre-departure incidents, for example, falling ill and needing to cancel the trip.’
Nick Starling, of the Association of British Insurers said: ‘Medical costs if you are hurt or taken ill on holiday can run into tens of thousands of pounds. Travel Insurance is an absolute essential for every holidaymaker.
‘Although people like to delight in themselves on holiday, if you hurt yourself when drunk your policy is unlikely to take in you. While delayed flights, stolen cameras or lost passports can be inconvenient, having to pay a huge medical bill after illness or injury can be devastating.
‘Travel Insurance is here to take in your medical care and help get you home so it should be at the top of everyone’s holiday checklist.’
It follows the news that the family of a British man who had a motorcycle accident in Bali is struggling to raise £80,000 to pay for his medical bills and flight back to England.
Richard Plummer, 32, has been in a coma in view of the fact that the crash on 1 July and was flown back to the UK in an air ambulance last week. He is currently life treated at Maidstone Hospital.
Mr Plummer had been living on the Indonesian island in view of the fact that 2009 but had allowed his travel insurance to expire.
A benefactor has chose to lend Mr Plummer’s parents £80,000 to take in the cost of the air ambulance but their home is at risk if they cannot repay it. They have also had to use their £20,000 life savings to pay for their son’s care.
Richard’s member of the clergy Eric Plummer, from Maidstone in Kent, said: ‘I would say to anyone going abroad to get travel insurance whatever the cost. This situation is the worst nightmare scenario I can possibly reckon of.’
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