According
to the ABTA Holiday Habits report 2017 it stated that the number of people
travelling abroad on holiday increased from 55% to a high of 57%. Travelling seems
to have become more of a lifestyle necessity than a luxury, we’ve teamed up
with TRUE Solicitors LLP, accident
at work claims specialists, to investigate whether Brits are taking out
insurance before jetting off, what their insurance actually covers and how
certain aspects of their behaviors can actually invalidate their claims.
Are people insuring themselves before they board the plane?
According
to ABTA, in the 12 months leading up to May 2017, a total of 25% of
holidaymakers weren’t insured on their trip, which is up by 3% on May 2016’s
results. However, this differed between age ranges but was commonly amongst young
people travelling abroad.
Results
from May 2016 found that 31% of 18-24-year-olds weren’t insured when they went
abroad. This figure increased by 9% in the following year. 25-34-year-olds were
also guilty of this risky move, with 31% of jet-setters not insured in 2016 —
growing to 38% in 2017. Does this mean we need to educate the youngsters the
importance of buying holiday insurance and the consequences of not?
The
only age bracket to show a positive decrease from 2016 to 2017 was
35-44-year-olds. Obviously us oldies are more worried about all the “what if?”
scenarios. However, this drop was marginal, down to 25% from 26%. For people
aged 45-54, 20% of travelers weren’t insured for their trip in 2016, a figure
that grew by 3% in 2017. Those aged 55 and over remained the same over the two
years, with just 14% not taking out insurance before their trip. If you fell
ill and required hospital treatment privately abroad do you have the money in
your bank to cover? If worse surgery was required you can rack up thousands
easily.
For
those who travelled without insurance, 36% said that they didn’t think that
they needed it. Although refusing to buy insurance will have short-term
financial benefits, the savings made don’t compare to the detrimental financial
situation you could be in if something was to go wrong abroad. Despite this,
22% said that it was a risk they were willing to take.
Lots
of people wrongly assume that when they’re travelling in Europe, they don’t
need insurance because they have an European Health Insurance Card (EHIC).
However, this is not the case, as EHIC is only valid for medical necessities
within the European Union and the European Economic Area (EEA) in state
hospitals. It has been advised by the FCO that all people wishing to travel
outside of their country should also have comprehensive travel insurance as
this will likely cover repatriation in the case of a medical emergency. Do we
need to include this in our education system so children are taught at a young
age the importance of buying insurance soon as any holiday is booked.
With
Britain soon set to leave the European Union after the Brexit vote, it is
unclear what will happen in terms of the EHIC. What we do know is that those who
are officially living abroad for work or study on the day the UK officially leaves
the EU — their card will continue to prove eligibility for the same
state-funded healthcare as the citizens of the country receive.
The things you
need to know about travel insurance.
Insurance
is all about covering the unpredictable events that may occur before your
holiday or when you finally reach your destination. It is advised that you
purchase your insurance as soon as you book your holiday, as it can cover
potential pre-trip illness and cancellations. It really is a small financial
decision that can save you a fortune in the long run for the unknown.
It’s
important that you analyse the policies that come with any travel insurance you
purchase, as different companies will offer different levels of coverage. This
is the bit I always struggle with depending where we are going. It is unlikely that
they will cover high-risk activities eg: bungee jumpking / diving. It’s important
to consider what type of holiday you’re going on — if it’s active like skiing,
you must inform your insurer to get the best cover.
Don’t
forget the small print most people are usually stung on. For example, if you’ve
consumed alcohol and need medical attention some insurance companies will
reject your claim — in extreme cases, they could seek out court rulings and
will supply the court with medical records that say you had alcohol in your
blood. It’s important to remember that in hot countries, your body will absorb
alcohol more easily too.
If
you have something stolen from you when you’re abroad, you must have
substantial evidence that will back your claims. So once reported to the
police, you must ensure that you receive a copy of the police report so that
can prove your loss — within 24 hours too. Many companies will reject your
claim if the items that have been stolen are left unattended in your room and
you haven’t used the hotel’s safe.
Another
worrying factor that you should be aware of before travelling is that if your
travel company was to go out of business, you would not be covered. However,
when it comes to the airline going out of business, you may be covered but could
be required to pay an extra premium.
Only
in exceptional circumstances may insurance companies waiver the decision to
cover terrorism or natural disasters such as earthquakes, tsunamis and
lightning strikes.
Most
common injuries to occur abroad
Research
has suggested that 74-80% deaths abroad are caused from natural circumstances
like heart attacks. However, the same source found that 18-24% occur due to
accidents and 2% from infectious diseases. Two thirds of holidaymakers worry
about getting sick when they’re away, but it’s inevitable when results show
that one in 20 trips can include sickness or injury.
Slips,
trips and falls are some of the most common causes of injuries when holidaying
abroad and this is sometimes caused by uneven carpets or flooring that has not
been properly maintained. Take note of signs to ensure you’re not at risk of
injury through slippery or uneven floors.
As
we drive on the left here in the UK, facing foreign roads can sometimes be a
challenge and leave us confused at times.
You might be trying to follow directions or the GPS on your phone — but
you must stay alert and not get distracted to avoid any type of road traffic
accident.
Of
course, you want to have fun when you’re on holiday and you don’t want to miss
out on any sport excursions. If you have concerns, you must ask the organisers as
high risk activities can invalidate any insurance policies if you’re not
properly protected.
The
cost of such injuries can be excessive too, with the average medical claim
costing £914. However, for 65-74-year olds, this cost increases to £971.63. One
example provided by the FCO stated that one stomach bug infection that was
treated in a Californian hospital cost £100,000, including return flights back
home.
48%
of people don’t realise that without travel insurance, they’d have to pay for
their own medical bills when they’re abroad. 78% said that they wouldn’t be
able to pay just £10,000 to cover the costs that could present themselves,
which you can easily rack up abroad.
So
in all, it’s vital for people to take out the right insurance policy for their
needs when they travel abroad and fully understand what they are and aren’t
covered for. With Brexit just around the corner, and the fate of the EHIC
unknown, will we see an increase in the number of people taking out insurance?
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