How much cover for medical emergency and repatriation

Some people don’t think of getting travel insurance because they don’t feel the need or they don’t have any idea of the coverage travel insurance can provide. If you’re a frequent traveler, getting annual holiday insurance is the smart thing to do as it gives you the peace of mind that you are covered for al your trips away in case an emergency happens.

As a matter of fact, almost 10% of people who travel claim on their travel insurance with claims that reach up to hundreds of thousands of pounds. Like most kinds of insurance, travel insurance is a diverse product that has numerous sections of coverage such as medical expenses (which accounts for almost 50% of claims) trip cancellation, and damage or loss of valuable possessions.

Medical claims alone cost a great deal of money depending on the gravity of the situation. For example:

• If you’re trying out an extreme sport in Spain and ended up having a multiple fracture in your leg, this would cost over £10,000 to get fixed in a private Spanish clinic.

• If you suffer from excessive sunburn and dehydration after too much sunbathing under the Tuscan sun, treatment in Italy would cost roughly £4,800.

• If the worst comes to the worst and you suffered a heart attack while holidaying in the U.S., treatment including medical escort amounts to more than £60,000.

Aside from the high cost of medical expenses, another reason to buy travel insurance is the coverage it provides when you need to cancel or cut short your trip due to emergency circumstances. Research shows that the average cost of repatriating travelers who are taken ill during their holiday has reached a new high.

One travel insurance specialist company analysed the payouts and found out that insurance providers now need to pay over £25,000 on average to bring holidaymakers back home which include those who suffer from minor ailments or injuries.

Repatriation cost varies tremendously on the country you visit and the injury you suffer. While any accident is unwelcome on holiday trips, it’s good to know that you don’t need to suffer and cover the expenses alone. All you need to do is buy travel insurance that suits your needs. Many insurance providers offer different kinds of travel insurance and you can even get bespoke insurance packages that perfectly suit your requirements. Whether it’s single trip insurance or annual holiday insurance, make sure to read the small print in your insurance form to check which areas are covered.