Yep, they rely on social media crowdfunding, family members or the UK Consulate to help if things go wrong. Here’s the word;
Half (50%) of UK holidaymakers have travelled abroad without travel insurance according to new research by specialist travel insurance provider, Multitrip.com – leaving themselves potentially exposed to significant medical bills.
The survey of over 1,000 Brits who holiday abroad at least once a year, conducted by Opinium, found that Gen Z (18 – 28) were more likely to do so, with 73% having taken a trip abroad without cover.
Why some travellers have risked travelling without insurance
The most common reasons for travelling uninsured were that the trip felt “too short to need it” (29%), that insurance wasn’t considered necessary (28%) or a willingness to “take the risk” (18%), a sentiment more prevalent among younger travellers. Over one in six (17%) said they were too healthy to need cover, and 14% said they simply forgot, rising to one in five among millennials.
Misunderstanding around the GHIC card and Government support
A number of travellers also appear to be unclear about the cover available to them through existing schemes. Nearly one in five (18%) believed the UK Global Health Insurance Card (GHIC) would replace travel insurance, rising to 34% among Gen Zs.
Meanwhile, 15% believe the UK Government would arrange their repatriation if they fell seriously ill abroad (rising to 34% of Gen Z), and 15% believed the Government would cover their overseas medical bills (rising to 31% of Gen Z).
Christian Bennett of Multitrip.com said: “The GHIC is a sensible addition for any trip to Europe, but it’s not a substitute for travel insurance. It only covers basic state medical care in certain countries and won’t cover an extended stay due to a medical emergency, non-medical issues, or the cost of getting you home.”
The cost of travelling without insurance
Medical costs account for more than two fifths (42%) of all Multitrip.com claims, followed by cancellation (28%). A further 7% of claims relate to loss of personal effects, 6% to travel delay, and 5% to curtailment when a trip has to be cut short.
Examples of individual medical claims include a motorcycle accident in Thailand costing £101,374, a head injury in the British Virgin Islands costing £39,225, and a fractured leg in Mexico costing £35,703. Medical costs for more common ailments can also be significant – dehydration in Spain resulted in a claim of £7,267 and food poisoning in Greece £1,611.
Medical treatment in the USA tends to be more expensive than in many other countries, and this is reflected in Multitrip.com’s claims data. A fractured leg in the USA has cost £280,288, a claim for vomiting has exceeded £7,000, and shoulder pain has resulted in a claim of over £3,000.
Christian Bennett said: “Things can and do go wrong when travelling abroad, and the cost of medical treatment, particularly in some destinations outside of Europe, can be considerable. Even in Europe, medical claims regularly exceed £1,000. Travel insurance is there to provide financial protection if a trip doesn’t go as planned.”
Travel insurance can also provide cover beyond medical costs, including cancellation before departure, lost luggage and missing travel documents. Bennett adds: “We always recommend buying travel insurance at the same time as booking your holiday. That way, cancellation cover is in place from the outset, in case you or a travelling companion is unable to travel.”
Multitrip.com offers a range of policies to suit different needs and budgets. Annual European travel insurance policies start from £19.995. Annual Worldwide incl. USA/Canada travel insurance start from £44.68. Prices exclude £3.95 handling fee. To get an instant quote, visit www.multitrip.com
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