More than one in five people admitted travelling on some holidays completely uninsured in the past 12 months, according to figures released by ABTA today.
Meanwhile, 27% of British holidaymakers have risked invalidating their insurance by not telling their insurance companies about pre-existing medical conditions or by taking part in activities without checking they were covered under the policy.
Ahead of the summer holidays, ABTA is urging holidaymakers to make sure they take out travel insurance which covers their circumstances and the activities they are planning to do.
The most common reason for not buying travel insurance was that people felt it wasn't needed, with some holidaymakers wrongly believing that the European Health Insurance Card (EHIC) would provide sufficient cover.
ABTA said while it is important to have an EHIC card when travelling in Europe, it only provides access to state medical care and does not include repatriation to the UK if you are seriously ill.
For 29% of those who didn't buy insurance, cost was a barrier, while 15% said that they received insurance through their bank account.
ABTA is encouraging people who have travel insurance with their bank to check that it covers their requirements as there may be restrictions around age, health, destination and activities.
ABTA chief executive Mark Tanzer said: "Every year we see cases of people falling into difficulty due to travelling without sufficient travel insurance. While many people are still choosing not to take out travel insurance at all, others are travelling unaware that their insurance policy is not protecting them as they expect.
"While not declaring existing medical conditions or taking part in activities that aren't covered are easy mistakes to make, they can be very costly, leaving holidaymakers and their families with expensive medical bills which run into thousands of pounds. I would urge all holidaymakers to make sure they take out travel insurance and check that it covers their circumstances and holiday plans."
Courtesy of Travelmole
How many times have there been pleas by distraught relatives who find loved ones abroad have no insurance and medical flights cost tens of thousands of pounds ?
Perhaps that could be a check before flights or cruises etc.
Same for those holidaying from abroad to here.
Perhaps that could be a check before flights or cruises etc.
Same for those holidaying from abroad to here.
It is a condition by Tour Operators that you have insurance yet they do nothing to enforce this. When booking a holiday online I tick the box but nobody asks me to prove it. We do have an annual policy. Of course there is also the problm of insurers so often finding reasons not to pay out, forgot to declare you had a nose bleed when you were six and that is a good enough reason for them to say no.
Last year I had an accident broke my collar bone and a couple of ribs and declared it. You will not be covered for anything reulting from these injuries until you are discharged by the hospital as having made a full recovery. Thats what they said. When I was discharged it was another story, a massive increase in the premium whilst specifically excluding the collar bone and the broken ribs. Why? Well you could fall and break them again.
In another case my niece was in an accident when a car on the wrog side of the road hit her car. She had to be cut out, the other driver was prosecuted and jailed. When she climed against his insurance they claimed that her mobility problem following the accident and having knee replacement was due to an unknown injury when she visited the doctor aged SEVEN saying her knee hurt. the accident was 38 years after that doctors visit. She had no problems ith her knee until then.
The insurers don't do themselves any favours.
Last year I had an accident broke my collar bone and a couple of ribs and declared it. You will not be covered for anything reulting from these injuries until you are discharged by the hospital as having made a full recovery. Thats what they said. When I was discharged it was another story, a massive increase in the premium whilst specifically excluding the collar bone and the broken ribs. Why? Well you could fall and break them again.
In another case my niece was in an accident when a car on the wrog side of the road hit her car. She had to be cut out, the other driver was prosecuted and jailed. When she climed against his insurance they claimed that her mobility problem following the accident and having knee replacement was due to an unknown injury when she visited the doctor aged SEVEN saying her knee hurt. the accident was 38 years after that doctors visit. She had no problems ith her knee until then.
The insurers don't do themselves any favours.
Totally agree FWH, I've either watched a TV program or read an article whereby they said travel insurance is more or less useless as the companies will find some loophole in order not to pay out.
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