The risk of travelling abroad without insurance

Paying for medical care abroad has become even more expensive, warns Direct Line Travel Insurance, and so cutting back on insurance cover could turn out to be a false economy.

Direct Line's figures show that in 2007 the average claim for medical care was £427, rising to £678 in 2008. This represents a 58 per cent increase in costs between 2007 and 2008, which could rise even further this year.

The European Health Insurance Card (EHIC), formally know as the E111, is a must-have when travelling in Europe as it facilitates access to healthcare abroad. However, it may not cover all that could be required, such as long-term treatment. Even less severe cases, such as having a broken leg may result in medical repatriation becoming necessary as airlines may not be able fully accommodate you with the extra room and expense required. This would result in further costs which can run into the thousands of pounds and will not be covered by the EHIC.

Direct Line travel insurance policies will cover a flight to get a patient back home or, if necessary, fly them to the nearest suitable medical facility for emergency treatment, before arranging a homeward journey.

Other services which Direct Line travel insurance polices will provide that the EHIC won't include are:

Advice to the nearest suitable medical facility
Translation facilities
English doctors if necessary for telephone consultation

The typical costs for these flights, which may include a medical escort or specialist seating arrangements, are shown in the table below:

Average medical repatriation costs incurred by Direct Line

Spain (Cantabria) to London £17,500
France (Grenoble) to London £11,750
Canary Islands to London £22,500
Malta to London £18,125
Athens (Greece) to London £20,625
Cyprus to London £21,000
Bruges (Belgium) to London £5,300
Italy (Rome) to London £16,875
Germany (Frankfurt) to London £7,500

Chris Price, Head of Direct Line Travel Comments: "Being caught without insurance in the event of an accident or falling ill could lead to you paying out hundreds, if not thousands, of pounds in medical care and repatriation costs.

"Carrying an EHIC is a sensible way to ensure easy access to the local health service during a temporary stay in another European country, and it also provides additional benefits for healthcare providers and patients alike, such as simpler and faster procedures for obtaining healthcare and quick and easy reimbursement of expenses. However, it is not a travel insurance replacement. We advise all holidaymakers to protect themselves by making sure they are insured against any losses in case the worst happens."

Direct Line's travel insurance policies cover the following:

Medical and Emergency Expenses up to £5 million per person including medical repatriation
Personal Possessions up to £1,500 per person with a single valuable limit of £300
Personal Money up to £500 per person with a cash limit of £250
Cancellation of up to £5,000
Personal Accident up to £25,000 per person
Personal Liability up to £2 million per person
Delayed Departure up to £200 per person
Loss of Passport up to £250 per person
Legal Assistance up to £50,000 per person