The latest update from Staysure for you;
Falling ill on holiday is rarely part of the plan, but new data from specialist travel insurance provider Staysure reveals that everyday ailments are the most common reason travellers need medical support overseas – and many lack the confidence to navigate a foreign healthcare system when they do.
Flu-like symptoms were the leading reason for medical support needed through Staysure’s Travel Doctor service, accounting for more than a third (34%) of 274 categorised cases. Inflammation accounted for a further 21%, followed by orthopaedic issues (14%) and ear, nose and throat (ENT) problems (11%). Together, these four categories represented 81% of recorded cases.
The findings underline how quickly an ordinary illness or health problem can become more complicated when it happens away from home. Almost one in three (32%) of 2,000 UK adults surveyed who had travelled abroad said they had needed medical help while overseas.
Language barriers leave some travellers reluctant to seek help
For many holidaymakers, the challenge is not just feeling unwell but knowing how to explain their symptoms and understand the advice they receive.
More than half (57%) of travellers said they would not feel confident explaining a medical problem to a health professional in the local language, while almost two-thirds (63%) would lack confidence understanding the medical advice given to them.
For some, these concerns have had a more serious consequence: 13% admitted they had avoided seeking medical advice or treatment while abroad.
Among the 253 respondents who had put off seeking help, 55% said they tried to wait until they returned home, while 36% cited language barriers as a reason.
The findings suggest that, alongside the practicalities of finding appropriate care, uncertainty about communicating with medical professionals can be an additional obstacle when travellers need help.
Video consultations offer another route to medical support
Staysure’s Travel Doctor service gives customers abroad access to medical professionals through video consultations, as well as face-to-face appointments at local clinics or customers’ accommodation, subject to availability.
More than half (55%) of appointments between December 2025 and August 2026 took place by video call, compared with 30% at a clinic and 15% at the customer’s accommodation.
Spain accounted for the largest share of appointments (18%), followed by the US and Cyprus (6% each) and Portugal (5%).
The service was used across a broad range of age groups, with travellers aged 30–35 accounting for the largest proportion of appointments (10%), followed by those aged 60–65 and children aged up to five (8% each).
The potential reassurance of access to medical support in English is also reflected in consumer attitudes: nearly eight in ten travellers (79%) said they would be more inclined to choose an insurer offering free, worldwide, 24/7 access to English-speaking medical professionals.
Simon McCulloch, Chief Growth Officer, at Staysure, said:
“Getting ill on holiday can turn an otherwise enjoyable trip on its head. While many of the problems we see are everyday ailments, dealing with them in an unfamiliar country can feel far more daunting – particularly if you are worried about explaining your symptoms or understanding what a doctor is telling you.
“What concerns us is that some travellers are choosing to put off seeking medical advice altogether, with some waiting until they get home. If you are unwell, uncertainty about where to turn or how to communicate should not become another barrier to getting help.
“Before travelling, it is worth checking what medical support your travel insurance provides, how to access it and whether your policy reflects your health and the trip you are taking. Knowing where to turn if you need help can provide valuable reassurance when you are away from home.”
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