Foreign Office warns holidaymakers do check or risk losing £150k

Brits going on holiday are being advised to plan ahead of any potential accidents or emergencies

Holidaymakers are being urged to book travel insurance(Image: Getty Images/iStockphoto)

Holidaymakers could be at risk of losing over £150,000 if they don’t take certain precautions. Official Foreign Office guidance advises that Brits travelling to an international country should take out travel insurance to help cover potential medical costs.

It adds that this insurance should cover any ongoing physical or mental health conditions as well as any activities you might take part in while on holiday. It warns that failing to take out the correct travel insurance means that the cost of covering emergency expenses, such as medical treatment, will fall on you.

It highlights that medical costs without travel insurance in some countries could go well into the hundreds of thousands of pounds depending on where you are.

For example, if you fall and break your leg in Spain and need hospital treatment, you could end up spending upwards of £20,000. Furthermore, if you have something as simple as a stomach bug or infection in the USA which is treated in hospital with possible medical evacuation, you could end up spending more than £150,000.

The Foreign Office also advises holidaymakers to take out travel insurance as soon as possible after booking a trip. However, it’s important that you read the small print and understand any exclusions in your policy that could end up in you not receiving cover while on holiday.

You should also only take out travel insurance with a company approved by the Association of British Insurers (ABI). The ABI currently represents more than 300 insurance firms, many of which provide insurance specifically for those taking a short-term holiday abroad.

The ABI also recommends all Brits travelling to get travel insurance as it can cover a wide range of issues. This includes if you lose your luggage as well as potentially life-saving medical treatment that could otherwise be extremely expensive.

The organisation’s official guidance states: “When shopping around for travel insurance, make sure that the policy is right for your needs, and do not automatically opt for the cheapest. This is especially important if you have any pre-existing medical conditions.”

It also advises purchasing travel insurance as soon as you book your holiday as it could cover otherwise unrecoverable costs, such as if you need to cancel your trip because you’re too ill to travel. At the most, it advises to purchase insurance before leaving the UK as many travel insurance policies start cover from when you begin travelling to when you return to the UK.

Hazardous activities while on holiday

Many people may opt to take part in certain activities while on holiday which could increase their risk of needing medical treatment. When purchasing travel insurance, it’s important that it covers costs for any injuries or illnesses sustained from these activities.

Such hazardous activities include: